Microsoft increases the price of Windows 11 OEM licenses
Windows 11 licenses could become a new source of pressure on PC prices, at a time when manufacturers are already facing rising RAM prices. According to a report cited by Windows Central , Microsoft has reportedly increased the cost of Windows 11 licenses for OEMs by about 7%-10% , starting in July 2026. The increase comes on top of the usual annual adjustments and risks being passed on, at least in part, to laptop and PC buyers.
Important: This information about this increase comes from Taiwanese media and does not represent, at this time, an official public confirmation from Microsoft. The company has not commented on the reported information. Therefore, it is correct to speak of a reported increase , not an officially confirmed change for all markets.
However, if the information is confirmed, Microsoft’s timing is hard to ignore.
Why do Windows 11 licenses matter for the price of a laptop?
When you buy a laptop or PC with Windows preinstalled, the cost of the operating system is included in the cost of the device. The manufacturer purchases the OEM license and then calculates its final price by taking into account all the components and services associated with the product.
Microsoft explains in its licensing documentation that Windows 11 can be delivered through OEM and pre-installed on a new PC. The OEM license is tied to that device, making the licensing model an important component of the PC ecosystem.
A 7%-10% increase in the cost of the license does not automatically mean that a 1,000 euro laptop will become 10% more expensive. The final price includes the processor, RAM, SSD, screen, motherboard, battery, shipping, taxes, manufacturer and retailer margin.
But here’s the problem: Windows is yet another additional cost at a time when almost all other costs are already going in the wrong direction.
As if RAM price hikes weren’t enough
The PC market is already going through a difficult time due to higher memory component costs. Windows Central notes that the global shortage of memory components has contributed to the increase in system prices.
The effect is visible: computers that previously fell into the 600-800 euro range are now approaching the 1,000 euro mark, while premium laptops that cost around 1,200-1,500 euro can reach around 2,000 euro. Even Microsoft’s Surface devices have been affected, with reported increases of around 400-500 euro for certain models.
In this context, a Windows license increase seems almost like a tax placed on an industry that is already trying to explain to consumers why they have to pay more for hardware.
The increase targets Windows licenses provided to OEMs
But there is an important difference that European buyers need to understand.
The reported increase concerns Windows licenses provided to OEMs , not the price a user pays for a separately purchased Windows 11 license. In Europe, the reference retail price is around 145 euros for Windows 11 Home and 259 euros for Windows 11 Pro .
So, the information regarding the increase in OEM licenses does not mean that Microsoft has automatically announced a new price increase for Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro purchased separately .
The problem is more subtle: the additional cost of OEM licenses can be indirectly passed on to the buyer through the final price of the laptop or PC . In other words, even if the price of a retail Windows 11 license remains unchanged, a computer with Windows preinstalled could become more expensive.
Who will most likely foot the bill?
In a competitive market, manufacturers can temporarily absorb some of the costs to protect their market share. But margins are not infinite.
If a manufacturer charges more for RAM, SSDs, and other components, and on top of that, pays more for Windows, there are three options: reduce the margin, cut product specifications, or raise the price.
For the consumer, all three options are unpleasant.
Furthermore, some reports indicate that the increase may have a more pronounced impact on certain systems equipped with more powerful processors. TechRadar also notes that the information regarding the 7%-10% increase should be treated as a report, not an official confirmation from Microsoft.
Is this a good time for Microsoft to increase the price of Windows licenses?
Here the criticism is justified.
Microsoft is in an extremely powerful position in the PC ecosystem. Windows remains the dominant platform for a large portion of personal computers, and manufacturers who want to sell Windows devices must operate within that ecosystem.
Therefore, a price increase at a time when consumers are already affected by the rise in component prices may be perceived as opportunistic.
However, it is not fair to automatically attribute the increase in investment in AI or other Microsoft strategies without direct evidence. At this point, this is more of a point of speculation than a proven fact.
What can be stated is simpler: Microsoft seems to be increasing the cost of a software component at a time when hardware costs are already increasing.
And the end consumer is the one who risks paying the difference.
Who could take advantage of this situation?
In the long run, this is probably the most interesting question.
If a Windows PC becomes significantly more expensive than a similar system shipped with Linux, manufacturers and consumers will have an additional incentive to consider alternatives.
Linux is not yet a universal replacement for Windows, especially for users who rely on certain professional applications, games, or enterprise ecosystems. But modern distributions and platforms like SteamOS have made the Linux alternative more visible to the general public.
A Windows cost increase won’t transform the PC market overnight, but every extra dollar counts in an industry where price differences can make a big difference in product choice.
The PC market didn’t need another price increase
If the information about the 7%-10% increase in Windows 11 licenses for OEMs is widely confirmed, Microsoft is choosing an uninspired moment for this decision, to say the least .
Memory prices are already putting pressure on manufacturers, making laptops and PCs harder to justify for budget-conscious buyers. Adding additional licensing costs only compounds the problem.
For the consumer, the conclusion is simple: it does not mean that the separately purchased Windows 11 license has become more expensive by 7%-10%, but that PCs with Windows preinstalled could become more expensive as manufacturers transfer costs to the market.
And if Microsoft really wants Windows to remain the default platform for the next generation of PCs, it would be desirable to explain why such an increase is necessary now.
Source: windowscentral.com , techradar.com
