Windows 10 Desktop Operating System

Windows 10 Desktop – Editions and Related Products

Windows 10 Editions

There’s an edition of Windows software designed to meet the needs of every organization, from a small, growing business to a multinational enterprise. The following table lists the editions of Windows 10 Desktop available through each Microsoft distribution channel.

Windows Desktop Offerings available through Commercial Licensing
The following offerings are available for purchase through Microsoft Commercial Licensing:

Windows 10 Pro Upgrade License

Windows 10 Pro is designed for small and medium businesses and enables you to manage your devices and apps, protect your business data, facilitate remote and mobile scenarios, and take advantage of the cloud technologies for your organization. Windows 10 Pro has enterprise-grade security to help protect your data, and it’s simple to set up and manage for multiple users. It works across your devices so you can stay mobile, and integrates seamlessly with Office 365*—connecting your team to maximize productivity.
*Subscription sold separately
The Windows 10 Pro Upgrade license is recommended if you want to:
• Upgrade Windows 7/8/8.1 Pro devices to Windows 10 Pro
• Upgrade Windows XP Pro or earlier Qualifying Operating Systems to Windows 10 Pro

Windows 10 Enterprise

There are two core Windows 10 Enterprise offers: Windows 10 Enterprise E3 and Windows 10 Enterprise E5. Each of these can be purchased on a per device or per user basis, and are available only through Commercial Licensing, including the Cloud Solution Provider program

Windows 10 Enterprise E3
Windows 10 Enterprise E3 builds on Windows 10 Pro by adding more advanced features designed to address the needs of large and mid-size organizations. Examples include advanced protection against modern security threats, the broadest range of options for operating system deployment and update, and comprehensive device and app management. Customers with devices running Windows 10 Enterprise will be able to take advantage of the latest security and feature updates on an ongoing basis, while having the ability to choose the pace at which they adopt new technology. Windows 10 Enterprise E3 can be licensed per user or per device.

Windows 10 Enterprise E5
Windows 10 Enterprise E5 is the newest offer for customers who want to take advantage of everything in E3 with the addition of Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (Windows Defender ATP), a new service that helps enterprises detect, investigate, and respond to advanced attacks on their networks.
Building on the existing security defenses in Windows 10, Windows Defender ATP provides a new post-breach layer of protection to the Windows 10 security stack. With a combination of client technology built into Windows 10 and a robust cloud service, it can help detect threats that have made it past other defenses, provide enterprises with information to investigate the breach across endpoints, and offer response recommendations.
With Windows 10 Enterprise, you can take advantage of the following features and capabilities not available in Windows 10 Pro.

Windows 10 Education

Windows 10 Education builds on Windows 10 Enterprise adding enterprise-grade features to address the advanced security and comprehensive device control and management needs of today’s educational institutions.

Windows 10 Education E3
Windows 10 Education E3 (formerly Windows 10 Education) is Microsoft’s best offering for Academic institutions and includes all of the functionality of Windows 10 Enterprise E3 while allowing in-place upgrades from Windows Home edition. Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) is included as a standard component of Education E3 to help administrators manage their IT environments. (MDOP access isn’t included as part of the student use benefit.)

Windows 10 Education E5
Windows 10 Education E5 is a new offering for academic institutions. It includes all of the benefits of Windows 10 Education E3, with the addition of Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (WDATP). WDATP provides a new layer of post-breach security that enables you to detect, investigate, and respond to advanced attacks on your network.

Qualifying Operating Systems

Windows licenses available through Commercial Licensing are upgrade-only licenses (except for VDA licenses). They don’t replace the base “qualifying” licenses for operating system software that comes preinstalled on new PCs. Each PC that runs the Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise upgrade must first be licensed to run one of the qualifying operating systems identified below—otherwise the PC won’t have a valid, legal Windows license. If you don’t have a preexisting license for a genuine, qualifying operating system on your PC, see the Get Genuine options section in this guide.
User licenses may only be assigned to users that are the primary user of at least one device with a Qualifying Operating System.
Device licenses may only be assigned to devices with a Qualifying Operating System
VDA licenses (user or device) may be assigned to any user or device. VDA licenses do not require Qualifying Operating Systems.

