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{{Short description|List of Windows 10 editions}}{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}{{Windows 10}}Windows 10 has several editions, all with varying feature sets, use cases, or intended devices. Certain editions are distributed only on devices directly from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), while editions such as Enterprise and Education are only available through volume licensing channels. Microsoft also makes editions of Windows 10 available to device manufacturers for use on specific classes of devices, including IoT devices, and previously marketed Windows 10 Mobile for smartphones.

Base editions

Baseline editions are the only editions available as standalone purchases in retail outlets. PCs often come pre-installed with one of these editions.

{{visible anchor|Home}}

Windows 10 Home is designed for use in PCs, tablets and 2-in-1 PCs. It includes all features directed at consumers.WEB,weblink Introducing Windows 10 Editions, Prophet, Tony, May 13, 2015, Windows Experience Blog, Microsoft, WEB,weblink Windows 10 editions: Everything you need to know, Bott, Ed, May 14, 2015, ZDNet, CBS Interactive, WEB,weblink Which Windows 10 editions get which features?, Foley, Mary Jo, July 2, 2015, ZDNet, CBS Interactive,

{{visible anchor|Pro}}

Windows 10 Pro includes all features of Windows 10 Home, with additional capabilities that are oriented towards professionals and business environments, such as Active Directory, Remote Desktop, BitLocker, Hyper-V, and Windows Defender Device Guard.

{{visible anchor|Pro for Workstations}}

Windows 10 Pro for Workstations is designed for high-end hardware for intensive computing tasks and supports Intel Xeon, AMD Opteron and the latest AMD Epyc processors; up to 4 CPUs; up to 256 cores; up to 6 TB RAM; the ReFS file system; Non-Volatile Dual In-line Memory Module (NVDIMM); and remote direct memory access (RDMA).WEB,weblink Microsoft announces Windows 10 Pro for Workstations, Diaconu, Klaus, August 10, 2017, Windows For Your Business, Microsoft, August 12, 2017, August 11, 2017,weblink dead, NEWS,weblink Microsoft confirms new Windows 10 Pro for Workstations edition, Foley, Mary Jo, August 10, 2017, ZDNet, CBS Interactive, Mary Jo Foley, WEB,weblink Microsoft reveals new Windows 10 Workstations edition for power users, Warren, Tom, August 10, 2017, The Verge, Vox Media,

Organizational editions

These editions add features to facilitate centralized control of many installations of the OS within an organization. The main avenue of acquiring them is a volume licensing contract with Microsoft.

{{visible anchor|Education}}

Windows 10 Education is distributed through Academic Volume Licensing. It was based on Windows 10 Enterprise and initially reported to have the same feature set. As of version 1709, however, this edition has fewer features. See {{section link||Comparison chart}} for details.

{{visible anchor|Pro Education}}

This edition was introduced in July 2016 for hardware partners on new devices purchased with the discounted K–12 academic license. It was based on the Pro edition of Windows 10 and contains mostly the same features as Windows 10 Pro with different options disabled by default, and adds options for setup and deployment in an education environment. It also features a "Set Up School PCs" app that allows provisioning of settings using a USB flash drive, and does not include Cortana, Microsoft Store suggestions, Windows Sandbox, or Windows Spotlight.WEB,weblink Microsoft to add new Windows 10 Pro Education edition to its line-up, Foley, Mary Jo, July 27, 2016, ZDNet, CBS Interactive, WEB,weblink Windows 10 editions for education customers, Microsoft, February 22, 2019, WEB,weblink Manage Windows 10 and Microsoft Store tips, "fun facts", and suggestions, Microsoft, February 22, 2019,

{{visible anchor|Enterprise}}

Windows 10 Enterprise provides all the features of Windows 10 Pro for Workstations, with additional features to assist with IT-based organizations. Windows 10 Enterprise is configurable on two servicing channels, Semi-Annual Channel and Windows Insider Program.WEB,weblink Assign devices to servicing branches for Windows 10 updates (Windows 10), DaniHalfin, docs.microsoft.com, en-us, May 3, 2017,

