Software

Lock Windows 11 from Android, Send Files, Share Clipboard

Lock Windows 11 from Android — Link to Windows Update
Control Windows Remotely

Key Takeaways:

  • Microsoft rolled out Link to Windows v1.25102.140.0 with new remote controls for Windows 11 PCs.
  • New features include remote PC lock (under 3 seconds), two-way file transfer to PC, cross-device clipboard, and a Recent Activity feed.
  • Screen mirroring (Mirror to PC) and basic PC status (battery, network strength) are now visible from Android.

On December 8 Microsoft began quietly rolling out a major update to Link to Windows on Android (version 1.25102.140.0). The update brings a more capable, two-sided experience: your phone can now actively control and interact with a connected Windows 11 PC rather than just managing the link.

Remote lock: fast and simple

A new "Lock PC" toggle lets you lock a connected Windows 11 machine from your Android phone. Link to Windows warns that the action will disconnect the device link, and in testing the lock completed in under three seconds. The PC can be unlocked and will reconnect automatically to the phone.

Send files to your PC (and find them quickly)

The app now supports sending files from Android to Windows 11. Files appear on the PC with a "file received" notification and can be opened or located in File Explorer. Transfers performed well on modern networks — a 3MB image arrived in under a minute on a 500 Mbps connection.

Cross-device clipboard and Recent Activity

Link to Windows adds a clipboard feature that syncs Windows 11 clipboard items — including images and screenshots — to Android. To enable it, go to Windows Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Mobile devices > Managed devices and turn on cross-device copy and paste. Synced items show up in the app’s Recent Activity feed where you can delete or share them to apps like WhatsApp or Telegram.

Mirror to PC and device status

A new "Mirror to PC" (Cast to PC) toggle starts screen mirroring directly from the phone. Microsoft is also testing an "Expanded" mode for streaming Android apps in a larger, tablet-like layout on Windows 11.

The update displays basic PC telemetry in the app — battery level and network strength — refreshed frequently from the connected device.

Compatibility and direction

Microsoft’s changes require Link to Windows v1.25102.140.0 and a Windows 11 PC running 24H2 or 25H2. The shift signals Microsoft is balancing control between phone and PC, reducing some Phone Link dependency while keeping Phone Link on the desktop for richer interactions.

Bottom line

Link to Windows is evolving from a link-management tool into a lightweight remote-control and continuity hub. The update should make everyday tasks — locking a lost laptop, transferring photos, or pasting a PC screenshot into a phone chat — faster and more seamless for Android and Windows 11 users.

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