Windows 10 Pro vs Windows 11 Pro: differences and requirements
The question is no longer which one is better, but whether your PC can run Windows 11: since October 2025, Windows 10 no longer gets security updates.
Windows 11 Professional | 2 for 1
from$9.99
Support: version-dependent: 24H2 = 2026-10-13, 25H2 = 2027-10-12
View productThe differences
- Support: Windows 10 support ended on 14 October 2025. The PC keeps working, but Microsoft no longer publishes security updates or provides technical support. Windows 11 still gets them.
- Windows 11 needs a compatible 64-bit processor with at least 1 GHz and 2 cores, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage.
- Windows 11 requires UEFI with Secure Boot and TPM 2.0.
- It also needs DirectX 12 graphics (WDDM 2.0 driver) and a 720p display larger than 9 inches.
- Windows 11 Home and Pro require an internet connection and a Microsoft account during initial setup.
- Office 2024 is supported on Windows 11 but not on Windows 10 Home or Pro. Office 2021 and Office 2019 run on both.
System requirements side by side
| Windows 10 Pro | Windows 11 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | not applicable (operating system) | not applicable; upgrade only from Windows 10 version 2004 or later |
| Processor | 1 GHz processor or SoC | 1 GHz, 2+ cores, 64-bit processor from Microsoft's approved list (aka.ms/CPUlist) |
| Memory | 1 GB (32-bit) / 2 GB (64-bit) | 4 GB |
| Disk space | 32 GB or more | 64 GB or larger |
| Screen resolution | 800 x 600 | 720p, larger than 9 inches diagonally, 8 bits per colour channel |
| Graphics | DirectX 9+ with a WDDM 1.0 driver | DirectX 12+ with a WDDM 2.0 driver |
| Notes | Final version 22H2; support ended, no security updates without ESU | UEFI with Secure Boot; TPM 2.0 mandatory; Windows 11 Pro for personal use requires an internet connection and a Microsoft account at first setup |
Which one is right for you?
If your PC meets the requirements — above all TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot — go for Windows 11 Pro. Windows 10 Pro only makes sense on PCs that cannot upgrade, accepting that they no longer get security patches.