Microsoft is raising the Windows 11 licensing fees it charges device manufacturers, and PC prices could rise as a result, according to a report from Taiwanese newspaper United Daily News. The increase lands while a memory chip shortage is already pushing laptop prices up.
How Much Are The Fees Rising?
A PC brand executive who spoke anonymously to United Daily News said Microsoft usually raises its Windows license fees for PC makers by small margins each year, but the latest increases are much higher than usual.
“In the past, licensing fees mostly increased by single digits each year, but starting in July this year, the average increase has reached 7 percent to 10 percent,” United Daily News wrote.
Other brand executives told the newspaper the increases vary by processor type. More powerful devices with higher-end CPUs have seen larger increases than lower-end models. The changes are already feeding into current PC prices, the paper’s sources said, which fits with the fact that most Windows laptops and desktops ship with the operating system pre-installed.
Buyers who build their own machines are not affected. Pricing for individual Windows 11 licenses remains unchanged.
What Did Microsoft Say?
Reached for comment by Mashable, a Microsoft representative said the company “has nothing to share at this time.”
Why Does This Matter?
If the report holds up, PC makers are facing pressure on both software and hardware costs. The AI boom has caused a shortage of physical components such as RAM and SSD storage chips, pushing brands including Dell, Framework and Microsoft to raise laptop prices in recent months. Some experts predict the shortage, often called “RAMageddon,” will worsen later this year and into next.