{{visible anchor|Enterprise LTSC}}

Enterprise LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) is a long-term support variant of Windows 10 Enterprise released every 2 to 3 years. Each release is supported with security updates for either 5 or 10 years after its release, and intentionally receives no feature updates.WEB,weblink The next Windows 10 Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) release, February 18, 2021, Microsoft, July 2, 2021, Some features, including the Microsoft Store and bundled apps, are not included in this edition.WEB,weblink Overview of Windows as a service, Microsoft, May 6, 2017, This edition was first released as Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB (Long-Term Servicing Branch).NEWS,weblink Windows 10 LTSB becomes Windows 10 LTSC, Brinkmann, Martin, July 28, 2017, gHacks Technology News, There are currently 4 releases of LTSC: one in 2015 (version 1507), one in 2016 (version 1607), one in 2018 (labeled as 2019, version 1809), and one in 2021 (version 21H2).WEB, Keizer, Gregg, FAQ: Windows 10 LTSB explained,weblink Computerworld, 3 October 2018, en, WEB, greg-lindsay, What's new in Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 - What's new in Windows,weblink 2021-11-18, docs.microsoft.com, en-us,

S mode

Since 2018, OEMs can ship Windows 10 Home and Pro in a feature-limited variation named S mode which evolved from the discontinued Windows 10 S. Organizations employing Windows 10 Enterprise or Windows 10 Education can make use of S mode too.WEB, Windows 10 in S mode FAQ,weblink Windows.com, Microsoft, S mode is a feature-limited edition of Windows 10 designed primarily for low-end devices in the education market. It has a faster initial setup and login process, and allows devices to be provisioned using a USB drive with the "Set Up School PCs" app.

Changes

With the exception of the Microsoft Teams desktop client which was made available for S mode in April 2019,{{Cn|date=October 2021}} the installation of software (both Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and Windows API apps) is only possible through the Microsoft Store, and built-in and Microsoft Store-obtained command line programs or shells cannot be run in this mode.WEB, Turner, Rich, Will Linux distros run on Windows 10 S?, May 18, 2017,weblink May 26, 2017, Microsoft, WEB, Gartenberg, Chaim, May 19, 2017, Linux distros won't run on Windows 10 S after all,weblink The Verge, Vox Media, WEB, Smith, Sharon, Get clients for Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Teams,weblink 2021-05-02, docs.microsoft.com, en-us, WEB, Update get-clients.md · MicrosoftDocs/OfficeDocs-SkypeForBusiness@5c2ca5a,weblink 2021-05-02, GitHub, en, System settings are locked to allow only Microsoft Edge as the default web browser with Bing as its search engine.WEB, Warren, Tom, Windows 10 S won't let you change the default browser or switch to Google search,weblink The Verge, May 2, 2017, Vox Media, The operating system may be switched out of S mode using the Microsoft Store for free. However, once S Mode is turned off, it cannot be re-enabled.WEB, Chacos, Brad, Meet Windows 10 S, a streamlined, simplified, Microsoft Store-only OS for schools,weblink PC World, IDG, WEB, Warren, Tom, June 19, 2017, Microsoft now lets Surface Laptop owners revert back to Windows 10 S,weblink The Verge, Vox Media, All Windows 10 devices in S mode include a free one-year subscription to (Minecraft: Education Edition).{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}} Critics have compared the edition to Windows RT, and have considered it to be an alternative to ChromeOS.WEB, Windows 10 S is Microsoft's answer to Chrome OS,weblink May 2, 2017, The Verge, May 2, 2017, Vox Media, WEB, Bright, Peter, September 14, 2016, Desktop apps make their way into the Microsoft Store,weblink Ars Technica, Condé Nast, WEB, Windows 10 Cloud looks just like Windows 10 in leaked screenshots,weblink March 11, 2017, The Verge, February 3, 2017, Vox Media, WEB, Leaked Microsoft document confirms Windows 10 Cloud and a Chromebook competitor,weblink April 23, 2017, PC World, IDG,

Device-specific editions

(File:Windows 10 Team screenshot.png|thumb|right|180px|A desktop of Windows 10 Team.)These editions are licensed to OEMs only, and are primarily obtained via the purchase of hardware that includes it:

{{visible anchor|Holographic}}

A specific edition used by Microsoft's HoloLens mixed reality smartglasses.NEWS,weblink Unlock Windows Holographic for Business features, Microsoft Docs, May 12, 2021, en, NEWS,weblink Microsoft pushes Windows 10 Holographic as the one-stop option for VR and AR, Ars Technica, May 12, 2021, en,

{{visible anchor|Team}}

A specific edition used by Microsoft's Surface Hub interactive whiteboard.NEWS,weblink Windows 10 Team Anniversary Update now available for Microsoft Surface Hub, Neowin, May 3, 2017, en,

IoT editions

{{See also|Windows IoT#Enterprise}}Rebranded from Microsoft's earlier operating system editions in the Windows Embedded family. Binary identical to their non-IoT counterparts with version 1809 and older,WEB,weblink Windows Embedded Version Overview, PROXIS, January 14, 2024, while newer versions add support for smaller storage devices.WEB,weblink IoT Enterprise FAQ, Microsoft, July 2, 2021, WEB,weblink IoT Enterprise Features by Release, Microsoft, July 2, 2021, Available via OEMs and volume licensing for specific versions.WEB,weblink Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC in Volume License, Microsoft Learn, Microsoft, 20 December 2023, 14 January 2024,