Software Assurance and Windows Virtual Desktop Access (VDA)

Software Assurance includes a core set of benefits to help improve workforce productivity, streamline software deployment, and reduce costs. It also provides the greatest flexibility for how you use Windows because it includes access to enterprise offerings and use rights that aren’t available through other licensing programs. Software Assurance is the path to supporting users’ flexible work styles by providing access to Windows in a variety of ways across devices. It’s available with Windows 10 Enterprise through Commercial Licensing but isn’t offered with the Cloud Solution Provider program.
For devices or users that don’t qualify for Windows 10 Enterprise offers, you can license Windows VDA for access to the benefits of Software Assurance. With Software Assurance and Windows VDA, you get flexible access to Windows Enterprise, Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP), and a number of additional benefits, which are described in the following table.

Benefits of Software Assurance or Windows VDA
Whether you license Software Assurance or Windows VDA on a per device or per user basis, you receive a number of benefits specific to Windows. See below for an overview of the benefits.
Note: “Licensed device” refers to any device covered by either Software Assurance or a Windows VDA on a per device basis. “Licensed user” refers to any user covered by either Software Assurance or a Windows VDA on a per user basis.

With Software Assurance or Windows VDA, you also have access to the following benefits:

• Extended Hotfix support: Provides specific product fixes on a per customer incident basis, beyond the standard product support.
• 24×7 Problem Resolution Support: Provides around-the-clock phone support for business-critical issues or business hours phone support for non-critical issues. Unlimited email support can be used for non-critical problems. The number of support incidences and type (phone and web) for which you’re eligible is based on the type of Commercial Licensing agreement and qualifying products.
• Enterprise Source Licensing Program: Provides access to Windows source code for internal development and support.
• Training Vouchers: Provides in-depth technical classroom training for IT professionals and developers.
• E-Learning: Offers self-paced interactive training for end users and IT professionals; delivered over the Internet or an intranet.
• Spread Payments: Payment for licenses and Software Assurance may be spread across three equal, annual sums.

Notes:
• The rights above apply only to Windows, and license requirements for other software still apply.
• Benefit eligibility varies by Commercial Licensing program and products. Refer to the Microsoft Commercial Licensing Product Terms to verify eligibility by program and products.

Licensing Windows 10 Enterprise or Windows VDA on a per device basis

You can license Windows on a per device basis in the following ways:
• When purchasing Windows 10 Enterprise E3 (or Windows 10 Education E3), Software Assurance is included in some Commercial Licensing programs such as Enterprise Agreement, Enterprise Subscription Agreement, Open Value, Open Value Subscription, and Enrollment for Education Solutions.
• If you have devices that don’t have or aren’t eligible for Windows 10 Enterprise (such as thin clients), you can access many of the benefits of Software Assurance by licensing those devices with a Windows VDA subscription.

Licensing Windows 10 Enterprise or Windows VDA on a per user basis

You can license Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows VDA on a per user basis. With per user licensing, you license an individual instead of a device, and that individual receives use rights for any device. This puts your users at the center of your Windows licensing solution, gives you flexible options for how you deploy and access Windows across devices, and simplifies Windows licensing and management.

There are three different options for how you license access to Windows on a per user basis: Windows 10 Enterprise per User, Windows VDA per User, and Windows 10 Enterprise per User Add-on.
Here’s a comparison of the three options:
Note: “Primary user’s primary device” means the user is the primary user of a device AND that device is that user’s primary work device.

Here’s how to choose the right option:

Windows 10 Enterprise per User
Windows 10 Enterprise per User is the right option if ALL of the following apply:
Volume Licensing Reference Guide for Windows 10 Desktop Operating System
• The user is the primary user of at least one device licensed for Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education; Windows 8/8.1 Pro or Enterprise; or Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise
AND
• The device is the user’s primary work device
AND
• The device isn’t already covered by Windows 10 Enterprise or Windows VDA.

