Compare Windows 8.1 Editions
| Feature name | Windows RT 8.1 | Windows 8.1 | Windows 8.1 Pro | Windows 8.1 Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| User experience | ||||
| Apps launch other apps (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Customize multiple tiles at once (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Lock screen photo slide show (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Four tile sizes (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Microsoft account login | x | x | x | x |
| Multiple instances of same app (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Open up to four variable sized windows at once (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Optional boot to the desktop/All apps screen/Start screen (new) | x | x | x | x |
| PC Settings improvements (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Portrait mode improvements (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Search powered by Bing (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Set the desktop wallpaper as Start background (new) | x | x | x | x |
| The Start button (new) | x | x | x | x |
| The Start screen and live tiles | x | x | x | x |
| Touch keyboard and thumb keyboard | x | x | x | x |
| Apps | ||||
| Automatic app updates from Windows Store (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Built-in apps (Mail, Calendar, People, and more)i | x | x | x | x |
| Install and run desktop apps (x86/x64) | x | x | x | |
| Internet Explorer 11 (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 RT includedii | x | |||
| Windows Media Playeriii | x | x | x | |
| Windows Store | x | x | x | x |
| Xbox SmartGlassiv with Play To / Play On | x | x | x | x |
| Devices and peripherals | ||||
| 3D printing support (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Biometric enrollment (new) | x | x | x | x |
| InstantGo v | x | x | x | x |
| Miracast wireless display support (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Mobile hotspot / Wi-Fi tethering (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Multiple monitor improvements (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Storage Spaces | x | x | x | |
| Wi-Fi Direct wireless printing support (new) | x | x | x | x |
| System | ||||
| CPU Sockets | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Maximum RAM vi | 4 GB | 128 GB | 512 GB | 512 GB |
| Mount ISO / VHDs | x | x | x | x |
| Reset and refresh your PC | x | x | x | x |
| Switch languages on the fly (Language Packs) vii | x | x | x | x |
| VHD boot | x | x | ||
| Windows Update | x | x | x | x |
| Management | ||||
| Assigned access (new) | x | x | x | |
| Client Hyper-V | x | x | ||
| Device enrollment (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Domain Join | x | x | ||
| Exchange ActiveSync | x | x | x | x |
| Group Policy | x | x | ||
| Open MDM support (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Sideloading LOB apps | <sold separately > | <sold separately > | x | |
| Start screen controlviii(new) | x | |||
| Windows To Go Creator | x | |||
| Work folders (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Workplace join (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Security | ||||
| AppLocker | x | |||
| Binary extension scanningix | x | x | x | x |
| BitLocker and BitLocker To Go | x | x | ||
| Device Encryptionx | x | x | x | x |
| Family Safety | x | x | x | x |
| Multi-factor authentication for BYOD (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Picture password | x | x | x | x |
| Remote business data removal (new) | x | x | x | x |
| Trusted Bootxi | x | x | x | x |
| Windows Defenderxii | x | x | x | x |
| Windows SmartScreen | x | x | x | x |
| Networking | ||||
| BranchCache | x | |||
| Built-in VPN clientsxiii | x | x | x | x |
| DirectAccess | x | |||
| Remote Desktop (client) | x | x | x | x |
| Remote Desktop (host) | x | x | ||
| VDI enhancements | x |
iBuilt-in apps include: Alarms, Calculator, Calendar, Camera, Finance, Food & Drink, Games, Health & Fitness, Mail, Maps, Music, News, People, Photos, Reader, Reading List, Sound Recorder, Sports, Travel, Video, and Weather
iiIncludes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook; certain features, macros, add-ins, and other custom programs may not work on Windows RT 8.1; for further details, please go to http://office.com/officeRT
iiiWatching DVD movies on Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 Pro, and Windows 8.1 Enterprise Edition requires separate playback software; Windows RT 8.1 does not support DVD movie playback
ivXbox SmartGlass available as download in the Windows Store
vEnabled on all editions that meet InstantGo certification requirements, at OEM discretion (named “connected standby” in the Windows 8 editions)
vi32-bit versions support up to 4GB
viiLanguage switching is not included in Windows 8.1 single language versions
viiiStart screen control can be enabled in Windows RT 8.1 with side loading key
ixInternet Explorer scans binary extensions (ActiveX for example,) before running them, using the anti-malware solution
xDevice encryption is automatically enabled on InstantGo certified devices after first login with Microsoft Account
xiTrusted Boot requires TPM
xiiWindows Defender now includes network behavior monitoring
xiiiVPN now includes auto-triggered VPN and 3rd party built-in VPN clients in addition to Microsoft VPN client
