Windows Embedded operating systems are available to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), who make it available to end users preloaded with their hardware, in addition to volume license customers in some cases.

In April 2018, Microsoft released Azure Sphere, another operating system designed for IoT applications running on the Linux kernel.

Windows Embedded Compact is a modular real-time operating system with a specialized kernel that can run in under 1 MB of memory.

Windows Embedded Compact is available for ARM, MIPS, SuperH and x86 processor architectures.

It is a customized image of Windows Embedded Compact along with specialized modules for use in Mobile phones.

Modified variants of Windows Mobile were used for Portable Media Centers.

Windows Embedded Compact 2013[13] is a real-time operating system which runs on ARM, x86, SH, and derivatives of those architectures.

[12] Windows Embedded Standard 2009 includes Silverlight, .NET Framework 3.5, Internet Explorer 7, Windows Media Player 11, RDP 6.1, Network Access Protection, Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer and support for being managed by Windows Server Update Services and System Center Configuration Manager.

[19][20] IE11 for this edition of Windows 8 was released in April 2019, with support for IE10 ending on January 31, 2020.

[21][22][23][24] Binary identical variants of the editions as are available in retail, but licensed exclusively for use in embedded devices.

The latest release, Windows Embedded Automotive 7 was announced on October 19, 2010.

The operating system has compatibility with Windows Mobile 6.5 and is presented as an enterprise handheld device, targeting retailers, delivery companies, and other companies that rely on handheld computing.

Five Windows Embedded 8.1 Handheld devices have been released; Manufactured by Bluebird, Honeywell and Panasonic as listed below.