{{visible anchor|IoT Enterprise}}

Intended specifically for use in small footprint, low-cost devices and IoT scenarios.WEB,weblink Windows 10 IoT for your business, Windows for Business, Microsoft, January 16, 2016, WEB,weblink Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, August 14, 2015, MS Embedded, Silica, February 1, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170508004814weblink">weblink May 8, 2017, dead,

{{visible anchor|IoT Enterprise LTSC}}

Long-Term Servicing Channel variant. Replaces all IoT Core edition variants starting with the 2021 release.WEB,weblink Microsoft to combine Windows 10 IoT Core and IoT Enterprise in 2021, ZDNet, Mary Jo Foley, January 22, 2022, WEB,weblink Windows 10 IoT Core, Arrow Electronics, Inc, January 14, 2024, Furthermore, the 2021 release gains an extra 5 years of support compared to its non-IoT counterpartWEB,weblink The next Windows 10 Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) release, February 18, 2021, Microsoft, January 14, 2024, and is available via volume licensing for the first time.

Discontinued editions

The following editions of Windows 10 were discontinued (as of Windows 10 version 21H2). For both Mobile and Mobile Enterprise, Microsoft confirmed it was exiting the consumer mobile devices market, so no successor product is available.WEB, Patrizio, Andy, Microsoft is leaving the consumer mobile market,weblink Network World, September 29, 2016, IDG Publishing, 30 August 2018,

{{visible anchor|Mobile}}

Windows 10 Mobile was designed for smartphones and small tablets. It included all basic consumer features, including Continuum capability. It was the de facto successor of Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows RT.

{{visible anchor|Mobile Enterprise}}

Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise provided all of the features in Windows 10 Mobile, with additional features to assist IT-based organizations, in a manner similar to Windows 10 Enterprise, but optimized for mobile devices.

{{visible anchor|IoT Mobile}}

A binary equivalent of Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise licensed for IoT applications. Also known as IoT Mobile Enterprise.WEB,weblink Windows 10 on Thin Clients: Deliver Best Results with Scout Agents (Part 1 of 2), Fujitsu, August 25, 2020, January 23, 2021,weblink dead, WEB,weblink Supported operating systems and browsers in Intune, Microsoft, August 25, 2020,

{{visible anchor|IoT Core/IoT Core LTSC}}

Windows 10 IoT Core was optimized for smaller and lower-cost industry devices. It was also formerly provided free of charge for use in devices like the Raspberry Pi for hobbyist use. Only UWP apps are supported, and only one at a time at that. Discontinued after version 1809. Support ended on 10 November 2020 for non-LTSC,WEB,weblink Windows 10 IoT Core lifecycle details, Microsoft Lifecycle, Microsoft, 14 January 2024, while IoT Core LTSC (2019/version 1809) support will continue until 9 January 2029.WEB,weblink Windows 10 IoT LTSC 2019 Core lifecycle details, Microsoft Lifecycle, Microsoft, 14 January 2024, WEB,weblink Windows 10 IoT Core LTSC lifecycle details, Microsoft Lifecycle, Microsoft, 14 January 2024, Merged into and replaced by IoT Enterprise LTSC starting with the 2021/version 21H2 release.

{{visible anchor|S}}

Windows 10 S was an edition released in 2017 which ultimately evolved into the so-called S mode of Windows 10. In March 2018, Microsoft announced that it would be phasing out Windows 10 S, citing confusion among manufacturers and end-users.NEWS, Microsoft admits Windows 10 S was confusing, new 'S Mode' upgrades will be free, The Verge,weblink 2018-03-08, NEWS, Tung, Liam, Windows 10 to permit block on apps installing if they're not from Microsoft Store, en, ZDNet,weblink're-not-from-microsoft-store/, 2018-03-08,

{{visible anchor|Polaris}}

Polaris was used for desktops and laptops; only one build leaked in 2021. It was known as "Windows OneCore 10" in the Windows Boot Manager.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

{{visible anchor|Andromeda}}

Andromeda was demonstrated on the Lumia 950.WEB, Bowden, Zac, 2022-01-21, This is Microsoft's canceled Andromeda OS running on a Lumia 950,weblink 2023-10-22, Windows Central, en, The project was canceled for unknown reasons.

