It is very likely that on some occasion you have heard about Windows 10 N or KN. They are two packages that have been with us for many years, which exist for regulatory reasons in some countries. Although many users do not really know what these packages are or what they mean. Therefore, below we are going to tell you more about them.
In this way, you will know more about what they mean and so to know more about its origin and the differences what's between Windows 10 N and KN. Since it is likely that on some occasion we have read about them, without knowing very well what they are.
Due to the rules that the European Commission introduced in 2004, affecting the demands of integration of multimedia components in Windows, Microsoft was forced to take action. The company then created a new distribution of the operating system, which is what we know as Windows 10 N. It exists in older versions of the operating system as well.
These versions are intended for some markets in Europe, which are the N version. While KN, are those that are destined for Korea. Although they have some differences with respect to the normal version of the operating system, which we are going to tell you below, so that we know more precisely what each of these versions means.
Differences Windows 10 N / KN and Windows 10
As we have already mentioned, the differences mainly affect the multimedia tools. They are the ones that have been affected by these regulations in Europe. The reality is that Windows 10 N is identical to normal Windows 10, like the one we have installed on our computer. Although we find that a number of functions or tools have been removed, or have limited functionality in it.
What tools are limited or removed in Windows 10 N?
- Groove Music: The native music application of the operating system has been removed in the N and KN versions.
- Skype or Whatsapp: An application that we have natively in the normal version of the operating system, but that in its launch in Windows 10 N has been eliminated.
- Windows Media Player: Microsoft itself informs us that we must obtain these services through third parties. Its native program, this player, has been removed several times and cannot be used on this version of the operating system.
- Windows Voice Recorder: The assumption of the same has direct effects in some functionalities like Cortana or the visualization of PDF in Edge. Because the classic media player has been removed from the web. It also affects the user using Windows 10 N when visiting web pages to play audio or video in this browser.
- ADIEX: Video playback has been deleted
- Cortana: Assistant voice commands are not available in Windows 10 N.
- Home network: We do not have the ability to share multimedia content, such as music or video folders
- Active X control: It is a function that is implemented with Windows Media and allows you to manipulate the player itself for some video or music pages. It does not work in the case of Edge, in other browsers, the browser will be responsible for covering its absence.
- Codec removal: Those native Windows codecs for the support and playback of audio and video files have been eliminated: WMA, MPEG, AAC, FLAC, ALAC, AMR, Dolby Digital, VC-1, MPEG-4, H.263, .264 and .265. So we will not be able to play music in MP3, WMA or video in MP4 and others. Therefore, users are forced to download free codecs in Windows 10 N.
- Windows Media Format Features: Due to them, the player allowed us to open ASF files.
- OneDrive and Photos: They are present on the computer, but they do not allow us to play videos.
- Xbox DVR and Game Settings: The screen recording and streaming app has been removed from Windows 10 N.
- Synchronize your computer with portable devices: This function is not available. Therefore, the user will not be able to carry out the synchronization with other devices.