Comparison of Microsoft Windows versions
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Microsoft Windows is the name of several families of computer software operating systems created by Microsoft. Microsoft first introduced an operating environment named Windows in November 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces (GUIs).
All versions of Microsoft Windows are commercial proprietary software.
General information
Basic general information about Windows.
DOS shells
| Name | Release date | Latest version | Support status | Codename | OS required | Architecture | Editions | Target market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 1.0 | 1985-11-20 | 1.04 (1987-04-08) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) | Interface Manager | DOS 2.0 or higher | 16-bit | Desktops | |
| Windows 2.0 | 1987-09-08 | 2.03 (1987-12-09) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) | DOS 3.0 or higher | 16-bit | Desktops | ||
| Windows 2.1x | 1988-05-27 | 2.11 (1989-03-13) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) | DOS 3.0 or higher | 16-bit | Desktops | ||
| Windows 3.0 | 1990-05-22 | 3.0a with Multimedia Extensions (1991-10-20) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) | DOS 3.1 or higher | 16-bit | Windows 3.0 Windows 3.0a Windows 3.0a with Multimedia Extensions | Desktops | |
| Windows 3.1x | 1992-04-06 | 3.11 (1993-12-31) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) | Janus 3.1 for Workgroups: Kato 3.11: Snowball (LB) 3.11 for Workgroups: Sparta | DOS 3.3 or higher | 16-bit* | Windows 3.1 Windows for Workgroups 3.1 Windows 3.11 Windows for Workgroups 3.11 Windows 3.2 (Simplified Chinese only) | Desktops |
* Has partial 32-bit compatibility with Win32s
Windows 9x
| Name | Release date | RTM build | Latest version | Support status | Codename | MS-DOS version | Kernel type | Architecture | Editions | Target market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 95 | 1995-07-14 | 950 | 4.00.950C OSR2.5 (1997-11-26) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) | Chicago | MS-DOS 7.0, MS-DOS 7.1 (OSR2.x) | Monolithic | Hybrid 16/32-bit | Retail, OSR1, OSR2, OSR2.1, OSR2.5 | Desktops |
| Windows 98 | 1998-05-15 | 1998 | 4.10.1998 | Unsupported (2006-07-11) | Memphis | MS-DOS 7.1 | Monolithic | Hybrid 16/32-bit | Desktops | |
| Windows 98 SE | 1999-05-05 | 2222 | 4.10.2222A (2000-02-25) | Unsupported (2006-07-11) | MS-DOS 7.1 | Monolithic | Hybrid 16/32-bit | Desktops | ||
| Windows Me | 2000-06-19 | 3000 | 4.90.3000 (2000-09-14) | Unsupported (2006-07-11) | Millennium | MS-DOS 8.0 | Monolithic | Hybrid 16/32-bit | Desktops |
Windows NT
| Name | Release date | Version | RTM build | Latest build | Support status | Codename, working name | Supported architectures | Editions | OS type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows NT 3.1 | 1993-10-24 | 3.1 | 528 | 528 (SP3) (1994-11-10) | Unsupported (2000-12-31) | New Technology OS/2 | IA-32, DEC Alpha, MIPS | Workstation, Advanced Server | Workstation, Server | |
| Windows NT 3.5 | 1994-09-21 | 3.5 | 807 | 807 (SP3) (1995-06-21) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) | Daytona | IA-32, DEC Alpha, MIPS, PowerPC | Workstation, Server | Workstation, Server | |
| Windows NT 3.51 | 1995-05-30 | 3.51 | 1057 | 1057 (SP5) (1996-09-19) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) | —N/a | IA-32, DEC Alpha, MIPS, PowerPC | Workstation, Server | Workstation, Server | |
| Windows NT 4.0 | 1996-08-24 | 4.0 | 1381 | 1381 (SP6a) (1999-11-30) | Unsupported (2004-06-30) Extended Security Updates were released until 2006. | Cairo/Shell Update Release Hydra (Terminal Server) Impala (Embedded) | IA-32, DEC Alpha, MIPS, PowerPC | Workstation, Server, Server Enterprise Edition, Terminal Server, Embedded | Workstation, Server, Embedded PCs | |
| Windows 2000 | 2000-02-17 | 5.0 | 2195 | SP4 Rollup 1 v2 (2005-09-13) | Unsupported (2010-07-13) | Windows NT 5.0 Windows 2000 64-bit: Janus | IA-32 | Professional, Server, Advanced Server, Datacenter Server, Powered (Embedded) | Desktop, Workstation, Server, Embedded PCs | |
| Windows XP | 2001-10-25 | 5.1 | 2600 | 2600 (SP3) (2008-04-21) | Unsupported (2014-04-08) | Whistler | IA-32, IA-64, x86-64 | HomeK, ProfessionalKx64, Media Center, Tablet PC, Starter, Embedded | Desktop, Workstation, Embedded PCs | |
| Windows Server 2003 | 2003-04-24 | 5.2 | 3790 | 3790 (SP2) (2007-03-13) | Unsupported (2015-07-14) | Whistler Server, Windows.NET Server | IA-32, IA-64, x86-64 | Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web, Storage, Small Business Server, Compute Cluster | Server, Network Appliance, Embedded PCs, HPC | |
| Windows Server 2003 R2 | 2006-03-05 | 5.2 | 3790 | ? | Unsupported (2015-07-14) | ? | IA-32, x86-64 | Server, Network Appliance, Embedded PCs, HPC | ||
| Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs | 2006-07-08 | 5.1 | 2600 | —N/a | Unsupported (2014-04-08) | Eiger, Mönch | IA-32 | Fundamentals for Legacy PCs | Desktop | |
