Windows 11 Pro for Workstations (Download) for 1 Machine
Power through demanding tasks with Windows 11 Pro for Workstations.
- Designed for projects such as intensive graphics work and massive data crunching.
- Speeds through heavy workloads with server-grade security and performance.
- Up to 4 CPUs and 6TB of memory.
- Support for persistent memory gives you lightning-fast data storage.
If your system was unable to install Windows 11 when offered the free upgrade due to system requirements, you will not be able to install this version. For more information on system requirements visit, https://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-11-specifications.
Microsoft Windows 11 PRO for Workstation NEW Powered performance Fuel your productivity with advanced configurations and processing capability. Supports up to 4 CPUs and 6TB of memory to rocket through demanding workloads. Protection you can trust Get powerful built-in protection for your devices, identity and data. Replace passwords with face or fingerprint sign-in, and protect sensitive information even on lost or stolen devices.2 Uninterrupted workflows Blaze through your workloads with lag-free multitasking across your most demanding applications. Features include the fastest workstation data storage available with Remote Direct Memory Access. Simple, flexible management Save time and effort maintaining your workstation by using your familiar Windows management tools, including zero-touch deployment with Windows Autopilot1.
Overview: Windows 11 Pro for Workstations:
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Edition Name | Windows 11 Pro for Workstations |
| Edition Family | Windows 11 Pro (Premium Tier) |
| Initial Release Date | October 5, 2021 |
| Latest Build (as of 2025) | Build 26100.x (24H2 Update) |
| Architecture Supported | 64-bit (x64, ARM64) |
| Target Users | Professionals handling intensive workloads — e.g., data scientists, 3D modelers, engineers, video editors, researchers |
| Core Advantage | Optimized for high-performance computing, multi-core CPUs, large memory systems, and advanced file systems (ReFS) |
| Base Edition | Built on Windows 11 Pro but with enhanced hardware and performance support |
System Requirements:
| Component | Minimum Requirement | Recommended for Workstations |
|---|---|---|
| Processor (CPU) | 1 GHz or faster, 2+ cores, 64-bit processor with TPM 2.0 | Intel Xeon / AMD Ryzen Threadripper / AMD EPYC / Intel Core X-series |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 GB | Up to 6 TB supported (depending on motherboard and CPU) |
| Storage | 64 GB or more | NVMe SSD or PCIe 4.0+ SSDs recommended |
| Graphics | DirectX 12 compatible GPU with WDDM 2.0 driver | Professional GPUs (NVIDIA Quadro / AMD Radeon Pro) |
| Display | 720p, 9”+ display | 4K+ display with HDR |
| TPM | Version 2.0 required | Hardware-based |
| UEFI Secure Boot | Required | Required |
Hardware & Performance Enhancements:
| Feature | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro for Workstations |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Socket Support | Up to 2 CPUs | Up to 4 CPUs (sockets) |
| CPU Core Support | Up to 128 cores | Up to 256 cores |
| RAM Support | Up to 2 TB | Up to 6 TB (terabytes) |
| File System | NTFS only | ReFS (Resilient File System) + NTFS |
| Persistent Memory (NVDIMM-N) | ❌ Not supported | ✅ Supported (for ultra-fast storage access) |
| SMB Direct (RDMA over SMB) | ❌ Not supported | ✅ Supported (faster network file access using RDMA) |
| High-Performance Storage | Standard NVMe | Optimized for multi-channel NVMe, RDMA, and NVDIMM |
| Workstation Mode | ❌ | ✅ Optimized kernel for heavy multitasking |
| Power Plan (Ultimate Performance) | ❌ | ✅ Included by default |
| ECC (Error-Correcting Code) Memory | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported (recommended for stability) |
File System & Storage Features:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| ReFS (Resilient File System) | Advanced file system optimized for data integrity, large volume handling, and automatic error correction — ideal for large-scale data and virtual machines. |
| Storage Spaces Direct | Enables high-performance, resilient local storage pooling — supports NVMe SSDs and RDMA-capable networking. |
| Persistent Memory Support (NVDIMM-N) | Allows apps to read/write directly to non-volatile memory, achieving SSD-level speed with DRAM-level latency. |
