Windows 10 editions

Windows 10 has eight editions (excluding the four "N" editions), with varying feature sets and intended hardware.

Editions
All mentioned editions have the ability to use language packs, enabling multiple user interface languages. This functionality was previously only available in Windows 7 Ultimate or Enterprise.
 * Windows 10 Home is designed for use in PCs, tablets, and 2-in-1s. It includes all consumer-directed features and is the equivalent to basic Windows 8, 8.1, Windows 7 Home Basic, and Home Premium. In Windows 10 Home, it is not possible to make changes to how the Windows Update works - it is all automatic, you can not choose, which updates will be downloaded and installed and which will not. It is possible to postpone restart of the system, but after some time, it will restart even against user's will. In comparison, in Windows Pro and Enterprise, there is an option to postpone updates completely. Even more, there is a way to customize it further - system will notify you, which updates you wish to download. However, in Windows 10 Home, you can not do this.
 * Windows 10 Home is designed for use in PCs, tablets, and 2-in-1s. It includes all consumer-directed features and is the equivalent to basic Windows 8, 8.1, Windows 7 Home Basic, and Home Premium. In Windows 10 Home, it is not possible to make changes to how the Windows Update works - it is all automatic, you can not choose, which updates will be downloaded and installed and which will not. It is possible to postpone restart of the system, but after some time, it will restart even against user's will. In comparison, in Windows Pro and Enterprise, there is an option to postpone updates completely. Even more, there is a way to customize it further - system will notify you, which updates you wish to download. However, in Windows 10 Home, you can not do this.


 * Windows 10 Pro is comparable with Windows 8 Pro, Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate, and Windows Vista Business and Ultimate. It builds on the Home edition and adds features essential for businesses, and functionally equivalent to Windows 8.1 Pro.
 * Windows 10 Pro is comparable with Windows 8 Pro, Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate, and Windows Vista Business and Ultimate. It builds on the Home edition and adds features essential for businesses, and functionally equivalent to Windows 8.1 Pro.


 * Windows 10 Enterprise provides all the features of Windows 10 Pro, with additional features to assist with IT-based organizations, and is functionally equivalent to Windows 8.1 Enterprise.
 * Windows 10 Enterprise provides all the features of Windows 10 Pro, with additional features to assist with IT-based organizations, and is functionally equivalent to Windows 8.1 Enterprise.


 * Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB (Long Term Servicing Branch) is the same edition as Windows 10 Enterprise but will not receive any feature updates and gives companies more control over the update process.
 * Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB (Long Term Servicing Branch) is the same edition as Windows 10 Enterprise but will not receive any feature updates and gives companies more control over the update process.


 * Windows 10 Education provides all Windows 10 Enterprise features, designed for use in schools, colleges, and universities. It will be available with Microsoft's Academic Volume Licensing, in a manner similar to Windows 8.1 Enterprise.
 * Windows 10 Education provides all Windows 10 Enterprise features, designed for use in schools, colleges, and universities. It will be available with Microsoft's Academic Volume Licensing, in a manner similar to Windows 8.1 Enterprise.


 * Windows 10 Mobile is designed for smartphones and small tablets. It includes all basic consumer features, including Continuum capability. It is the de facto successor of Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows RT.
 * Windows 10 Mobile is designed for smartphones and small tablets. It includes all basic consumer features, including Continuum capability. It is the de facto successor of Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows RT.


 * Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise provides all the features in Windows 10 Mobile, with additional features to assist with IT-based organizations, in a manner similar to Windows 8.1 Enterprise, but optimized for mobile devices.
 * Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise provides all the features in Windows 10 Mobile, with additional features to assist with IT-based organizations, in a manner similar to Windows 8.1 Enterprise, but optimized for mobile devices.


 * Windows 10 IoT Core is a version of Windows 10 designed specifically for use in small footprint, low-cost devices and IoT scenarios. It is similar in operating environment to Windows Embedded.
 * Windows 10 IoT Core is a version of Windows 10 designed specifically for use in small footprint, low-cost devices and IoT scenarios. It is similar in operating environment to Windows Embedded.

N and KN Editions
Additional Windows 10 editions specially destined for the EU, Switzerland, and South Korea (though South Korean editions have "KN") have the letter "N" (for Not with Media Player) suffixed to their names (e.g. Windows 10 Enterprise N) and do not have media-related technologies like Windows Media Player or Camera. There are N editions for all Windows 10 versions except Mobile, Mobile Enterprise, and IoT Core. Microsoft was required to create the "N" editions of Windows after the European Commission ruled in 2004 that it needed to provide a copy of Windows without Windows Media Player tied in. The costs of the N Editions are the same as the full versions, as the "Media Feature Pack" can be downloaded without charge from Microsoft.

Those editions lack at least the following functionality:
 * Play or create:
 * Audio CDs
 * Digital media files
 * Video DVDs
 * Organize content in a media library
 * Create playlists
 * Convert audio CDs to digital media files
 * View artist and title information of digital media files
 * View album art of music files
 * Transfer music to personal music players
 * Record and play back TV broadcasts after
 * Internet Explorer does not include playback for:
 * Adaptive streaming
 * Digital Rights Management (DRM)

It is possible to add the missing functionality with third-party software or with the Media Feature Pack, Groove Music and Xbox Video from Microsoft.

Free upgrade
At the time of launch, Microsoft deemed Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 users eligible to upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge, so long as the upgrade takes place within one year of Windows 10's initial release date. Windows RT and the respective Enterprise editions of Windows 7 and 8.1 were excluded from this offer.