| Windows Vista | 2007-01-30 | 6.0 | 6000 | 6002 (SP2) (2009-04-28) | Unsupported (2017-04-11) | Longhorn | IA-32, x86-64 | Starter, Home BasicK, Home PremiumK, BusinessK, EnterpriseK, UltimateK | Desktop, Workstation | |
| Windows Home Server | 2007-11-04 | 5.2 | 3790 | —N/a | Unsupported (2013-01-08) | Q, Quattro | IA-32, x86-64 | Home Server | Server | |
| Windows Server 2008 | 2008-02-27 | 6.0 | 6001 | 6002 (SP2) (2009-04-28) | Out of extended support (2020-01-14); Grandfathered paid Premium Assurance (limited to some critical security issues) security update support until January 13, 2026. | Longhorn Server | x86-64, IA-64, IA-32 | WebCore, StandardCorewHVCwHV, EnterpriseCorewHVCwHV, Small Business Server, DatacenterCorewHVCwHV, HPC, HyperV Core, Foundation, Storage | Server | |
| Windows 7 | 2009-10-22 | 6.1 | 7600 | 7601 (SP1) (2011-02-22) | Unsupported (2020-01-14) | 7 | IA-32, x86-64 | StarterK, Home BasicK, Home PremiumK, ProfessionalK, UltimateK, EnterpriseK | Desktop, Workstation, Multi-touch | |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 | 2009-10-22 | 6.1 | 7600 | 7601 (SP1) (2011-02-22) | Out of extended support (2020-01-14); Grandfathered paid Premium Assurance (limited to some critical security issues) security update support until January 13, 2026. | 7 Server | x86-64, IA-64 | StandardCore, EnterpriseCore, DatacenterCore, WebCore | Server | |
| Windows Home Server 2011 | 2011-04-06 | 6.1 | 8400 | —N/a | Unsupported (2016-04-12) | Vail | x86-64 | Home Server | Server | |
| Windows Server 2012 | 2012-09-04 | 6.2 | 9200 | —N/a | Unsupported (2023-10-10) | 8 Server | x86-64 | Foundation, Essentials, Standard, Datacenter, Storage Standard, Storage Workgroup | Server | |
| Windows 8 | 2012-10-26 | 6.2 | 9200 | —N/a | (RTM only) Unsupported (2016-01-12) | 8 | IA-32, x86-64, ARMv7 | Windows 8, Pro, EnterpriseK, Windows RT | Desktop, Workstation, Multi-touch | |
| Windows 8.1 | 2013-10-17 | 6.3 | 9600 | —N/a | Unsupported (2023-01-10) | Blue | IA-32, x86-64, ARMv7 | Windows 8.1, Pro, EnterpriseK, Windows RT 8.1 | Desktop, Workstation, Multi-touch | |
| Windows Server 2012 R2 | 2013-10-18 | 6.3 | 9600 | —N/a | Out of extended support (2023-10-10); Paid support via the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program until October 13, 2026. | Blue Server | x86-64 | Foundation, Essentials, Standard, Datacenter, Storage Essentials, Storage Standard, Storage Workgroup | Server | |
| Windows 10 | Original Release | 2015-07-29 | 10.0 | 10240 | —N/a | Unsupported (2017-05-09) | Threshold | IA-32, x86-64, ARMv7 | Home, Pro, Education, Enterprise | Desktop, Workstation, Multi-touch |
| Unsupported (2025-10-14) | Enterprise LTSB | |||||||||
| November Update | 2015-11-12 | 10586 | —N/a | Unsupported (2017-10-10) | Threshold 2 | Home, Pro, Education, Enterprise | ||||
| Anniversary Update | 2016-08-02 | 14393 | —N/a | Unsupported (2018-04-10) | Redstone | Home, Pro, Pro Education | ||||
| Unsupported (2019-04-09) | Education, Enterprise | |||||||||
| On extended support (2026-10-13) | Enterprise LTSB | |||||||||
| Creators Update | 2017-04-11 | 15063 | —N/a | Unsupported (2018-10-09) | Redstone 2 | Home, Pro, Pro Education | ||||
| Unsupported (2019-10-08) | Education, Enterprise | |||||||||
| Fall Creators Update | 2017-10-17 | 16299 | —N/a | Unsupported (2019-04-09) | Redstone 3 | IA-32, x86-64, ARMv7, ARM64 | Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Pro Education | |||
| Unsupported (2020-10-13) | Education, Enterprise | |||||||||
| April 2018 Update | 2018-04-30 | 17134 | —N/a | Unsupported (2019-11-12) | Redstone 4 | Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Pro Education | ||||
| Unsupported (2021-05-11) | Education, Enterprise | |||||||||
| October 2018 Update | 2018-10-02 | 17763 | —N/a | Unsupported (2020-11-10) | Redstone 5 | Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Pro Education | ||||
| Unsupported (2021-05-11) | Education, Enterprise | |||||||||
| On extended support (2029-01-09) | Enterprise LTSC | |||||||||
| May 2019 Update | 2019-05-21 | 18362 | —N/a | Unsupported (2020-12-08) | 19H1 | Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Pro Education, Education, Enterprise | ||||
| November 2019 Update | 2019-11-12 | 18363 | —N/a | Unsupported (2021-05-11) | 19H2 | Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Pro Education | ||||
| Unsupported (2022-05-10) | Education, Enterprise | |||||||||
| May 2020 Update | 2020-05-27 | 19041 | —N/a | Unsupported (2021-12-14) | 20H1 | Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Pro Education, Education, Enterprise | ||||
| October 2020 Update | 2020-10-20 | 19042 | —N/a | Unsupported (2022-05-10) | 20H2 | Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Pro Education | ||||
| Unsupported (2023-05-09) | Education, Enterprise | |||||||||
| May 2021 Update | 2021-05-18 | 19043 | —N/a | Unsupported (2022-12-13) | 21H1 | Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Pro Education, Education, Enterprise | ||||
