Thought Leadership
Microsoft has raised Windows 11 license fees for PC manufacturers by 7 to 10 percent since July 2026, significantly more than in previous years.
According to the cited manager at a PC manufacturer, Microsoft typically raises OEM license fees every year, but usually only by a low single-digit percentage. The current increase of 7 to 10 percent is therefore significantly steeper than in previous years. The exact size of the increase varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, since Microsoft negotiates individual terms with each OEM, and larger buyers such as Dell, HP, Asus, Acer, and Lenovo typically receive better terms than smaller manufacturers.
In addition, systems with more powerful processors tend to pay higher license fees than basic entry-level devices, meaning gaming PCs and workstations in particular are likely to be more affected by the increase. Retail prices for individually purchased Windows 11 licenses remain unaffected by the increase; Windows 11 Home still costs 99 US dollars, Windows 11 Pro 199 US dollars.
Windows 11 Prices: Additional burden in an already strained market environment
The price increase hits PC manufacturers amid an already strained cost situation: memory prices have reportedly risen by around 110 percent since the start of 2026, and SSD storage by about 147 percent. Laptop manufacturer Framework had already stated in its own pricing update in July that higher Windows license costs, alongside rising processor, memory, and storage prices, were factoring into its own pricing. For the Taiwanese market, industry observers expect finished PC prices to rise by up to a further 5 percent in the third quarter of 2026, with average prices for Asus devices there said to have already risen by around 30 percent. Microsoft itself has not yet commented on the reports of the price increase in response to inquiries from trade media.
(Editorial Team)
