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Windows 10 Pro N is essentially Windows 10 Pro without media-related technologies. The “N” stands for “Not with Media Player.” This special edition was created to comply with European Commission regulations that required Microsoft to offer a version of Windows without bundled media applications.
The European Commission ruled that bundling Windows Media Player with the operating system gave Microsoft an unfair advantage over competing media player software. As a result, Microsoft created the “N” editions to provide European consumers with more choice in media applications.
Functionally, Windows 10 Pro N contains all the business and professional features of standard Windows 10 Pro but lacks certain media-related components that would normally come pre-installed.
If you’re using Windows 10 Pro N and need media functionality, you can download the Media Feature Pack directly from Microsoft.
The primary difference between Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Pro N is the absence of media-related technologies in the N edition. Here’s what’s missing from Windows 10 Pro N:
| Feature | Windows 10 Pro | Windows 10 Pro N |
| Windows Media Player | Included | Not included |
| Music & TV apps | Included | Not included |
| Voice Recorder | Included | Not included |
| Skype | Pre-installed | Not pre-installed |
| Media codecs (MP3, WMA, etc.) | Included | Not included |
| Video codecs (H.264, MPEG-4, etc.) | Included | Not included |
| Business features (BitLocker, Remote Desktop, etc.) | Included | Included |
| Price | Standard | Slightly lower |
It’s important to note that while these media components are not included by default, you can add them back by installing the Media Feature Pack from Microsoft. This gives you the flexibility to choose which media applications you want to use.
The absence of media technologies in Windows 10 Pro N affects more than just media playback. Several Windows features rely on these components and may not work properly without them:
Important: If you use Windows 10 Pro N, you may need to install additional software to enable these features. The Media Feature Pack from Microsoft restores most of this functionality.
Windows 10 Pro N has the same system requirements as standard Windows 10 Pro:
| Component | Minimum Requirement | Recommended |
| Processor | 1 GHz or faster | 2 GHz or faster multi-core |
| RAM | 1 GB (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit) | 4 GB or more |
| Hard disk space | 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit) | 128 GB or larger SSD |
| Graphics card | DirectX 9 with WDDM 1.0 driver | DirectX 12 compatible |
| Display | 800 x 600 resolution | 1920 x 1080 or higher |
| Internet connection | Required for updates and some features | Broadband (10 Mbps or faster) |
One advantage of Windows 10 Pro N is that it takes up slightly less disk space than standard Windows 10 Pro due to the absence of media components. However, this difference is minimal and unlikely to be a deciding factor for most users.
Despite lacking media components, Windows 10 Pro N includes all the business and professional features that make Windows 10 Pro valuable for organizations and power users:
These professional features make Windows 10 Pro N suitable for business environments, especially in the European Union where this edition is primarily marketed.
If you’re using Windows 10 Pro N and need the missing media functionality, Microsoft provides a solution: the Media Feature Pack. This free download restores most of the media capabilities that aren’t included by default.
Download the official Media Feature Pack from Microsoft to add back missing media features to your Windows 10 Pro N installation.
Note: The specific Media Feature Pack you need depends on your Windows 10 version. Visit the Microsoft Support website to find the appropriate pack for your version of Windows 10 Pro N.
Windows 10 Pro N is designed for specific use cases and may not be the best choice for everyone. Here’s who might benefit from this edition:
For most users, standard Windows 10 Pro offers a more convenient experience since all media components are included by default. However, Windows 10 Pro N can be a good choice for organizations in the EU or users who specifically want to avoid Microsoft’s media applications.
Many users wonder if Windows 10 Pro N offers better performance than standard Windows 10 Pro due to having fewer pre-installed components. Here’s what you should know:
In practical terms, Windows 10 Pro N offers only marginally better performance than standard Windows 10 Pro. The absence of media components results in slightly less memory usage and disk space consumption, but these differences are negligible on modern hardware.
If you install the Media Feature Pack, any performance advantage disappears entirely, as you’re essentially restoring the same components that were removed in the first place.
The performance difference between Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Pro N is so minimal that it shouldn’t be a deciding factor when choosing between editions. Functionality and compliance requirements should be your primary considerations.
No, Windows 10 Pro N is not slower than regular Windows 10 Pro. In fact, it might be marginally faster due to having fewer pre-installed components. However, the performance difference is negligible and unlikely to be noticeable in everyday use. If you install the Media Feature Pack, any performance difference disappears entirely.
Yes, you can add the missing media functionality by installing the Media Feature Pack from Microsoft. This free download restores Windows Media Player, media codecs, and other media-related components. After installation, your Windows 10 Pro N will have essentially the same capabilities as standard Windows 10 Pro.
The N editions of Windows were created to comply with European Commission antitrust regulations. In 2004, the European Commission ruled that Microsoft was abusing its dominant market position by bundling Windows Media Player with Windows. As a result, Microsoft was required to offer a version of Windows without media-related components, which became the N editions.
Windows 10 Pro N is typically slightly cheaper than standard Windows 10 Pro, but the price difference is usually minimal. The lower price reflects the reduced functionality due to the absence of media components. However, if you plan to install the Media Feature Pack anyway, the small savings may not be worth the extra step.
Most applications will work on Windows 10 Pro N, but some games and multimedia applications may require the media components that are missing. Issues have been reported with games like CS:GO and applications like Adobe Premiere Pro. Installing the Media Feature Pack usually resolves these compatibility issues.
You cannot directly upgrade from Windows 10 Pro N to regular Windows 10 Pro without a clean installation. However, installing the Media Feature Pack gives you essentially the same functionality. If you absolutely need to switch to regular Windows 10 Pro, you’ll need to perform a clean installation using a Windows 10 Pro license.
Windows 10 Pro N offers the same core functionality as Windows 10 Pro but without media-related components. This special edition was created to comply with European regulations and provides users with more choice in media applications.
For most users, standard Windows 10 Pro provides a more convenient experience since all components are included by default. However, Windows 10 Pro N might be the right choice if you’re in the EU, prefer to choose your own media applications, or have specific compliance requirements.
Remember that you can always add back the missing media functionality by installing the Media Feature Pack from Microsoft, effectively transforming your Windows 10 Pro N into the equivalent of standard Windows 10 Pro.
Download the official Media Feature Pack from Microsoft to restore all media functionality to your Windows 10 Pro N installation.
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