| November 2021 Update | 2021-10-16 | 19044 | —N/a | Unsupported (2023-06-13) | 21H2 | Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Pro Education | ||||
| Unsupported (2024-06-11) | Education, Enterprise | |||||||||
| Mainstream support (2027-01-12) | Enterprise LTSC | |||||||||
| 2022 Update | 2022-10-18 | 19045 | —N/a | Unsupported (2025-10-14); paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which offers continued security updates until October 13, 2026 for consumers, or at most October 10, 2028 for businesses and schools. | 22H2 | Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Pro Education Education, Enterprise | ||||
| Windows Server 2016 | 2016-10-12 | 10.0 | 14393 | —N/a | On extended support (2027-01-12) | Redstone Server | x86-64 | Essentials, Standard, Datacenter, MultiPoint Premium, Storage Standard, Storage Workgroup | Server | |
| Windows Server 2019 | 2018-10-03 | 10.0 | 17763 | —N/a | On extended support (2029-01-09) | Redstone 5 Server | x86-64 | Essentials, Standard, Datacenter | Server | |
| Windows Server 2022 | 2021-08-18 | 10.0 | 20348 | —N/a | Mainstream support (2026-10-13) Extended support (2031-10-14) | 21H2 Server | x86-64 | Essentials, Standard, Datacenter, Datacenter for Azure | Server | |
| Windows 11 | Original Release | 2021-10-05 | 10.0 | 22000 | —N/a | Unsupported (2023-10-10) | Sunvalley (21H2) | x86-64, ARM64 | Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Pro Education, SE | Desktop, Workstation, Multi-touch |
| Unsupported (2024-10-08) | Education, Enterprise | |||||||||
| 2022 Update | 2022-09-20 | 22621 | 22H2 | Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Pro Education, SE | ||||||
| Unsupported (2025-10-14) | Education, Enterprise | |||||||||
| 2023 Update | 2023-10-31 | 22631 | Unsupported (2025-11-11) | 23H2 | Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Pro Education, SE | |||||
| Supported (2026-11-10) | Education, Enterprise | |||||||||
| 2024 Update | 2024-10-01 | 26100 | Supported (2026-10-13) | 24H2 | Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Pro Education, SE | |||||
| Supported (2027-10-12) | Education, Enterprise | |||||||||
| 2025 Update | 2025-09-30 | 26200 | Supported (2027-10-12) | 25H2 | Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Pro Education | |||||
| Supported (2028-10-10) | Education, Enterprise | |||||||||
| 26H1 | 2026-02-10 | 28000 | Supported (2028-03-14) | 26H1 | Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Pro Education | |||||
| Supported (2029-03-13) | Education, Enterprise | |||||||||
| Windows Server 2025 | 2024-11-01 | 10.0 | 26100 | —N/a | Mainstream support (2029-10-09) Extended support (2034-10-10) | 24H2 | x86-64, ARM64 | Essentials, Standard, Datacenter, Datacenter for Azure | Server | |
| Name | Release date | Version | RTM build | Latest build | Support status | Codename, working name | Supported architectures | Editions | OS type |
^N has also an N-edition
^K has also an N-edition
^KN has also an N-edition
^x64 has a separate x64-edition
^Core has also a Core-edition
^wHV has also an edition without HyperV
^CwHV has also a Core-edition without HyperV
Windows Embedded Compact
Windows Embedded Compact (Windows CE) is a discontinued variation of Microsoft's Windows operating system for minimalistic computers and embedded systems. Windows CE was a distinctly different kernel, rather than a trimmed-down version of desktop Windows. It is supported on Intel x86 and is compatible on MIPS, ARM, and Hitachi SuperH processors.
| Name | Release date | RTM build | Current version | Support status | Codename | Based on (kernel) | Kernel type | Operating environments | Editions | Purpose | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows CE 1.0 | 1996-11-16 | Unsupported | Pegasus, Alder | CE 1.0 | Embedded | First release of Microsoft's Windows CE line for minimalistic computers and embedded systems | |||||
| Windows CE 2.0 | 1997-11-29 | Unsupported | Mercury, Apollo | CE 2.0 | 2.1, 2.11 | Embedded | |||||
| Windows CE 3.0 | 2000-06-15 | Unsupported (2007-10-09) | Cedar, Galileo, Rapier, Merlin, Stinger | CE 3.0 | Embedded kernel | Embedded | |||||
| Windows CE 4.0 | 2002-01-07 | Unsupported | Talisker | CE 4.0 | 4.1, 4.2 | Embedded | |||||
| Windows CE 5.0 | 2004-07-09 | 5.0 (2004-07-09) | Unsupported (2014-10-14) | Macallan | CE 5.0 | Embedded kernel | Embedded | ||||
| Windows Embedded CE 6.0 | 2006-11-01 | Unsupported (2018-04-10) | Yamazaki | CE 6.0 | Hybrid kernel | ||||||
| Windows Embedded Compact 7 | 2011-03-01 | ? | ? | Unsupported (2021-04-13) | Chelan | CE 7.0 | Hybrid | ? Standard, POSReady | |||
| Windows Embedded Compact 2013 | 2013-08-11 | Update 17 (2017-11-15) | Unsupported (2023-10-10) | —N/a | CE 8.0 | Standard Industry (8.0, 8.1) Handheld | Embedded |
Windows IoT
The Windows IoT family is the successor to the now-discontinued Windows Embedded family.
