Windows 10 editions for education customers

  • Article
  • Applies to:
    ✅ Windows 10

Windows 10 offers various new features and functionalities, such as simplified provisioning with the Set up School PCs app or Windows Configuration Designer, easier delivery of digital assessments with Take a Test, and faster sign-in performance for shared devices than ever before. These features work with all Windows for desktop editions, excluding Windows 10 Home. You can find more information on windows.com.

Windows 10 introduces two editions designed for the unique needs of K-12 institutions: Windows 10 Pro Education and Windows 10 Education. These editions provide education-specific default settings for the evolving landscape in K-12 education IT environments.

Windows 10 Pro Education

Windows 10 Pro Education builds on the commercial version of Windows 10 Pro and provides important management controls needed in schools. Windows 10 Pro Education is a variant of Windows 10 Pro that provides education-specific default settings. These default settings disable tips, tricks and suggestions & Microsoft Store suggestions. More detailed information on these default settings is available in Manage Windows 10 and Microsoft Store tips, tricks, and suggestions.

Windows 10 Pro Education is available on new devices pre-installed with Windows 10, version 1607 or newer versions that are purchased with discounted K-12 academic licenses through OEM partners (these discounted licenses are sometimes referred to as National Academic or Shape the Future).

Existing devices running Windows 10 Pro, currently activated with the original OEM digital product key and purchased with discounted K-12 academic licenses through OEM partners (these discounted licenses are sometimes referred to as National Academic or Shape the Future), will upgrade automatically to Windows 10 Pro Education as part of the Windows 10, version 1607 installation.

Customers with Academic Volume Licensing agreements with rights for Windows can get Windows 10 Pro Education through the Volume Licensing Service Center.

Customers who deploy Windows 10 Pro are able to configure the product to have similar feature settings to Windows 10 Pro Education using policies. More detailed information on these policies and the configuration steps required is available in Manage Windows 10 and Microsoft Store tips, tricks, and suggestions. We recommend that K-12 customers using commercial Windows 10 Pro read the document and apply desired settings for your environment.

Windows 10 Education

Windows 10 Education builds on Windows 10 Enterprise and provides the enterprise-grade manageability and security desired by many schools. Windows 10 Education is effectively a variant of Windows 10 Enterprise that provides education-specific default settings. These default settings disable tips, tricks and suggestions & Microsoft Store suggestions. More detailed information on these default settings is available in Manage Windows 10 and Microsoft Store tips, tricks, and suggestions.

Windows 10 Education is available through Microsoft Volume Licensing. Customers who are already running Windows 10 Education can upgrade to Windows 10, version 1607 or newer versions through Windows Update or from the Volume Licensing Service Center. We recommend Windows 10 Education to all K-12 customers as it provides the most complete and secure edition for education environments. If you don't have access to Windows 10 Education, contact your Microsoft representative or see more information here.

Customers who deploy Windows 10 Enterprise are able to configure the product to have similar feature settings to Windows 10 Education using policies. More detailed information on these policies and the configuration steps required is available in Manage Windows 10 and Microsoft Store tips, tricks, and suggestions. We recommend that K-12 customers using commercial Windows 10 Enterprise read the document and apply desired settings for your environment.

For any other questions, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support.