But what if you’re just a regular home user? Are these additional features worth paying a bit more? Here’s what you need to consider.
Windows 11 Pro and BitLocker encryption
BitLocker drive encryption is the main reason to get Windows 11 Professional. BitLocker is a full-disk encryption feature that protects your files from unauthorized access. If your PC is ever stolen or misplaced, nobody will be able to access your protected files without signing in as you. It’s an essential modern security feature.
Both Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Professional include some disk encryption features, but Microsoft’s BitLocker encryption is much more powerful, flexible, and configurable on Windows 11 Pro.
On a PC running Windows 11 Home, you only get “Device Encryption.” When you sign into your Windows PC with a Microsoft account, Windows 11 Home automatically enables BitLocker encryption and saves your recovery key to your Microsoft account.
Curious whether Device Encryption is enabled on your PC? Head to Settings > Privacy & Security > Device encryption. If you don’t see the option, your PC doesn’t support it. New Windows 11 PCs do, but some older PCs that were upgraded from Windows 10 may not.
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Device Encryption is an adequate solution for many, but it’s limited. For example, you must sign in with a Microsoft account, and you must store your recovery key in your Microsoft account online, and you can’t use it to encrypt external drives. That last one might be a big deal.