| Name | Release date | Version | RTM build | Editions | License | OS type | Support status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 IoT | Anniversary Update | 2016-08-02 | NT 10.0 | 14393 | Core | OEM | IoT | Unsupported (2018-04-10) |
| Enterprise | Unsupported (2019-04-09) | |||||||
| Enterprise LTSB | On extended support (2026-10-13) | |||||||
| Creators Update | 2017-04-11 | 15063 | Core | Unsupported (2018-10-09) | ||||
| Enterprise | Unsupported (2019-10-08) | |||||||
| Fall Creators Update | 2017-10-17 | 16299 | Core | Unsupported (2019-04-09) | ||||
| Enterprise | Unsupported (2020-10-13) | |||||||
| April 2018 Update | 2018-04-30 | 17134 | Core | Unsupported (2019-11-12) | ||||
| Enterprise | Unsupported (2021-05-11) | |||||||
| October 2018 Update | 2018-10-02 | 17763 | Core | Unsupported (2020-11-10) | ||||
| Enterprise | Unsupported (2021-05-11) | |||||||
| Core LTSC, Enterprise LTSC | On extended support (2029-01-09) | |||||||
| May 2019 Update | 2019-08-29 | 18362 | Enterprise | Unsupported (2020-12-08) | ||||
| November 2019 Update | 2019-11-12 | 18363 | Unsupported (2022-05-10) | |||||
| May 2020 Update | 2020-05-27 | 19041 | Unsupported (2021-12-14) | |||||
| October 2020 Update | 2020-10-20 | 19042 | Unsupported (2023-05-09) | |||||
| May 2021 Update | 2021-05-18 | 19043 | Unsupported (2022-12-13) | |||||
| November 2021 Update | 2021-11-16 | 19044 | Enterprise | Unsupported (2024-06-11) | ||||
| Enterprise LTSC | On extended support (2032-01-13) | |||||||
| 2022 Update | 2022-10-18 | 19045 | Enterprise | Unsupported (2025-10-14) | ||||
| Windows Server IoT 2019 | 2019-02-26 | NT 10.0 | 17763 | Essentials, Standard, Datacenter, Storage Standard, Storage Workgroup, Telecommunications | OEM | IoT, Server | On extented support (2029-01-09) | |
| Windows Server IoT 2022 | 2021-08-18[better source needed][dubious – discuss] | NT 10.0 | 20348 | Standard, Datacenter, Storage Standard, Storage Workgroup, Telecommunications | OEM | IoT, Server | Supported (2031-10-14) | |
| Windows 11 IoT | Original Release | 2021-10-04 | NT 10.0 | 22000 | Enterprise | OEM | IoT | Unsupported (2024-10-08) |
| 2022 Update | 2022-09-20 | 22621 | Unsupported (2025-10-14) | |||||
| 2023 Update | 2023-10-31 | 22631 | On extended support (2026-11-10) | |||||
| 2024 Update | 2024-10-01 | 26100 | Supported (2027-10-12) | |||||
| 2025 Update | 2025-09-30 | 26200 | Supported (2028-10-10) | |||||
| Windows Server IoT 2025 | 2024-11-01 | NT 10.0 | 26100 | Standard, Datacenter | OEM | IoT, Server | Supported (2034-10-10) | |
| Name | Release date | Version | RTM build | Editions | License | OS type | Support status |
Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile is Microsoft's discontinued line of operating systems for smartphones.
| Name | Release date | RTM build | Current version | Support status | Codename | Based on (kernel) | Supported architectures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Pocket PC 2000 | 2000-04-19 | Unsupported (2007-10-09) | Rapier | CE 3.0 | |||
| Windows Pocket PC 2002 | 2001-10-04 | Unsupported (2008-10-14) | Merlin | CE 3.0 | |||
| Windows Mobile 2003 | 2003-06-23 | Unsupported (2014-07-08) | Ozone | CE 4.20 | |||
| Windows Mobile 5.0 | 2005-05-9/12 | Unsupported (2015-10-13) | Magneto | CE 5.0 | |||
| Windows Mobile 6.0 | 2007-02-12 | Unsupported (2013-01-08) | Crossbow | CE 5.2 | |||
| Windows Mobile 6.1 | 2008-04-01 | ||||||
| Windows Mobile 6.5 | 2009-05-11 |
Windows Phone
Windows Phone is Microsoft's discontinued line of operating systems for smartphones.
| Name | Release date | RTM build | Current version | Support status | Codename | Based on (kernel) | Supported architectures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Phone 7 | 2010-11-08 | 7004 | 7.10.8862 | Unsupported | Photon | CE 6.0 | ARM |
| Windows Phone 7.5 | 2011-09-27 | 7720 | Unsupported | Mango | CE 6.1 | ARM | |
| Windows Phone 7.8 | 2013-02-01 | 8858 | Unsupported (2014-10-14) | Tango | CE 6.1 | ARM | |
| Windows Phone 8 | 2012-10-29 | 10211 | 10.0.10586 | Unsupported (2014-07-08) | Apollo, Portico | NT 6.2 | ARM[citation needed] |
| Windows Phone 8.1 | 2014-04-14 | 12359 | Unsupported (2017-07-11) | Blue | NT 6.3 | ARM | |
| Windows 10 Mobile | 2015-11-08 | 10586–16299 | Unsupported | Threshold, Redstone | NT 10.0 | ARM |
Technical information
DOS shells
| Name | Architecture | Integrated firewall | SMP support | USB support | UDMA support | LFN support | Update management | APIs | Safe Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 1.0 | x86 16-bit | No | No | No | No | No | No | Win16 | No |
| Windows 2.0 | x86 16-bit | No | No | No | No | No | No | Win16 | No |
| Windows 2.1x | x86 16-bit | No | No | No | No | No | No | Win16 | No |
| Windows 3.0 | x86 16-bit | No | No | No | No | No | No | Win16 | No |
| Windows 3.1x | x86 16-bit (partial 32-bit compatibility through Win32s) | No | No | No | No | No | No | Win16, Win32s | No |
Windows 9x