Windows VDA per User
Windows VDA per User is the right option if either one of the following applies:
• The user isn’t the primary user of at least one device licensed for Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education; Windows 8/8.1 Pro or Enterprise; or Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise
OR
• The user uses a device licensed for Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education; Windows 8/8.1 Pro or Enterprise, or Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise, but that device isn’t the user’s primary work device.
Note: Because there’s no requirement that the user is the primary user of a primary device licensed for Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education,
Windows 8/8.1 Pro or Enterprise, or Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise, Windows VDA per User is the least restrictive option. If you were to license every user with Windows VDA per User, every user would have access to Windows Enterprise without the need to track the operating system license(s) on the user’s device(s) (except for devices on which you install the software locally).

Windows 10 Enterprise per User Add-on
Windows 10 Enterprise per User Add-on is the right option if either one of the following applies:
• The user is the primary user of a primary device with active Windows 10 Enterprise coverage
or
• The user is the primary user of a primary device with active Windows VDA coverage.
With the Windows 10 Enterprise per User Add-on, you get all of the benefits of Windows 10 Enterprise Per User or Windows VDA per User at a price that recognizes your existing investment. When you license the primary user of a primary device that’s already covered with Windows 10 Enterprise, the Windows 10 Enterprise per User Add-on grants
the licensed user with all of the benefits of Windows 10 Enterprise per User. When you license the primary user of a primary device that’s already covered with Windows VDA, the Windows 10 Enterprise per User Add-on grants the licensed user with all of the benefits of Windows VDA per User.

Use this flow chart to help you choose the right per user option:

Perpetual Use Rights for Windows Enterprise
The use rights for Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC are perpetual for the licensed device at the point that Windows 10 Enterprise coverage ends (unless the Windows 10 Enterprise upgrade is acquired under a subscription license).
If Windows 10 Enterprise expires, the perpetual use rights will be for the LTSC that was current at the time that the Software Assurance coverage expired, as well as any past LTSCs.
Windows 10 Enterprise per User doesn’t have an underlying Windows Enterprise upgrade license with Software Assurance, therefore perpetual use rights aren’t granted.

Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack

Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) is a suite of technologies that helps enterprise customers take advantage of desktop virtualization, better manage Windows devices, and deliver advanced system restore capabilities. It’s a benefit of Software Assurance and Windows VDA subscription.
Note: Customers with Windows VDA subscription without MDOP prior to August 1, 2015, will receive entitlement to MDOP at their next renewal.
If you license Software Assurance or Windows VDA on a per device basis, then your MDOP subscription is also licensed on a per device basis, and it covers each specific licensed device. If you license Software Assurance or Windows VDA on a per user basis or you have the Windows per User Add-on, then your MDOP subscription is also licensed on a per user basis, so it covers all of each licensed user’s devices. Learn more about MDOP.

Windows To Go Rights

By using Windows To Go, users can travel light without sacrificing productivity, organizations can enable new “Bring Your Own PC” scenarios, and contingent staff can get up and running faster with more security.
Windows To Go enables IT administrators to provide users with a corporate Windows image that can include line-of- business apps, settings, and corporate data on a compatible USB storage device. Users can boot and operate Windows To Go from any supported corporate or personal PC (Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, or Windows 10 logo- certified) and continue to enjoy a rich and consistent Windows 10 experience.

Note: Windows To Go requires volume activation, either by using the Key Management Service (KMS) server in your organization or by using Active Directory-based volume activation. See the Volume activation section of this document for more details.

Windows 10 Desktop – Downgrade Rights

Your rights to use prior versions of Windows in place of Windows 10 (“downgrade rights”) depend on how the license was acquired.

PCs purchased with Windows 10 Pro preinstalled by an OEM will have the option to downgrade to either Windows 8.1 Pro or Windows 7 Professional. For circumstances requiring Windows Vista, Windows XP, or other prior versions, the rights to downgrade to these versions are available only through Commercial Licensing, not the OEM preinstall license.
Note: There are no downgrade rights to Windows 7 Ultimate.