{{visible anchor|10X}}

Originally announced for use on dual-screen devices such as the Surface Neo and other potential form factors, 10X featured a modified user interface designed around context specific interactions or "postures" on such devices, including a redesigned Start menu with no tiles, and use of container technology to run Win32 software.WEB, Microsoft Surface Neo first look: the future of Windows 10X is dual-screen,weblink Warren, Tom, 2019-10-02, The Verge, en, 2020-05-04, WEB, Windows 10X is Microsoft's latest stab at a 'Lite' operating system, exclusively for dual-screens,weblink Hollister, Sean, 2019-10-02, The Verge, en, 2020-05-04, The platform was described as a more direct competitor to ChromeOS.WEB, 2021-05-07, Microsoft reportedly shelves Windows 10X, its Chrome OS competitor,weblink 2021-05-07, The Verge, en, WEB, Salter, Jim, 2021-05-13, Microsoft puts Windows 10X variant on the back burner,weblink 2021-05-14, Ars Technica, en-us, On May 4, 2020, Microsoft announced that Windows 10X would first be used on single-screen devices, and that they would "continue to look for the right moment, in conjunction with our OEM partners, to bring dual-screen devices to market".WEB, Microsoft confirms Windows 10X is coming to laptops amid big jump in Windows usage,weblink Warren, Tom, 2020-05-04, The Verge, en, 2020-05-04, Microsoft also added anti-theft protection to Windows 10X, just like how Apple's Activation Lock and anti-theft protection on Android devices and Chromebooks work.WEB,weblink This clever Windows 10X feature will prevent thieves from resetting stolen devices, Ballard, Barclay, January 25, 2021, TechRadar, January 21, 2023, On May 18, 2021, Head of Windows Servicing and Delivery John Cable stated that Windows 10X had been cancelled, and that its foundational technologies would be leveraged for future Microsoft products.WEB, Warren, Tom, 2021-05-18, Microsoft confirms Windows 10X is dead,weblink 2021-05-18, The Verge, en, Several design changes in 10X, notably the centered taskbar and redesigned start menu, would be later introduced in Windows 11.WEB, Windows 11 Leaks Indicate a Dramatic New Look Is Coming Soon,weblink live,weblink June 16, 2021, June 16, 2021, Gizmodo,

Regional variations

{{Visible anchor|N/KN}}

As with previous versions of Windows since Windows XP, all Windows 10 editions for PC hardware have "N" and "KN" variations in Europe and South Korea that exclude multimedia functionality, in compliance with antitrust rulings.NEWS, Ron, Grab the Media Feature Pack for Windows 10 N and Windows 10 KN editions.,weblink OnMSFT.com, August 2, 2015, March 11, 2016, According to details that Microsoft has published, any app that relies on Microsoft multimedia technologies experiences impaired functionality on these editions, unable to even play audio notification tones. Restoring the missing functionality to these editions entails installing the "Media Feature Pack", followed by Skype, Movies & TV, Windows Media Player, Xbox Game Bar, Windows Voice Recorder, and four codecs.WEB, Media Feature Pack for Windows 10/11 N (February 2023),weblink Support, Microsoft, 28 February 2023, The variation cannot be changed without a clean install, and keys for one variation will not work on other variations.

{{Visible anchor|Home with Bing}}

As with Windows 8.1, a reduced-price "Windows 10 with Bing" SKU is available to OEMs; it is subsidized by having Microsoft's Bing search engine set as default, which cannot be changed to a different search engine by OEMs. It is intended primarily for low-cost devices, and is otherwise identical to Windows 10 Home.WEB, Slater-Robins, Max, Microsoft is helping manufacturers make cheap tablets that can run Windows as well as Android,weblink Business Insider UK, April 23, 2016, NEWS, Aaron, Dennis, Windows Guides,weblink 4 June 2023,

{{Visible anchor|Home Single Language}}

In some emerging markets,{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} OEMs preinstall a variation of Windows 10 Home called Single Language without the ability to switch the display language. It is otherwise identical to Windows 10 Home. To change display language, the user will need to upgrade to Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro.

