Link to Windows now lets Android phones lock a Windows 11 PC

[harlan4096]

Microsoft has added a remote lock option to the Link to Windows app on Android, allowing users to lock a Windows 11 PC directly from their phone. The update also introduces recent activity tracking and expands file sharing, but it still does not allow unlocking a PC remotely.

The change affects users who rely on Link to Windows (paired with Phone Link on Windows 11) to manage basic PC interactions from an Android device. Once the updated app is installed and connected, a new Lock PC button becomes available, making it possible to secure a system without being physically in front of it.

Remote locking is a one-way action. There is no option to unlock the PC from the phone, and Microsoft has not indicated that such functionality is planned.

What changed in Link to Windows

The update adds several user-facing features:

• A Lock PC control that remotely locks a paired Windows 11 system
  
• A redesigned interface with clearer navigation
  
• A new Recent Activity section that lists file transfers, shared photos, and copied text
  
• Expanded file sharing that now works from PC to phone and from phone to PC
  

Earlier versions of Link to Windows supported sending files from a PC to an Android device, but not the reverse. That limitation is now removed.

Windows Latest reports that the features appeared more broadly after installing an update released on December 8, which brings the app to version 1.25102.140.0. Some users had access earlier, starting around July, but the rollout was limited at the time.

Who is affected

The new features are available to Android users who:

• Use Windows 11
  
• Have Phone Link enabled on the PC
  
• Use the Link to Windows app on Android
  

iOS users can still install Link to Windows, but integration remains more limited. The remote lock feature and expanded file sharing are tied to the Android implementation.

Some functionality continues to depend on device-specific support. Certain Samsung phones and PCs offer deeper integration, such as automatic hotspot connection through Windows 11’s network flyout. The remote lock feature itself does not appear to be limited to specific manufacturers.

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