Huawei to drop Windows, shifting to HarmonyOS and Linux for future PCs
Huawei's computer business is on the verge of a major shift in the coming weeks. The Chinese company may soon be forced to abandon Windows, leaving it with limited options for continuing to bring new PCs to market.
Starting in April 2025, Huawei will launch new PC models that no longer use Windows as their default operating system. According to domestic sources cited by MyDrivers, the Guangdong-based company may soon lose the ability to sell Windows PCs to Chinese customers. As a result, Huawei appears to be shifting its focus toward Linux and HarmonyOS, its proprietary operating system.
HarmonyOS initially began as a project based on the Android Open Source Project and the Linux kernel, allowing compatibility with existing Android apps. In 2023, Huawei introduced HarmonyOS NEXT, a new iteration built on a custom microkernel and proprietary technology frameworks.
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Huawei may lose Windows license and switch to Linux and HarmonyOS — media
In 2019, Huawei lost access to Android with Google services for its smartphones, and now the Chinese company may lose Microsoft's license to use Windows on its computers and laptops. Because of this, Huawei plans to supply computers with Linux and its own operating system HarmonyOS, TechSpot reports, citing Chinese media.
Huawei may soon lose its license to sell Windows computers to Chinese customers, according to reports. However, the company plans to release new PCs in April that could run Linux and HarmonyOS. There have also been reports that these computers will be "AI PCs" equipped with Kunpeng processors and will have applications based on DeepSeek's large language models.