{{Visible anchor|CMIT Government Edition}}

In May 2017, it was reported that Microsoft, as part of its partnership with China Electronics Technology Group, created a specially-modified variant of Windows 10 Enterprise ("G") designed for use within branches of the Chinese government. This variant is pre-configured to "remove features that are not needed by Chinese government employees", and allow the use of its internal encryption algorithms.WEB, Microsoft made a version of Windows 10 for the Chinese government,weblink Engadget, May 28, 2017, WEB,weblink Announcing Windows 10 China Government Edition and the new Surface Pro, Myerson, Terry, May 23, 2017, Windows Blog, Microsoft,

Comparison chart {| class"wikitable" style"margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto"|+ Guide

! Item !! Meaning

| Feature is present in the given edition

Yes, since [update]}}	Feature is present in the given edition after installing a certain update

| Feature is absent from the given edition

No, since [update]}}	Feature is absent from the given edition after installing a certain update (It might have been fully or partly present prior to that update)

[Explanation]}}	Feature is partly present in the given edition

[Explanation], since [update]}}	Feature is partly present in the given edition, after installing a certain update (It might have been fully present prior to that update, or not present at all)

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto"weblink Compare Windows 10 Pro & Enterprise (E3 & E5) Commercial Editions, microsoft.com, Microsoft, July 2, 2015, WEB,weblink Compare Windows 10 Editions & Versions {{!, Home & Pro |website=microsoft.com |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=October 30, 2017}}WEB,weblink Windows 10 Editions Compared, Howse, Brett, July 2, 2015, AnandTech, Purch, ! scope="col" | Features! scope="col" | Home Single Language! scope="col" | Home! scope="col" | Pro! scope="col" | Pro (Education)! scope="col" | Education! scope="col" | Pro for Workstations! scope="col" | Enterprise style="text-align:center;"! scope="row" | Architecture

IA-32, x86-64, ARM64 (since 2018)

style="text-align:center;"! scope="row" | Availability

Original equipment manufacturer>OEM licensing	Original equipment manufacturer>OEM, Retail	Original equipment manufacturer>OEM, Retail, Volume licensing| AcademicVolume Licensing| Volume licensing	Original equipment manufacturer>OEM, Retail, Volume licensing| Volume licensing

style="text-align:center;"! scope="row" | Has N or KN variants?| colspan="1" {{no}}| colspan="6" {{yes}} style="text-align:center;"! scope="row" | Maximum physical memory (RAM)

128 Gigabyte		{{efn>name=FourGBLimit}}	2 Terabyte			(2048 GB){{efn>name=FourGBLimit}}	6 Terabyte		(6144 GB){{efn>name=FourGBLimit}}

style="text-align:center;"! scope="row" | Maximum CPU socketsWEB,weblink Understanding Windows 10 Editions, Architectures and Builds, Andre Da Costa, 2015-09-15, groovyPost, en-US, 2020-01-12,

1		2			4

style="text-align:center;"! scope="row" | Maximum CPU cores{{efn|Windows 10 utilises processor groups on x86-64 to manage processor affinity and scheduling. The Windows 10 kernel has a hard-coded limit of 20 processor groups, and each processor group can contain up to 64 logical processors. A logical processor is either a physical or SMT core. Processor groups are allocated based on the NUMA topology of the system. One processor group cannot span multiple sockets or NUMA nodes. Processor groups are not available on IA-32; 32-bit builds instead use an older affinity mask implementation with a limit of 32 logical processors. The limit of 20 processor groups does not change between Windows 10 editions. There is no specific limit on the number of physical cores that can be used on Windows 10, unlike Windows Server where physical cores must be additionally licensed.WEB,weblink CPU Socket and Core Count Limits in Windows 10 (And How To Remove Them), Graham Sutherland, 2022-04-07, Codeinsecurity, en-GB, 2022-04-08, WEB,weblink Processor Groups - Win32 Apps - Microsoft Docs, 2021-12-30, Microsoft Docs, en-US, 2022-04-08, WEB,weblink NUMA Support - Win32 Apps - Microsoft Docs, 2021-08-19, Microsoft Docs, en-US, 2022-04-08, WEB,weblink KAFFINITY_EX, Geoff Chappell, 2019-12-17, Geoff Chappell, Software Analyst, en-US, 2022-04-08, }}

32 logical cores on IA-321280 logical cores (20 groups of 64 logical processors) on x86-64

style="text-align:center;"! scope="row" | Minimum telemetry level{{efn|There are three (previously four) telemetry levels, in the order of magnitude: Diagnostic data off (Security), Required (Basic), and Optional (Full). The higher the level, the more information that is sent to Microsoft. Previous Windows 10 versions had a level between Required and Optional, and the older names for the levels are shown in the parenthesis.}}WEB,weblink Configure Windows telemetry in your organization, August 10, 2020, docs.microsoft.com, Microsoft,

Required				Diagnostic data off	Required	Diagnostic data off

! scope="row" | Continuum WEB, Continuum on Windows 10, July 27, 2015,weblink | colspan="7" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Family Safety and Parental Controls| colspan="7" {{yes}}Confirmed by @MicrosoftHelps (Verified) on Twitter! scope="row" | Cortana{{efn|Cortana is available only in certain markets. Experience may vary by region and device.}}

