As If the RAM Crisis Wasn’t Enough, Microsoft Is Also Raising Its Windows 11 Licensing Fees by as Much as 10%

More than anything else, 2026 has been marked by basically every piece of technology getting more expensive. While a lot of the price increases have centered around hardware, Microsoft is now reportedly tightening the screws as well.

According to a report from Taiwanese economics outlet Economic Daily News (via PCMag), Microsoft will be raising its licensing fees for Windows 11 by as much as 10%. Now, this price increase isn’t for DIY system builders who are buying a key for their own PC, but rather for OEM system builders who sell you a completed system. The license fee increases aren’t going to be the same across the board either, as Microsoft generally scales the licensing fee according to the processor. So, for instance, a laptop with an Intel Core i7 processor will owe Microsoft a larger share than a laptop with a Core i3 chip.

Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and Core Ultra 5 245K – Photos