| Name | Kernel | Kernel type | Architecture | Integrated firewall | SMP support | USB support | UDMA support | LFN support | Update management | APIs | DDIs | Safe Mode | DirectX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 95 | MS-DOS 7.0 (Win95, Win95A), MS-DOS 7.1 (Win95B, Win95C) | Monolithic kernel | x86, hybrid 16/32-bit | No | No | Partial (OSR 2.1/2.5 only) | Partial (OSR 2.x only) | Yes | Partial(OSR 2.5 only, Windows Update only supports Internet Explorer 4) | Win16, Win32 | DOS, DLL, VxD, WDM (USB-only), direct-access | Yes | N/A (RTM/OSR1) 2.0a (OSR2/2.1) 5.0 (OSR2.5) 8.0a (optional) |
| Windows 98 | MS-DOS 7.1 | Monolithic kernel | x86, hybrid 16/32-bit | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Update | Win16, Win32 | DOS, DLL, VxD, WDM (partial), direct-access | Yes | 5.2 9.0c (Oct 2006) (optional) |
| Windows 98 Second Edition | MS-DOS 7.1 | Monolithic kernel | x86, hybrid 16/32-bit | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Update | Win16, Win32 | DOS, DLL, VxD, WDM (partial), direct-access | Yes | 6.1a 9.0c (Oct 2006) (optional) |
| Windows Me | MS-DOS 8.0 | Monolithic kernel | x86, hybrid 16/32-bit | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Update | Win16, Win32 | DLL, VxD, WDM (partial), direct-access | Yes | 7.1 9.0c (Oct 2006) (optional) |
It is possible to install the MS-DOS variants 7.0 and 7.1 without the graphics user interface of Windows. If an independent installation of both, DOS and Windows is desired, DOS ought to be installed prior to Windows, at the start of a small partition. The system must be transferred by the (dangerous) "SYSTEM" DOS-command, while the other files constituting DOS can simply be copied (the files located in the DOS-root and the entire COMMAND directory). Such a stand-alone installation of MS-DOS 8 is not possible, as it is designed to work as real mode for Windows Me and nothing else.
Windows NT
The Windows NT kernel powers all recent Windows operating systems. It has run on IA-32, x64, DEC Alpha, MIPS architecture, PowerPC, Itanium, ARMv7, and ARM64 processors, but currently supported versions run on IA-32, x64, ARMv7, and ARM64.
| Name | Architecture | Store | Integrated firewall | SMP support | USB support | UDMA support | Long filename support | Package management | Update management | APIs | DDIs | Safe Mode | Data Execution Prevention | DirectX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows NT 3.1 | IA-32, DEC Alpha, MIPS | —N/a | No | Yes | No | ? | Yes (NTFS and HPFS volumes only) | —N/a | Win32, OS/2, POSIX | DLL, KMD | No | No | No | |
| Windows NT 3.5 | IA-32, DEC Alpha, MIPS | —N/a | No | Yes | No | ? | Yes (except on CDFS volumes) | —N/a | Win32, OS/2, POSIX | DLL, KMD | No | No | No | |
| Windows NT 3.51 | IA-32, DEC Alpha, MIPS, PowerPC | —N/a | No | Yes | No | ? | Yes (except on CDFS volumes) | —N/a | Win32, OS/2, POSIX | DLL, KMD | No | No | No | |
| Windows NT 4.0 | IA-32, DEC Alpha, MIPS, PowerPC | —N/a | No | Yes | Partial (with third-party device drivers) | Yes | Yes | —N/a | Windows Update (if Internet Explorer 5 or later is installed) | Win32, OS/2, POSIX | DLL, KMD | No | No | Yes 3.0a, 5.0 (unofficial) |
| Windows 2000 | IA-32 | —N/a | No | Yes | Yes (USB 2.0 with update or SP4) | Yes | Yes | —N/a | Windows Update, WSUS | Win32, OS/2, POSIX | DLL, KMD, WDM, KMDF | Yes | No | Yes 7.0, 9.0c (Feb 2010) (optional) |
| Windows XP | IA-32 (NT5.1), Itanium (NT5.1/5.2), x64 (NT5.2) | —N/a | Yes | Yes (Professional Edition only) | Yes (USB 2.0 with update or SP1+) | Yes | Yes | —N/a | Windows Update, WSUS | Win32, .NET | DLL, KMD, WDM, KMDF, UMDFv1 | Yes | Yes (in SP2) | Yes 9.0c |
| Windows Server 2003 | IA-32, Itanium, x64 | —N/a | Yes | Yes | Yes (USB 2.0) | Yes | Yes | —N/a | Windows Update, WSUS | Win32 | DLL, KMD, WDM, KMDF, UMDFv1 | Yes | Yes (with SP1) | Yes 9.0c |
| Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs | IA-32 | —N/a | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | —N/a | Windows Update, WSUS | Win32 | DLL, KMD, WDM, KMDF, UMDFv1 | Yes | Yes | Yes 9.0c |
| Windows Vista | IA-32, x64 | Windows Marketplace | Yes | Yes | Yes (USB 2.0) | Yes | Yes | —N/a | Windows Update, WSUS | Win32, .NET, POSIX (only Enterprise and Ultimate) | DLL, KMD, WDM, KMDF, UMDFv1 | Yes | Yes | Yes 10.1 11.0 (optional) |
| Windows Server 2008 | IA-32, Itanium, x64 | —N/a | Yes | Yes | Yes (USB 2.0) | Yes | Yes | —N/a | Windows Update, WSUS | Win32 | DLL, KMD, WDM, KMDF, UMDFv1 | Yes | Yes | Yes 10.1 11.0 (optional) |
| Windows Home Server | IA-32 | —N/a | ? | Yes | Yes (USB 2.0) | ? | Yes | —N/a | Windows Update | Win32 | DLL, KMD, WDM, KMDF, UMDFv1 | ? | ? | Yes 9.0c |
| Windows 7 | IA-32, x64 | —N/a | Yes | Yes | Yes (USB 3.0) | Yes | Yes | —N/a | Windows Update, WSUS | Win32, .NET | DLL, KMD, WDM, KMDF, UMDFv1 | Yes | Yes | Yes 11.0 11.1 (optional) |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 | Itanium, x64 | —N/a | Yes | Yes | Yes (USB 3.0) | Yes | Yes | —N/a | Windows Update, WSUS | Win32, .NET | DLL, KMD, WDM, KMDF, UMDFv1 | Yes | Yes | Yes 11.0 11.1 (optional) |
| Windows Home Server 2011 | x64 | —N/a | ? | Yes | Yes (USB 3.0) | ? | Yes | —N/a | Windows Update | Win32 | DLL, KMD, WDM, KMDF, UMDFv1 | ? | ? | Yes 11.0 11.1 (optional) |
| Windows Server 2012 | x64 | Windows Store | Yes | Yes | Yes (USB 3.0) | Yes | Yes | Windows Store | Windows Update, WSUS | Win32, .NET, WinRT | DLL, KMD, WDM, KMDF, UMDFv1 | Yes | Yes | Yes 11.1 |
