Compare Windows

See what’s new in Windows 112, compare it to Windows 10, and find the right version of Windows for you.

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Comparing features between Windows 10 Home vs. Windows 11 Home editions
Feature Windows 10 Windows 11

New interface

Windows 11 is easier on the eyes and easier to use. We took the best elements of Windows 10 and refined them to create a soothing place to work and play.

Wake on approach. Lock on leave.

Windows 11 can automatically wake up when you approach and lock when you leave.3

Smart App Control

Exclusive to Windows 11 is Smart App Control. It provides a layer of security by only permitting apps with good reputations to be installed. Only available on the latest version of Windows 11.4

Seamless redocking

If you connect your PC to an external display, Windows 11 can remember where you had those windows when you leave, come back, and reconnect.6 This feature is new and exclusive to Windows 11.

Live captions

With live captions on Windows 11, speech in incoming audio (such as through a Microsoft Teams call) can be transcribed into captions.7

Natural Narrator

To read, or to be read to? Natural Narrator can turn text into spoken words.7

Amazon Appstore

Windows 11 can run more choices of apps available from the Amazon Appstore—some of them even originally designed for mobile devices.10

Windows Studio Effects

Background Blur, Eye Contact, Voice Focus, and Automatic Framing. Better video calling awaits.14

Controller bar

Jump back into the game you last played or into a new game entirely with the Controller bar.19 Only on Windows 11.

Auto HDR

Auto HDR increases the range of colors both new and old games can produce. Available only on Windows 11, this new calibration app increases control of color.15

Widgets

Widgets are new for Windows 11. It’s best for staying up to date with all the things you need to keep tabs on: schedules, weather, stocks, sports—even celebrity gossip.

Windows Back-up

Feel at home instantly on your new PC. With Windows Backup,28 29 30 you can set things up to your liking by easily transferring some of your favourite settings, files and apps from your old PC.
Backup only
Backup and restore

Paint

Paint is a simple and powerful graphics editor that comes with Windows. You can use it to create and edit images, draw shapes, add text, and more. New to Windows 11, Paint now comes with AI-powered tools31 to help you edit images like a pro and create art like a visionary.
Cocreator,31 32 33 Background Removal31 and Layers

Sync your PC and phone

Make and take calls. Reply to texts. Check and dismiss notifications. Use Phone Link to do it all from your Windows PC without even taking your phone out of your pocket. This feature is available for Android™ and iPhone® devices in Windows 11, and is available for Android in Windows 10.27
Android only
Android and iPhone

Touchscreen

While Windows 10 worked well with touch inputs1, Windows 11 has been designed with them in mind for a true mouse-less or keyboard-less experience.

Search

You can find the Search bar in the Start Menu of Windows 11, and it can find whatever you can’t. That’s files, apps, or anything you want online. On Windows 11 the Search bar is in a new, easy to find, central location.

TPM 2.0

A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) helps prevent unwanted tampering. Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0, which provides next-gen security and privacy for you, your apps, and your system’s hardware.21

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge is optimized for Windows 11. The browser and OS will work together to bring you the browsing speed and security you need.

OneDrive backup

OneDrive backup is available on both Windows 11 and 10, providing your photos, documents, and other files a second life if, for example, your PC is stolen.

Windows Security app

The Windows Security app serves as the security dashboard and is available on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Snap assist

Snap assist makes the most of your screen space by arranging your open windows into perfectly aligned grids.5 And on Windows 11, it’s now easier to find and use.

Desktop groups

With desktop groups, you can organize your open apps and windows into separate “desktops” to make it easier to switch between work and play modes. It was introduced on Windows 10, but vastly improved for Windows 11.

Contrast themes

High contrast themes are available in both Windows 10 and 11 to help those with low vision see easier.

Voice control

Windows 11 can interpret your voice into commands, like “Open [name of app]” or “Scroll Down.” This feature builds on Windows 10 and is greatly enhanced on 11.9

Redesigned Microsoft Store

The redesigned Microsoft Store makes finding apps, movies, and TV shows you love easy, and comes ready to do so on both Windows 10 and 11.

Snipping tool

Snipping Tool is available on both Windows 10 and 11 to help users crop screenshots to share to others exactly what you’re seeing.

Journal app

The Journal app on Windows 11 provides the intimacy of handwriting11 with the convenience of a digital app.

Clipchamp

With dynamic templates12 and dazzling effects, Clipchamp makes it easy for anyone to edit videos like a pro. It comes built into Windows 11 but is available for Windows 10 via download from the Microsoft Store.

Digital pen

Digital Pen13 input on Windows 11 builds on the progress made on Windows 10, providing an improved feel and incorporating haptic feedback.

Emojis

Whenever words won't do, Emojis are just a couple clicks away. And only Windows 11 comes with the new emoji clipboard (win + v).26

DirectStorage

Games with larger worlds that load in less time. It’s possible with DirectStorage16 and available on both Windows 10 and 11.

DirectX 12 Ultimate

This is what harnesses your hardware to produce stunning graphics for your games and is available on both Windows 10 and 11.17

3D spatial sound

This technology makes it possible for you to perceive the sources of sound in games.3 It requires compatible headphones and is available on both Windows 10 and 11.

