Unlike other operating systems, each Windows 11 edition has drastically different steps to make them more private and secure. Whether you are installing Windows 11 from scratch or purchasing a computer with it preinstalled, you may encounter conflicting information when hardening your computer.
Most people are familiar with Windows Home Edition, which is preinstalled on most consumer-facing laptops and computers. If you bought your computer from a store or online vendor, you most likely have this edition. However, Home does not provide you with many privacy-respecting configuration settings seen in Professional and Enterprise. While some steps can be taken to reduce telemetry and remove trackers, Microsoft limits the extent to which Home users can control data collection.
For instance, Windows 11 Home lacks the Group Policy Editor by default, making it challenging to enforce system-wide privacy settings. Additionally, Home users cannot disable telemetry entirely; the lowest setting available is “Required,” which still permits the collection of essential diagnostic data.
On the other hand, Windows Professional offers considerably more control over your privacy settings. It allows you to modify group policies and enables access to Bitlocker - an encryption service that utilizes your computer’s Trusted Platform Module (TPM). This chip can prevent threat actors from brute-forcing your password, making Bitlocker the ideal full-disk encryption solution.
Furthermore, Pro users can leverage tools like Hyper-V for virtualization, Remote Desktop for secure remote access, and Windows Sandbox for isolated testing environments.
However, Enterprise gives its users almost complete control over Microsoft’s telemetry settings. Enterprise edition allows administrators to disable telemetry entirely through Group Policy, a capability not available in Home or Pro editions. It also includes features like AppLocker, which lets you specify which applications can run on the system, and Windows Defender Credential Guard, providing additional protection against credential theft.
Unlike other editions, Enterprise users must also pay a monthly subscription to Microsoft. An exception can be made with Windows IOT Enterprise LTSC, which can be bought with a one-time fee. The IoT Enterprise LTSC edition is supported longer than other Windows editions and still grants users substantial control over their operating system. Therefore, we only recommend using the standard version of Enterprise if you are obligated to do so because of work-related applications.
If financially feasible, Home users should upgrade to Professional because of its increased security features. We will write most of our community wiki guides for the Professional edition to encourage its adoption.
Finally, the Privacy Guides community does not endorse obtaining your Windows installation key through illegal methods. If this is a barrier to you, please refer to the official operating system recommendations on our knowledge base to learn about free and open source alternatives to Windows!
To summarize, here is a table comparing and contrasting these Windows editions.
| Edition | Summary | Privacy & Security Features | Telemetry Control | Licensing & Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 Home | Default for many users; upgradeable to Pro. Lacks advanced security. | - No Group Policy Editor - No BitLocker - Limited privacy controls |
Limited; telemetry cannot be fully disabled | One-time purchase; most affordable |
| Windows 11 Professional | More expensive than Home; adds key privacy and security features. | - Group Policy Editor - BitLocker support - More configurable options |
Some control; telemetry can be reduced but not disabled | One-time purchase; mid-range cost |
| Windows 11 Enterprise | Enterprise use only; subscription-based except for IoT Enterprise LTSC. Full control over system. | - Full telemetry control -AppLocker, Credential Guard, MDM tools |
Full control; telemetry can be disabled entirely | Subscription required except for IoT Enterprise LTSC; highest cost |
Last edited by @KevPham 2025-06-09T22:02:15Z