			Yes, disabled by default}}	{{yes2|Yes, since version 1703}} | colspan="3" {{yes}}

! scope="row" | Hardware device encryption | colspan="7" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Microsoft Edge| colspan="7" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Multiple language pack support| colspan="1" {{no}}

Depends on OEM, region, and carrier}}{{efn|name=AbsentFrom1803}}| colspan="2" {{yes}}		Depends on OEM, region, and carrier}}{{efn|name=AbsentFrom1803}}| colspan="1" {{yes}}

! scope="row" | Mobile device management| colspan="7" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Side-loading of line of business apps| colspan="7" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Virtual desktops| colspan="7" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Windows Hello{{efn|Windows Hello requires specialized hardware, such as a fingerprint reader, illuminated IR sensor or other biometric sensor.}}| colspan="7" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Can pause updates?

Yes, since version 1903}} | colspan="5" {{yes}}

! scope="row" | Windows Spotlight| colspan="7" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Microsoft Store suggestions

			Yes, disabled by default}} | colspan="3" {{yes}}

! scope="row" | Remote Desktop

Client only}}		Client and host}}

! scope="row" | Remote App

Client only}}				{{yes|Client and host}}	Client only}}	Client and host}}

! scope="row" | ReFS supportWEB, Features that are removed or deprecated in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update,weblink Support, Microsoft, October 17, 2017, 28, WEB,weblink Windows Insider Program,

Cannot create, since version 1709}}HTTPS://AKA.MS/AA8HO6O>TITLE = WINDOWS INSIDER PROGRAM, | colspan="2" {{Yes}}

! scope="row" | Windows Subsystem for Linux

64-bit SKUs only}}		64-bit SKUs only since version 1607}}

! scope="row" | Windows Sandbox| colspan="2" {{no}}

64-bit only}}

! scope="row" | Hyper-V| colspan="2" {{no}}

64-bit SKUs only}}

! scope="row" | Assigned Access 8.1| colspan="2" {{no}} | colspan="5" {{yes}}! scope="row" | BitLocker| colspan="2" {{no}}

Some systems need a registry key changed "cGVuaXM="}}

! scope="row" | Business Store| colspan="2" {{no}} | colspan="5" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Conditional Access| colspan="2" {{no}} | colspan="5" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Device Guard| colspan="2" {{no}} | colspan="5" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Encrypting File System| colspan="2" {{no}} | colspan="5" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Enterprise data protection| colspan="2" {{no}} | colspan="5" {{yes}} ! scope="row" | Enterprise Mode Internet Explorer (EMIE)| colspan="2" {{no}} | colspan="5" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Joining a domain and Group Policy management| colspan="2" {{no}} | colspan="5" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Joining a Microsoft AzureActive Directory| colspan="2" {{no}} | colspan="5" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Private catalog| colspan="2" {{no}} | colspan="5" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Windows Analytics| colspan="2" {{no}} | colspan="5" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Windows Information Protection| colspan="2" {{no}} | colspan="5" {{yes}}! scope="row" | Windows Update for Business| colspan="2" {{no}} | colspan="5" {{yes}}! scope="row" | NVDIMM support

					| colspan="2" {{yes}}

! scope="row" | Remote Direct Memory Access

					| colspan="2" {{yes}}

! scope="row" |AppLocker

					| {{yes}}

! scope="row" | BranchCache

					| {{yes}}

! scope="row" |Credential Guard (Pass the hash mitigations)

					| {{yes}}

! scope="row" |Microsoft App-V

					| {{yes}}

! scope="row" |Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP)

					| {{yes}}

! scope="row" | Microsoft UE-V

					| {{yes}}

! scope="row" | Start screen control with Group Policy

					| {{yes}}

! scope="row" |User experience control and lockdown

					| {{yes}}

! scope="row" |Unified Write Filter (UWF)

					| {{yes}}

! scope="row" |DirectAccessWEB,weblink DirectAccess, shortpatti, docs.microsoft.com, en-us, 2019-09-01,

					DATE=AUGUST 4, 2016,	{{no}}	{{yes}}

! scope="row" | Long-term servicing option available (LTSC)

| {{yes}}

! scope="row" |Windows To Go{{efn|On Windows 10 Pro, a Control Panel applet corresponding to this feature appears, but a Windows 10 Enterprise or Education image is still needed.}}| colspan="2" {{no}}