| Windows 8 | IA-32, x64 | Windows Store | Yes | Yes | Yes (USB 3.0) | Yes | Yes | Windows Store | Windows Update, WSUS | Win32, .NET, WinRT | DLL, KMD, WDM, KMDF, UMDFv1 | Yes | Yes | Yes 11.1 |
| Windows 8.1 | IA-32, x64 | Windows Store | Yes | Yes | Yes (USB 3.0) | Yes | Yes | Windows Store, PowerShell | Windows Update, WSUS, Windows Store | Win32, .NET, WinRT | DLL, KMD, WDM, KMDF, UMDFv1, UMDFv2 | Yes | Yes | Yes 11.2 |
| Windows Server 2012 R2 | x64 | Windows Store | Yes | Yes | Yes (USB 3.0) | Yes | Yes | Windows Store | Windows Update, WSUS, Windows Store | Win32, .NET, WinRT | DLL, KMD, WDM, KMDF, UMDFv1, UMDFv2 | Yes | Yes | Yes 11.2 |
| Windows 10 | IA-32, x64 | Windows Store | Yes | Yes | Yes (USB 3.1 and Thunderbolt 3) | Yes | Yes | Windows Store, PowerShell | Windows Update, WSUS, Windows Store | Win32, .NET, WinRT, Linux | DLL, KMD, WDM, KMDF, UMDFv1, UMDFv2 | Yes | Yes | Yes 12 |
| Windows Server 2016 | x64 | Windows Store | Yes | Yes | Yes (USB 3.1 and Thunderbolt 3) | Yes | Yes | Windows Store | Windows Update, WSUS, Windows Store | Win32, .NET, WinRT | DLL, KMD, WDM, KMDF, UMDFv1, UMDFv2 | Yes | Yes | Yes 12 |
Windows Phone
| Name | Architecture | Integrated firewall | SMP support | USB support | UDMA support | Package management | APIs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Phone 8 | ARMv7 | Yes | Yes | Yes (USB 2.0) | Yes | Windows Phone Store | Silverlight |
| Windows Phone 8.1 | ARMv7 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Phone Store | Silverlight WinRT |
| Windows 10 Mobile | ARMv7 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Microsoft Store |
Supported file systems
Various versions of Windows support various file systems, including:FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, HPFS, or NTFS, along with network file systems shared from other computers, and the ISO 9660 and UDF file systems used for CDs, DVDs, and other optical disc drives such as Blu-ray. Each file system is usually limited in application to certain media, for example CDs must use ISO 9660 or UDF, and as of Windows Vista, NTFS is the only file system which the operating system can be installed on. Windows Embedded CE 6.0, Windows Vista Service Pack 1, and Windows Server 2008 onwards support exFAT, a file system more suitable for USB flash drives.
Windows 9x
| FAT12 | FAT16 | FAT32 | HPFS | ISO 9660 | NTFS | UDF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 95 | Yes | Yes | Yes (OSR2 or above) | Network Drive | Yes | Network Drive | No |
| Windows 98 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Network Drive | Yes | Network Drive | Yes (1.5, read) |
| Windows Me | Yes | Yes | Yes | Network Drive | Yes | Network Drive | Yes (1.5, read) |
Windows NT
| FAT12 | FAT16 | FAT32 | HPFS | ISO 9660 | NTFS | exFAT | UDF | ReFS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows NT 3.1, 3.5, 3.51 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes v1.0/v1.1 | No | ? | No |
| Windows NT 4.0 | Yes | Yes | No | Partial | Yes | Yes v1.2 | No | ? | No |
| Windows 2000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes v3.0 | No | Yes | No |
| Windows XP | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes v3.1 | Optional | Yes (2.01) | No |
| Windows Server 2003 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes v3.1 | Optional | Yes | No |
| Windows Vista | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes v5 | Yes | Yes (2.6) | No |
| Windows Server 2008 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes v5 | Yes | Yes | No |
| Windows 7 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes v5 | Yes | Yes (2.6) | Yes |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes v5 | Yes | Yes (2.6) | Yes |
| Windows Server 2012 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes v5 | Yes | Yes (2.6) | Yes |
| Windows 8 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes v5 | Yes | Yes (2.6) | No |
| Windows 8.1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes v5 | Yes | Yes (2.6) | Yes |
| Windows Server 2012 R2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes v5 | Yes | Yes (2.6) | Yes |
| Windows 10 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes v5 | Yes | Yes (2.6) | Yes |
| Windows Server 2016 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes v5 | Yes | Yes (2.6) | Yes |
Windows Phone
| FAT12 | FAT16 | FAT32 | HPFS | ISO 9660 | NTFS | UDF (More Info) | ReFS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Phone 8 | ? | Yes | Yes | No | ? | Yes v5 | ? | No |
| Windows Phone 8.1 | ? | Yes | Yes | No | ? | Yes v5 | ? | No |
| Windows 10 Mobile | ? | Yes | Yes | No | ? | Yes v5 | ? | ? |
Hardware requirements
Installing Windows requires an internal or external optical drive, or a USB flash drive. A keyboard and mouse are the recommended input devices, though some versions support a touchscreen. For operating systems prior to Vista, an optical drive must be capable of reading CD media, while in Windows Vista onwards, such a drive must be DVD-compatible. The drive may be detached after installing Windows.
