Are you in the market for a new copy of Windows 11? Perhaps you’re building a new PC from scratch or looking to move up from Windows 10. Maybe you’re looking to run Windows alongside macOS or Linux? Whatever your reasons, a Windows 11 Professional OEM license is a great choice.

The good news is an OEM license is cheaper than full retail versions – while they’re tied to a single PC and non-transferrable, they’re a great fit for many. 

Think "Windows 11 OEM" and you’re probably assuming it’s an option for new system builders only? Far from it. Although OEM licenses can be used on one machine – once installed and activated, they’re tied to that device –  but otherwise work in exactly the same way as a full Windows 11 license: unlimited Windows reinstalls and access to all future Windows 11 updates.

In fact, Windows 11 OEM is perfect for any kind of fresh install you can think of. It’s the obvious choice for those building a new PC from scratch – the lower price means you save money on the cost of your build, which could be reinvested in more powerful hardware – but you may also need a fresh OEM license if you’ve upgraded your motherboard with a different model.

An OEM license also fits the bill should you want to run Windows alongside another operating system – either in a dual-boot configuration (such as a Boot Camp configuration on the Mac) or in a virtual environment such as VirtualBox, Parallels Desktop or VMware. In either event, it’s a more cost-effective choice than splashing out on a full retail license.

Windows 11 Professional includes features of Windows 11 Home, plus important business functionality for encryption, remote log-in, creating virtual machines, and more. Get fast start-ups, a familiar yet expanded Start menu, and great new ways to get stuff done, plus innovative features like an all-new browser built for online action and Cortana, the more personal digital assistant.

If you already own the previous Windows 10 Home, you can upgrade to 11 Professional and benefit from the additional features such as BitLocker which offers system-wide data protection by encrypting your drives, including USB keys, protecting your work from third-party unauthorized access. Assigned Access which gives greater control over what users are able to do on a system, whilst Hyper-V allows you to run virtualized operating system within Windows without the need for extra software, such as an insider build of Windows 11, a Linux distribution and even older editions of Windows.

Please remember to check your PC can run Windows 11 Professional before purchasing. 

Includes a 1-PC non-transferable license.

Review by Nick Peers.