220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A small business needs to join all its Windows 10 computers to a centralized Active Directory domain for centralized management. Which edition of Windows 10 is the minimum required for domain join capability?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse 'Windows 10 S Mode' as a separate edition, when it is actually a configuration mode that can be applied to Home or Pro, but in S Mode domain join is blocked regardless of the underlying edition.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Windows 10 Pro
Windows 10 Pro is the minimum edition that includes the necessary components to join an Active Directory domain. Domain join requires the ability to authenticate against a domain controller using Kerberos and to apply Group Policy Objects, features that are absent in Windows 10 Home. Windows 10 Enterprise also supports domain join but is not the minimum requirement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Windows 10 Home
Why it's wrong here
Windows 10 Home is the consumer-focused edition and completely omits the domain join feature. It can only join a peer-to-peer workgroup, relying on local accounts or Microsoft accounts for authentication. Even in System Properties, the option to change the domain or workgroup is restricted to workgroup, so it cannot participate in Active Directory or receive domain-based Group Policy.
- ✓
Windows 10 Pro
Why this is correct
Windows 10 Pro is the minimum edition that includes the full domain join capability. With Pro, a device can create a computer account in Active Directory, authenticate users with domain credentials, and receive centrally applied Group Policy objects. This feature is also a foundation for advanced management scenarios such as Microsoft Entra ID join and Windows Update for Business, making Pro the entry level for centralized AD integration.
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Windows 10 S Mode
Why it's wrong here
Windows 10 S Mode is a locked-down configuration, not a separate edition, that restricts installation to Microsoft Store apps and blocks execution of traditional Win32 executables. This restriction prevents domain join because the process depends on system tools like `dsregcmd` and legacy network authentication components that are not available in S Mode. Even if the underlying base is Windows 10 Pro, S Mode disables domain join until you switch permanently out of S Mode via the Microsoft Store.
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Windows 10 Enterprise
Why it's wrong here
Windows 10 Enterprise does support domain join and adds advanced features like DirectAccess, AppLocker, and Credential Guard, but it is not the minimum required edition for joining an Active Directory domain. Since Windows 10 Pro already provides domain join, selecting Enterprise would impose higher licensing costs without adding necessary functionality for this basic requirement. The question asks for the minimum edition, so Enterprise is incorrect because it is a superset of Pro's domain-join capabilities.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Windows Upgrade Paths and Edition Compatibility
Key term
Windows
Windows is a family of operating systems developed by Microsoft that manages computer hardware and software, providing a graphical user interface for users to interact with their devices.
Key term
Group Policy
Group Policy is a Windows-based feature that allows administrators to centrally manage and enforce settings for users and computers across an organization.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1102 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1102 exam.