As hardware prices skyrocket, Microsoft is reportedly increasing Windows 11's license cost from 7 to 10%

Published Aug 12, 2026, 3:07 AM EDT Simon is a Computer Science BSc graduate who has been writing about technology since 2014, and using Windows machines since 3.1. After working for an indie game studio and acting as the family's go-to technician for all computer issues, he found his passion for writing and decided to use his skill set to write about all things tech. Since beginning his writing career, he has written for many different publications such as WorldStart, Listverse, and MakeTechEasier. However, after finding his home at MakeUseOf in February 2019, he would eventually move on to its sister site, XDA, to bring the latest and greatest in Windows, Linux, and DIY electronics. Sign in to your XDA account Summary Windows 11 OEM license prices reportedly rose 7-10% starting in July 2026. PC makers will likely pass OEM cost hikes to buyers, raising PC prices amid shortages. Consider using Linux or buying no-OS PCs to avoid Windows license costs and save money. As the PC building market endures a nasty hardware shortage, consumers have had to dig deeper into their pockets to fund a new computer. Unfortunately, it appears even the software world has decided to raise its prices by a considerable amount. A PC brand executive has reportedly stated that Microsoft has raised its Windows 11 OEM license prices by 7-10%, and the consumer will likely be the one picking up the bill. Windows 11 OEM licenses reportedly get a 7-10% price hike Things are looking even more expensive than they did before As spotted by Windows Central, this report comes to us via the Taiwanese publication United Daily News (UDN). It has some interesting insights into how PC manufacturing is faring in a world of high hardware costs and an unstable market. One point it touches upon is how much Microsoft asks for a Windows 11 Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) license, which PC manufacturers purchase to install on their products. That way, people buying the computer have a Windows 11 machine set up for them right out of the box. Microsoft raises the price of these OEM licenses every year, and usually those increases are in the single-digit percentages. However, this year, Microsoft has decided to take a considerable chunk. As UDN reports (machine-translated from Chinese): A PC brand executive stated that Microsoft increases licensing fees for Windows OEMs (device manufacturers) every year. In the past, licensing fees mostly increased by single digits each year, but starting in July this year, the average increase has reached 7% to 10%, which is a significant increase compared to previous years. That percentage is a range, so this year's OEM keys saw a 7-10% increase from last year. That's a double-digit increase, something that UDN says doesn't usually happen. It's easy to assume this doesn't affect us as the consumer; after all, we're not the ones buying the OEM license. However, when a price increase like this occurs, the people making the computers will want to reclaim the profits they were earning before the hike. To do this, they then increase the price that customers pay to balance things out again. If the above claim is true, we may see Windows machines increase in price even more as the hardware crisis continues to bite down. Fortunately, you need not have to remain locked into the Windows ecosystem. As an open-source operating system fan, I'd always recommend checking out a Linux distro instead of shelling out money for one of Microsoft's licenses. After all, you can save yourself some cash by purchasing a computer without the OS and installing Linux yourself.