Windows 9x
| CPU | RAM | Free disk space | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 95 | 386 | 4 MB | 120 MB |
| Windows 98 | 486 DX2 66 MHz | 16 MB | 300 MB |
| Windows Me (Millennium Edition) | Pentium 150 MHz | 32 MB | 400 MB |
Windows NT
| Version | CPU | RAM | Free disk space | Video adapter and monitor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Recommended | ||||
| Windows NT 3.51 Workstation | 386, 25 MHz | 8 MB | 16 MB | 90 MB | VGA (640x480) |
| Windows NT 4.0 Workstation | 486, 33 MHz | 12 MB | ? | 110 MB | |
| Windows 2000 Professional | 133 MHz | 32 MB | 128 MB | 650 MB | |
| Windows XP | 233 MHz | 64 MB | 128 MB | 1.5 GB | Super VGA (800x600) |
| Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs | 500 MB | ||||
| Windows XP 64-Bit Edition | 700 MHz Itanium | 1 GB | ? | 6 GB | |
| Windows Server 2003 | 1 GHz (x86) or 1.4 GHz (x64) | 128 MB | 256 MB | 2 GB (x86) 4 GB (x64) | |
| Windows Vista | 800 MHz | 384 MB (Starter) 512 MB (others)[dubious – discuss] | 2 GB | 15 GB (~6.5 GB for OS) | Super VGA (800x600) WDDM & DirectX 9 for Aero |
| Windows Server 2008 | 1 GHz (x86) or 1.4 GHz (x64) | 2 GB | 10 GB | ||
| Windows 7 | 1 GHz | 1 GB (x86) 2 GB (x64) | 4 GB | 16 GB (x86) 20 GB (x64) (~6.5 GB for OS) | |
| Windows Server 2012 | 1.4 GHz (x86-64) | 512 MB | 1 GB | 10 GB | Super VGA (800x600), 32-bit color |
| Windows 8 | 1 GHz | 1 GB (x86) 2 GB (x64) | 4 GB | 16 GB (x86) 20 GB (x64) (~6.5 GB for OS) | Super VGA (800x600), 32-bit color 1024 x 768 for Windows Store apps 1366 x 768 to snap apps |
| Windows 8.1 | |||||
| Windows 10 | 1 GHz or faster processor or SoC | 1 GB (x86) 2 GB (x64) | 4 GB | 16 GB (x86) 20 GB (x64) | Super VGA (800x600), 32-bit color |
| Windows Server 2016 | 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor | 512 MB ECC memory 2 GB with Desktop Experience installed | depends on role | 32 GB (~10 GB for OS) | XGA (1024 x 768) |
| Windows Server 2019 | 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor | 512 MB ECC memory 2 GB with Desktop Experience installed | depends on role | 32 GB | XGA (1024 x 768) |
| Windows Server 2022 | 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor | 512 MB ECC memory 2 GB with Desktop Experience installed | depends on role | 32 GB | XGA (1024 x 768) |
| Windows Server 2025 | 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor | 512 MB ECC memory 2 GB with Desktop Experience installed | 4 GB with Desktop Experience installed | 32 GB | XGA (1024 x 768) |
| Windows 11 | 64-bit 1 GHz or faster processor or SoC with two or more cores | 4 GB | 8-16 GB | 64 GB (~10 GB for OS) | 720p greater than 9" diagonally, 32-bit color |
Windows Phone
| Version | CPU | RAM | Free disk space | Video adapter and monitor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Recommended | ||||
| Windows Phone 7 | 0.8 GHz | 256 MB | —N/a | 4 GB | Wide VGA (800 × 480) |
| Windows Phone 8 | 1 GHz | 512 MB | —N/a | 8 GB | Wide VGA (800 × 480) |
| Windows Phone 8.1 | 1 GHz | 512 MB | —N/a | 4 GB | Wide VGA (800 × 480) |
| Windows 10 Mobile | 1 GHz | 1 GB | 2 GB | 8 GB | Wide VGA (800 × 480) |
Physical memory limits
Maximum limits on physical memory (RAM) that Windows can address vary depending on both the Windows version and between IA-32 and x64 versions.