| Data Integrity Streams | Protects against silent data corruption — especially useful in scientific and financial computing. |
| SMB Direct (RDMA Support) | Allows file transfers to bypass the CPU using RDMA-capable NICs — delivering very low latency and high throughput. |
| Multipath I/O (MPIO) | Supports multiple data paths between storage and servers — increases redundancy and performance. |
Security Features:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| TPM 2.0 & Secure Boot | Required for enhanced hardware-based protection |
| BitLocker Drive Encryption | Full-disk encryption to secure data |
| Windows Hello for Business | Biometric and PIN-based authentication |
| Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) | Isolates critical system processes in a secure virtual environment |
| Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI) | Prevents unsigned drivers or system files from loading |
| Windows Defender Application Guard | Sandboxes untrusted apps and web sessions |
| Windows Sandbox | Temporary isolated environment for testing apps or files |
| Device Guard / Credential Guard | Protects system and credentials from kernel-level attacks |
Networking & Remote Features:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| SMB Direct (RDMA) | Ultra-fast file transfer over RDMA networks (InfiniBand, RoCE, iWARP) |
| Remote Desktop Host | Full host capabilities (unlike Home editions) |
| Remote Credential Guard | Protects credentials during RDP sessions |
| Windows Remote Management (WinRM) | For scripting and automation |
| Hyper-V | Full virtualization platform support |
| Nested Virtualization | Supported |
| RemoteFX (deprecated) | Removed from Windows 11 |
| QoS Management | Configurable network bandwidth prioritization |
Advanced Compute & Virtualization:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Hyper-V | Native hypervisor for running multiple VMs |
| Containers (Windows / Linux) | Full Docker & Kubernetes container support |
| Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2) | Run full Linux distributions with GPU acceleration |
| Windows Subsystem for Android | Run Android apps natively (on supported systems) |
| GPU Partitioning & Hardware Acceleration | Supports multiple GPU workloads (DirectML, CUDA, TensorFlow) |
| High Performance Scheduling | Optimized for high thread-count CPUs |
| NUMA Awareness | Supports Non-Uniform Memory Access for multi-CPU systems |
| Precision Time Protocol (PTP) | For time-sensitive operations like trading or industrial control |
Included Business & Enterprise Tools:
| Tool / Feature | Availability |
|---|---|
| Group Policy Management | ✅ |
| Azure Active Directory Join | ✅ |
| Local Active Directory Join | ✅ |
| Windows Update for Business | ✅ |
| Assigned Access / Kiosk Mode | ✅ |
| Microsoft Remote Desktop Host | ✅ |
| Microsoft Endpoint Manager Support | ✅ |
| Dynamic Provisioning | ✅ |
| Windows Autopilot | ✅ |
| Microsoft Store for Business | ✅ (Deprecated in newer builds) |
Graphics, Media, and AI Capabilities
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| DirectX 12 Ultimate | Supports advanced graphics rendering (ray tracing, variable rate shading, mesh shaders) |
| Auto HDR & HDR Calibration Tool | Enhances visuals on HDR displays |
| AI-based Noise Suppression & Eye Contact | For Teams / conferencing apps |
| GPU Scheduling | Offloads graphics scheduling to GPU hardware |
| Multi-GPU Rendering (SLI/CrossFire) | Supported depending on driver |
| Video Editing / Encoding | Optimized with GPU acceleration (HEVC, H.264, AV1 codecs) |
Performance Features Unique to Pro for Workstations
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Ultimate Performance Power Plan | Disables power saving throttling for consistent high performance |
| Low-Latency Networking (SMB Direct) | Near-zero CPU overhead file sharing |
| Faster File Handling with ReFS | Ideal for massive files and VMs |
| Optimized Thread Scheduler | Efficiently manages high-core CPUs (Threadripper, Xeon, EPYC) |
| Faster Boot and Resume | Through firmware optimizations |
| Enhanced Disk Throughput | With advanced I/O queue management |
Licensing & Activation:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| License Type | Retail, OEM, or Volume Licensing (VL) |
| Upgrade Path | Upgradable from Windows 11 Pro |
| Activation | Online or KMS/Active Directory-based |
| License Transferability | Retail licenses transferable; OEM licenses not |
| Volume Activation Tools | Supported (MAK, KMS, Active Directory-based) |