Winndows 10 Desktop – Volume activation

Windows 10 Desktop product activation is a set of technologies that enables customers to confirm that their copy of Windows is properly licensed. Product activation is required for all editions of Windows 10 Desktop.
Volume activation applies to computers that are covered under a Commercial Licensing program and allows enterprise customers to automate the activation process, making it transparent to users. It’s used strictly as a tool for activation, and isn’t used for license invoicing or billing.

Activation through Key Management Service and Multiple Activation Key
Key Management Service (KMS) allows organizations to activate computers within customer environment through an internally hosted service (KMS), and Multiple Activation Key (MAK) activates computers on a one-time basis by using the hosted activation services provided by Microsoft. You can use either or both key types to activate computers in your environments, but each device that hasn’t activated by a KMS must use a MAK.

Activation through Microsoft Active Directory
During Active Directory-based activation, any Windows 10 Desktop or Windows Server 2019 computers connected to the domain will activate automatically and transparently during computer setup. These clients stay activated as long as they remain members of the domain and maintain periodic contact with a domain controller.

Windows 10 Education Activation

Windows 10 Enterprise is configured for use by commercial customers. We recommend Windows 10 Education for all K-12 customers, as it includes the data configuration designed for students and provides the most complete and secure edition for education environments. Depending upon your license, you can either directly deploy Windows 10 Education, or configure Windows 10 Enterprise so that it mirrors the data configuration for students of Windows 10 Education. As described below, all of our Windows commercial editions can be configured to support the needs of schools, through group policies, domain join, and more.

Availability of Windows 10 Education through Microsoft Volume Licensing. Windows 10 Education is only available through Microsoft Volume Licensing. Customers who are using Multi Activation Keys (MAK) or Key Management Service (KMS) for activations have the option to deploy either Windows 10 Enterprise or Windows 10 Education editions. As noted above, we recommend Windows 10 Education to all K-12 customers. If you don’t have access to Windows 10 Education, contact your Microsoft representative or see more information here.

Configuring Windows 10 Enterprise for K-12. Customers who deploy Windows 10 Enterprise can configure the product to have similar settings to Windows 10 Education by using Intune for Education, other MDM tools or Group Policy.
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.

Schools also have the option to use AAD to upgrade Windows 10 Pro* devices to Windows 10 Enterprise. In that case we recommend using Intune for Education, or other MDM tools, or Group Policy to configure the product to have similar settings to Windows 10 Education. More detailed information on these policies and the configuration steps required is available in Manage Windows 10 and Microsoft Store tips, tricks, and suggestions

*Customers who have purchased devices running Windows 10 Pro Education (Shape the Future program) can upgrade to Windows 10 Education or Windows 10 Enterprise edition by using MAK/KMS activation only, for the time being.

Get Genuine Windows Agreement

The best and most cost-effective way to acquire full Windows licenses is through preinstalled licenses on a new PC.
However, if you discover counterfeit software or have applied a Commercial Licensing Windows upgrade license without a qualified base operating system on your computers, there are solutions available through Commercial Licensing that can help remedy this noncompliant situation.
To purchase the correct Windows 10 Pro licenses through Commercial Licensing, the Get Genuine Windows Agreement (GGWA) has two options: GGWA for Small and Medium Organizations and GGWA for Large Organizations. Academic customers can purchase Windows 10 Home licenses via GGWA for Academic Organizations.

Windows 10 Desktop Offerings by Commercial Licensing program

Microsoft Commercial Licensing offers customized programs that help organizations purchase software licenses.
Tailored for different organization type, size, and purchasing preferences, Microsoft Commercial Licensing programs provide flexible and affordable solutions designed to help you manage your licenses with ease. Whether you have five or thousands of desktop PCs, there’s a Microsoft Commercial Licensing program for you.

Windows 10 Desktop Products available for purchase by Commercial Licensing program

How to acquire Licenses through Commercial Licensing
To acquire the latest Microsoft technology at a significant cost savings over full packaged products through Microsoft Commercial Licensing, contact your Microsoft representative or Microsoft Reseller Partner.
Your preferred Microsoft Commercial Licensing reseller can help you acquire Windows 10 Enterprise, which can be ordered through any Microsoft Commercial Licensing program. To find a Microsoft Commercial Licensing reseller:

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