No, since version 2004}}

class="sort-bottom" style="text-align:center;"! scope="col" | Features! scope="col" | Home Single Language! scope="col" | Home! scope="col" | Pro! scope="col" | Pro (Education)! scope="col" | Education! scope="col" | Pro for Workstations! scope="col" | EnterpriseMicrosoft OEM licensing formula takes display size, RAM capacity and storage capacity into account. In mid-2015, devices with 4 GB RAM were expected to be $20 more expensive than devices with 2 GB RAM.WEB,weblink TrendForce Adjusts Notebooks' Unit Memory Capacity for 2015 Down by 3~5% due to Microsoft's New License Fee Arrangement for Windows 10, July 27, 2015, DRAMeXchange, TrendForce Corp., March 11, 2016,

Upgrade path

Free upgrade

At the time of launch, Microsoft deemed Windows 7 (with Service Pack 1) and Windows 8.1 users eligible to upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge, so long as the upgrade took place within one year of Windows 10's initial release date. Windows RT and the respective Enterprise editions of Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 were excluded from this offer.WEB, Trent, Rod, Windows 10 Upgrade Paths,weblink SuperSite for Windows, Penton (company), Penton, June 9, 2015, {| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; width:auto; font-size:90%"|+ Windows 10 free upgrade matrix! Windows version and edition! Windows 10 edition| Windows 7 Starter SP1

Home

| Windows 7 Home Basic SP1| Windows 7 Home Premium SP1| Windows 8.1 with Bing| Windows 8.1| Windows 7 Professional SP1

Pro

| Windows 7 Ultimate SP1| Windows 8.1 Pro| Windows Phone 8.1

Mobile

Transition paths

The following table summarizes possible transition paths (upgrade, downgrade, or migration) that can be taken, provided that proper licenses are purchased. Windows RT does not appear in this table because it cannot be upgraded to Windows 10.On September 28, 2023, Microsoft disabled the free upgrade path to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8.x, although upgrades from Windows 10 to 11 are still supported.WEB, Windows Ends Installation Path for Free Windows 7/8 Upgrade,weblink Microsoft, 29 September 2023, NEWS, Tyson, Mark, Microsoft Says the Days of Free Windows 7 to 10 or 11 Updates Are Over,weblink 29 September 2023, Tom's Hardware, September 29, 2023, {| class="wikitable" style="margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto"|+ Guide! Transition path !! Meaning

Upgrade}}	Constitutes replacing the OS while preserving apps, their settings, and user data

Repair}}	Constitutes fixing a damaged OS by "upgrading" from one edition to the same

Downgrade}}	Similar to upgrade, but deliberately removes some features

Migration}}	Constitutes replacing the operating system, reinstalling the apps, restoring their settings via backup, and safeguarding user data against accidental deletion.

None}}	It is impossible to replace the OS with the intended target because of platform incompatibility

{| class="wikitable" style="margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto"weblink Microsoft Docs, Microsoft, April 5, 2017, ! scope="col" rowspan="2" |Windowsversion! scope="col" rowspan="2" |Windowsedition! colspan="7" scope="col" |Transition target! scope="col" |Windows10 Home! scope="col" |Windows10 Pro! scope="col" |Windows 10Pro for Workstations! scope="col" |Windows 10Pro (Education)! scope="col" |Windows 10Education! scope="col" |Windows 10Enterprise! scope="col" |Windows 10Mobile! scope="row" rowspan="6" |Windows 7

	Upgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{No2		None}}

	Upgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{No2		None}}

	Upgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{No2		None}}

	Downgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		None}}

	Downgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		None}}

	Migration}}	{{No2		Upgrade}}	{{No2		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		None}}

! scope="row" rowspan="8" |Windows 8.1

	Upgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{No2		None}}

	Upgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{No2		None}}

	Downgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		None}}

	Downgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		None}}

	Downgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		None}}

	Migration}}	{{No2		Migration}}	{{No2		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		None}}

Windows Embedded Industry>Embedded Industry	{{No2		Migration}}	{{No2		Migration}}	{{No2		Upgrade}}	{{No|None}}

	None}}	{{No		None}}	{{No		None}}	{{No		Upgrade}}

! rowspan="7" scope="row" |Windows 10

	Repair}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		None}}

	Downgrade}}	{{Yes2		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		None}}

	Downgrade}}	{{Partial		Repair}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes		None}}

	Downgrade}}	{{Yes		Upgrade}}	{{Yes2		Migration}}	{{No2		None}}

	Migration}}	{{No2		Migration}}	{{No2		Repair}}	{{Yes		None}}

	Migration}}	{{No2		Migration}}	{{No2		Downgrade}}	{{Yes2		None}}

Release channels

{{Anchor|Release branches}}Microsoft releases minor versions of Windows 10 through the free feature updates. Originally, Microsoft released feature updates semiannually. They contained new features as well as changes.WEB,weblink Microsoft will now release major Windows 10 updates every March and September, Warren, Tom, April 20, 2017, The Verge, Vox Media, With the release of Windows 11, however, Microsoft has changed the release schedule to annual. These feature updates do not contain any noticeable changes.The pace at which a system receives feature updates depends on the "release channel" (originally, "release branch") from which the system downloads its updates.