Get Started

The Get Started app is designed to help you get to know Windows 11 better.

Microsoft account

A Microsoft account can be your one passport to all things Microsoft, from Office to Xbox and more.

OneDrive file transfer

When you upgrade your Windows device, you can use OneDrive file transfer to seamlessly roll over your files and settings.25

Windows on ARM

Devices with thin and light designs and amazing battery life that run the apps you care about.20
Illustration of many different open Windows

Power your passions

Fast, intuitive, powerful. Windows 11 meets you exactly where you are, so you can take your productivity, gaming, creative pursuits and more to the next level.

Get Windows 11
Several Windows 11 PCs

Find your next PC

Sleek, innovative, and exactly what you need. Find a PC that can run Windows 11 and is just for you.

  • Screens simulated. Features and app availability may vary by region.
  • 1 Requires a PC with touchscreen capability.
  • 2 Timing of feature delivery varies by device. Feature availability may vary by market.
  • 3 Hardware-dependent.
  • 4 Only available on the latest version of Windows 11. In order to keep you as safe as possible, you must start with a fresh system. PCs that have been running previous versions of Windows must do a full reset of the Windows 11 operating system for the feature to work.
  • 5 Some layouts only available based on display resolution and scale settings.
  • 6 Apps that are no longer open will not automatically be put back into place. Apps that come out of full screen mode when you undock will not be put back into full screen mode upon redocking, but placed back as best as possible.
  • 7 US English only for live captions, and voice access. Natural voices available worldwide in US English only. Narrator is available worldwide and supported in these languages.
  • 9 Hardware dependent. Requires Windows PC with microphone capability. US English only.
  • 10 Apps available in Amazon Appstore in Microsoft Store on Windows 11. Requires 8 GB of RAM and a supported processor (Intel® Core™ i3 8th Generation, AMD Ryzen™ 3000, Snapdragon™ 8c, or above). Not available on devices running Windows 11 in S mode. Available in select markets. App availability varies by geography. Android is a trademark of Google LLC. Amazon and all related marks are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
  • 11 Requires PC with touchscreen; digital pen accessory may be sold separately.
  • 12 Certain features, like premium filters, require a paid subscription in order to access. Templates are available in English only.
  • 13 Pen-capable tablet or PC required. Pen accessory may be sold separately.
  • 14 Background Blur and Eye Contact will only be available on devices that come with new Qualcomm 7c+ Gen 3, 8c Gen 1 & 3, 8cx Gen 1 & 2 & 3. Voice Focus will only be available on devices that come with new Qualcomm 8c Gen 1 & 3, 8cx Gen 1 & 2 & 3. Automatic Framing will be available on all supported Qualcomm NPU chips. Automatic Framing with Super Resolution is exclusive to Qualcomm 8cx Gen 3 in Windows 11 2022 update. Device Manufacturer must have enabled Windows Studio Effects available by default in the system.
  • 15 Auto HDR requires an HDR monitor and is supported on titles using the DirectX 11 or later API.
  • 16 DirectStorage requires API adoption by games. Requires an NVMe SSD to store and run games that use the Standard NVM Express Controller driver and a DirectX12 GPU with Shader Model 6.0 support.
  • 17 DirectX 12 Ultimate available with supported games and graphics chips.
  • 19 Compatible controllers are wired or Bluetooth Game Input compatible controllers, such as the Xbox Wireless Controller.
  • 20 Ability to run x64 applications on Windows on ARM is only available with Windows 11.
  • 21 Requires TPM 2.0 or greater for TPM-based key protection.
  • 22 Requires InstantGo/AOAC/HSTI-compliant. More details here.
  • 23 Requires specialized hardware, including fingerprint reader, illuminated IR sensor or other biometric sensors and capable devices.
  • 25 Files may be made available for offline use. Otherwise, internet access required. Fees may apply. Requires Microsoft account.
  • 26 GIF functionality is not available in China.
  • 27 Phone Link experience comes preinstalled on your PC with Windows 10 (running Windows 10, May 2019 Update at the least) or Windows 11. To experience the full functionality, Android phones must be running Android 7.0 or later. Phone Link for iOS requires iPhone with iOS 14 or higher, Windows 11 device, Bluetooth connection and the latest version of the Phone Link app. Not available for iPad (iPadOS) or MacOS. Device compatibility may vary. Regional restrictions may apply. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
  • 28 Windows can back up files, settings and apps from PCs running Windows 10 and higher. Restore is available on Windows 11, version 22H2 and higher. Geographic restrictions may apply.
  • 29 Requires Microsoft account. Up to 5 GB of Microsoft Storage is included. Data transfers exceeding 5 GB require an active Microsoft subscription or trial.
  • 30 Using Windows Backup to restore to a Windows 11 PC requires you to sign in during initial device set-up with the same Microsoft account you used for Windows 10 PC backup.
  • 31 Timing of feature delivery varies by device. Feature availability varies by market. Requires Microsoft account to log in.
  • 32 50 credits available for initial use of Paint Cocreator. One credit applied per use. Credit system subject to change once preview is complete.
  • 33 Available in preview for Windows Insiders and will be available publicly in coming weeks.