OS editions before and after applying change to license Replace with Volume License of Enterprise The table below illustrates how a change to a license key can affect an operating system’s edition: Edition before change These can be the following:Īs we mentioned, the type of edition depends on the method applied to install it, which means the Windows edition can be changed by changing the installation method or changing its license. Whereas consumer editions can be obtained through OEM installations, retail licenses, or by using Media Creation Tools. The business editions of Windows apply to volume licenses. This information is mostly useful for business consumers as often a volume license can be reused on another computer when vacated from the original PC. Consumer Windows Operating SystemsĪlthough it is not defined within the OS what type of license your machine is using, it is still better to know. This could be either a volume license or a regular license, which determines whether this is a Business Edition or a Consumer Edition OS. When activating a Windows OS, use a license or key. Instead, they are dependent upon the type of license being used.

However, OS editions do not work like that.

That said, a version can change by upgrading or downgrading the operating system, for instance, installing an update through Windows Update. To conclude, the operating system’s complete denotation can be “Windows 11 Pro for Workstations version 22H2.” For example, the Windows 10 versions to follow were changed to “20H2” instead of “2009.”

However, Microsoft then changed the way they denoted the versions by including alphabets. For example, in the case of Windows 10, a version was classified as “1903” or “1909” suffix at the end of the Windows’ name. A version is recognized through a series of integers or an alphanumeric identifier. However, these editions have nothing to do with their versions. Windows 11 is offered in the following seven editions:

Windows 11 Professional for Workstations.

Windows 11 pro release date