Windows
| Operating system | Limit on Real Mode | Limit on Standard Mode | Limit on Enhanced Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 1.0x | 640 KB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows 2.0x | 640 KB | —N/a | 16MB |
| Windows 2.1x | 640 + 64 KB | —N/a | 16MB |
| Windows 3.0x | 640 + 64 KB | 16MB | 16MB |
| Windows 3.1x | —N/a | 256MB | 256MB |
| Windows 95 | —N/a | —N/a | 944MB |
| Windows 98 | —N/a | —N/a | 1GB |
| Windows ME | —N/a | —N/a | 1.5GB |
Windows NT
| Operating system | Limit on IA-32 | Limit in IA-64 | Limit on x64 | Limit on ARM32 | Limit on ARM64 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows NT 3.1 | 4 GB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows NT 3.5 | 4 GB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows NT 3.51 | 4 GB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows NT 4.0 | 4 GB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows 2000 Professional/Server | 4 GB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows 2000 Advanced Server | 8 GB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows 2000 Datacenter | 32 GB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows XP Starter | 512 MB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows XP Home | 4 GB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows XP Professional | 4 GB | 128 GB | 128 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2003 RTM Web | 2 GB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2003 RTM Standard/Small Business | 4 GB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2003 RTM Enterprise/Datacenter | 64 GB | 512 GB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 | —N/a | 32 GB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2003 R1/SP1 Standard | 4 GB | —N/a | 32 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2003 R1/SP1 Enterprise/Datacenter | 64 GB | 1 TB | 1 TB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2003 R1/SP2 Standard | 4GB | —N/a | 32 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2003 R1/SP2 Enterprise/Datacenter | 64 GB | 2 TB | 1 TB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2003 R2/SP1 Standard | 4 GB | —N/a | 32 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2003 R2/SP1 Enterprise/Datacenter | 64 GB | —N/a | 1 TB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Vista Starter | 1 GB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Vista Home Basic | 4 GB | —N/a | 8 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Vista Home Premium | 4 GB | —N/a | 16 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Vista Business/Enterprise/Ultimate | 4 GB | —N/a | 128 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Home Server | 4 GB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2008 Web Server/Standard/Small Business | 4 GB | —N/a | 32 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows HPC Server 2008 | —N/a | —N/a | 128 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2008 Enterprise/Datacenter | 64 GB | —N/a | 1 TB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2008 for Itanium–Based Systems | —N/a | 2 TB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows 7 Starter | 2 GB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows 7 Home Basic | 4 GB | —N/a | 8 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows 7 Home Premium | 4 GB | —N/a | 16 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows 7 Professional/Enterprise/Ultimate | 4 GB | —N/a | 192 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation | —N/a | —N/a | 8 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 Web Server/Standard | —N/a | —N/a | 32 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 | —N/a | —N/a | 128 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise/Datacenter | —N/a | —N/a | 2 TB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium–Based Systems | —N/a | 2 TB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows 8 (Core) | 4 GB | —N/a | 128 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows 8 Pro/Enterprise | 4 GB | —N/a | 512 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows RT | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | 4 GB | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2012 Standard/Datacenter | —N/a | —N/a | 4 TB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Storage Server 2012 Standard | —N/a | —N/a | 4 TB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Storage Server 2012 Workgroup | —N/a | —N/a | 32 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Hyper-V Server 2012 | —N/a | —N/a | 4 TB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows 8.1 (Core) | 4 GB | —N/a | 128 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows 8.1 Pro/Enterprise | 4 GB | —N/a | 512 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows RT 8.1 | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | 4 GB | —N/a |
| Windows 10 Mobile | 4 GB | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows 10 Home | 4 GB | —N/a | 128 GB | 4 GB | 128 GB |
| Windows 10 Pro | 4 GB | —N/a | 2 TB | 4 GB | 2 TB |
| Windows 10 Pro for Workstations | 4 GB | —N/a | 6 TB | 4 GB | 6 TB |
| Windows 10 Education | 4 GB | —N/a | 2 TB | 4 GB | 2 TB |
| Windows 10 Enterprise | 4 GB | —N/a | 6 TB | 4 GB | 6 TB |
| Windows Server 2016 Essentials | —N/a | —N/a | 64 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2016 Standard | —N/a | —N/a | 24 TB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2016 Datacenter | —N/a | —N/a | 24 TB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2019 Essentials | —N/a | —N/a | 64 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2019 Standard | —N/a | —N/a | 24 TB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2019 Datacenter | —N/a | —N/a | 24 TB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2022 Essentials | —N/a | —N/a | 64 GB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2022 Standard | —N/a | —N/a | 24 TB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows Server 2022 Datacenter | —N/a | —N/a | 24 TB | —N/a | —N/a |
| Windows 11 Home | —N/a | —N/a | 128 GB | —N/a | 128 GB |
| Windows 11 Pro | —N/a | —N/a | 2 TB | —N/a | 2 TB |
| Windows 11 Pro for Workstations | —N/a | —N/a | 6 TB | —N/a | 6 TB |
| Windows 11 Education | —N/a | —N/a | 2 TB | —N/a | 2 TB |
| Windows 11 Enterprise | —N/a | —N/a | 6 TB | —N/a | 6 TB |
Security features
| Resource access control | Subsystem isolation mechanisms | Integrated firewall | Encrypted file systems | Defender | Windows Hello | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 2000 | ACLs | TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes (NTFS only) | No | No | |
| Windows XP | ACLs | Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall (from SP2), TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes (NTFS only) | Optional | No |
| Windows Server 2003 | ACLs, Privileges, RBAC | Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes | Optional | No |
| Windows Vista | ACLs, Privileges, RBAC | Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes | Yes | No |
| Windows Server 2008 | ACLs, Privileges, RBAC | Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes | Yes | No |
| Windows 7 | ACLs, Privileges, RBAC | Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes | Yes | No |
| Windows Server 2012 | ACLs, Privileges, RBAC | Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes | Yes | No |
| Windows 8 | ACLs, Privileges, RBAC | Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes | Yes | No |
| Windows Server 2012 R2 | ACLs, Privileges, RBAC | Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes | Yes | No |
| Windows 8.1 | ACLs, Privileges, RBAC | Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes | Yes | No |
| Windows 10 | ACLs, Privileges, RBAC | Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Server 2016 | ACLs, Privileges, RBAC | Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Features
Timeline
| Timeline of Windows versions vte |
|---|
See also
Other lists
- List of Microsoft Windows versions
- List of operating systems
- Comparison of operating systems
- Comparison of operating system kernels
- Comparison of Windows Vista and Windows XP
- Microsoft Windows version history
- Comparison of DOS operating systems
- Architecture of Windows NT
- List of Microsoft codenames
Windows clones and emulators
- Freedows OS–Windows clone
- ReactOS–project to develop an operating system that is binary compatible with application software and device drivers for Microsoft Windows NT version 5.x
- Wine (software)–compatibility layer which allows to execute programs that were originally written for Microsoft Windows