Insider Channel

Windows Insider is a beta testing program that allows access to pre-release builds of Windows 10, enabling power users, developers, and vendors to test and provide feedback on future feature updates to Windows 10 as they are developed. Before the release of Windows 11, Windows Insider itself consisted of four "rings":

• The Dev channel (previously "Fast" ring) distributed new builds as they were released.
• The Beta channel (previously "Slow" ring) distributed new builds with a delay following their availability on the Fast ring.
• The "Release Preview" channel distributed release candidate builds.
• The now-closed "Skip Ahead" ring distributed builds of the next feature update while a current release was being finished.

After the release of Windows 11, only the "Release Preview" ring remains active.

General Availability Channel

Since 2022, the General Availability Channel (GAC) distributes feature updates annually. To receive these updates, users must either request them manually or wait for their version of Windows 10 to go out of support. Originally, however, Microsoft distributed feature updates through two distinct channels:WEB,weblink Current Branch, PC Mag,

• The "Current Branch" (CB) distributed all feature updates as they graduated from the Windows Insider program. Microsoft only supported the latest build. Windows would automatically install the latest feature update from CB. Users could defer the CB feature update for up to 365 days.WEB,weblink How to Pause Windows 10 Automatic Updates To Avoid Critical Bugs, www.bleepingcomputer.com, 2020-09-01, WEB,weblink Windows 10 : the case of the missing update deferral options - gHacks Tech News, www.ghacks.net, May 28, 2019, 2019-06-13, WEB,weblink Put Windows 10 updates on hold—now available in Creators Update build 15046, Leonhard, Woody, March 1, 2017, Computerworld, IDG, May 6, 2017, WEB,weblink How to defer future updates in the Windows 10 Creators Update, Paul, Ian, April 18, 2017, PC World, IDG, Microsoft renamed CB to "Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted)" in version 1709.
• The "Current Branch for Business" (CBB), which was not available in the Home edition, distributed feature updates with a four-month delay. This allowed customers and vendors to evaluate and perform additional testing on new builds before broader deployments. Devices could be switched back to the Current Branch at any time.WEB,weblink How to defer upgrades and updates in Windows 10 Pro, Keizer, Gregg, November 17, 2015, Computerworld, IDG, Microsoft renamed CBB to "Semi-Annual Channel" in version 1709.

Since version 1903, Microsoft dismantled the two-channel scheme in favor of a unified "Semi-Annual Channel" (SAC). Microsoft supports each SAC version of Windows for 30 months. Windows no longer installs new feature updates automatically before the expiry of the 30-months support period. With the release of Windows 11, Microsoft changed the release schedule to annual, and change the channel's name to "General Availability Channel" (GAC).

Long-Term Servicing Channel

LTSC exclusively distributes the "Enterprise LTSC", "IoT Core", and "IoT Enterprise LTSC" editions of Windows 10. Microsoft releases a new minor version of these editions every 2–3 years. LTSC builds adhere to Microsoft's traditional support policy which was in effect before Windows 10, including:

• Five years of mainstream support
• Critical and security updates for ten years after their release
• No feature updates from Windows Update

Microsoft discourages the use of LTSC editions outside of "special-purpose devices" that perform a fixed function and thus do not require new user experience features. As a result, these editions do not come with Microsoft Store, most Cortana features, and most bundled apps. LTSC was originally called the "Long-Term Servicing Branch" (LTSB) until 2016.

See also

• Windows Server 2016, based on Windows 10 version 1607WEB,weblink Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server, version 1809 will be generally available in October, Woods, Rich, 24 September 2018, Neowin,
• Windows Server 2019, based on Windows 10 version 1809
• Xbox system software, an operating system now based on the Windows 10 core, designed to run on consoles
• Windows 10 version history

Notes

{{Noteslist|refs={{efn|name=FourGBLimit|32-bit architectures like IA-32 and ARM32 have a memory addressing limitation of four gigabytes. In practice, less than 4 GB of memory is addressable as the 4 GB space also includes the memory mapped peripherals.}}{{efn|name=AbsentFrom1803|This feature was missing from Windows 10 version 1803, but not the prior or next versions.}}}}

References

{{History of Windows}}