Difference between Windows 8 - Windows 8 Pro
| Features | Windows RT | Windows 8 | Windows 8 Pro | Windows 8 Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Availability[14] | Pre-installed on devices[8] | Most channels | Most channels | Volume License customers |
| Architecture | ARM (32-bit) | IA-32 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) | IA-32 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) | IA-32 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) |
| Maximum physical memory (RAM)[15] | ? | 4 GB on IA-32 128 GB on x64 | 4 GB on IA-32 512 GB on x64 | 4 GB on IA-32 512 GB on x64 |
| Trusted boot | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Picture password | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Start screen, Semantic Zoom, Live Tiles | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Touch and Thumb keyboard | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Language packs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Updated File Explorer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Standard apps[a] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| File History | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Refresh and reset of OS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Play To | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connected standby | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Update | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Defender | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Better multi-monitor support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| New Windows Task Manager | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ISO image and VHD mounting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile broadband features | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft account integration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Internet Explorer 10 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SmartScreen | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Store | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Xbox Live app (including Xbox Live Arcade)[16][17] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Exchange ActiveSync | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Snap | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Can connect to a VPN? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Supported third-party apps[4][18] | Windows Store apps only | Windows Store and desktop | Windows Store and desktop | Windows Store and desktop |
| Remote Desktop | Client only | Client only | Client and host | Client and host |
| Storage Spaces | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Media Player | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Encryption features | Device encryption[b] | Unavailable | BitLocker and EFS | BitLocker and EFS |
| Sideload Windows Store apps | Yes[20] | No[13] | Yes[21] | Yes[13] |
| Boot from VHD | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Can join a Windows domain? | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Group Policy | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hyper-V[22] | No | No | On 64-bit versions only with SLAT capable CPU | |
| AppLocker[c] | No | No | No | Yes |
| Windows To Go | No | No | No | Yes |
| DirectAccess | No | No | No | Yes |
| BranchCache[d] | No | No | No | Yes |
| Can be virtualized by RemoteFX? | No | No | No | Yes |
| Services for Network File System[25] | No | No | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Office apps bundled with OS[e] | Yes | No | No | No |
| Windows Media Center | No | No | Via an add-in[26] | No |
| Windows RT | Windows 8 | Windows 8 Pro | Windows 8 Enterprise | |
