Link to Windows Gets Major Windows 11 Update: Remote Lock, Clipboard Sync, Battery & Wi‑Fi Stats, and Faster File Transfers

Windows-Android Bridge Deepens With New Link to Windows Update

The latest update to the Link to Windows app expands Android and Windows 11 integration, enabling remote actions, clipboard sharing, and richer cross‑device file management. This milestone makes pairing a phone with a PC even more seamless, without cables or extra software.

Breaking developments: Remote lock and cross‑device controls

Users can now lock their Windows session remotely from an Android phone by tapping a new control in the Link to Windows app. The PC will display the login screen, and re-entry requires the password or Windows Hello methods you’ve configured.

To access these capabilities, ensure Windows 11 is up to date and that the Link to Windows app is updated on the phone via Google Play.

The feature set is designed to let the PC and phone share access to functions and files, with several enhancements introduced in this latest rollout.

What’s new at a glance

Feature	What it does	Availability
Remote lock	lock the PC from the phone; unlock with password or Windows Hello	All supported devices with update
Clipboard sharing	Copy text on the PC and paste on the mobile device	Available after update
System status visibility	View laptop battery level and Wi‑Fi strength from the phone	Available after update
File reception enhancements	Recent files list and a dedicated “received files” section	Available after update
Phone‑to‑PC file transfer	send files from mobile to PC	Available after update

During early hands‑on testing on a Pixel 8, the update performed well. Some capabilities, such as mirroring the phone screen on the PC, remain exclusive to certain devices like Samsung.

Why this matters for everyday productivity

The improvements reduce friction between devices,enabling faster secure access,smoother content sharing,and a more fluid workflow across home or office setups.

Microsoft’s official guidance on Link to windows can be explored here, and the Android app is available on Google Play. Learn more from Microsoft and download the app on Google Play.

What you should know before updating

To access the new features,update Windows 11 to the latest build and install the newest Link to Windows app from the Google Play Store. This pairing unlocks remote locking,clipboard sharing,and enhanced device status visibility.

Two questions for readers

Which feature woudl you adopt first to boost your daily workflow? Do you foresee any security concerns with remote PC locking from a phone?

Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below to help fellow readers gauge the real‑world value of these updates.

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What’s New in Link to Windows 2025

• Remote Lock – securely lock a paired Android device from any Windows 11 PC.
• Enhanced Clipboard Sync – Real‑time copy‑paste across Windows 11 and Android, with rich‑text support.
• Battery & Wi‑Fi statistics – Live power‑usage and network‑quality metrics displayed directly in the Link to Windows pane.
• Faster File Transfers – Up to 2× speed boost using the new “Smart Transfer” protocol and Wi‑Fi 6E optimization.
• UI Refresh – Streamlined navigation,dark‑mode compatibility,and customizable quick‑action tiles.

These features arrive in the Windows 11 2025.2 cumulative update (build 22631.4185) and are distributed through Windows Update and the Microsoft Store.

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Remote Lock – Secure Your Mobile Device from Windows

How Remote Lock Works

1. Open the Link to Windows app on Windows 11.
2. Select the paired Android device from the device list.
3. Click Remote Lock → confirm the action.

the command is sent over an encrypted TLS 1.3 channel to the Android client, which instantly triggers the native device lock screen, erasing all unlocked notifications.

Real‑World Use Cases

• Lost laptop, secured phone – A consulting firm reported a 38 % reduction in data‑exposure incidents after deploying Remote Lock across 1,200 employees (Microsoft Security Blog, March 2025).
• Shared workstations – Remote Lock allows IT admins to lock personal phones when users step away from hot‑desking stations, preventing accidental data leakage.

Tips for Optimal Use

• Enable “Find My Device” on Android to ensure the device stays registered with Microsoft services.
• Pair devices using a work/enterprise Microsoft account for centralized policy control via Microsoft Endpoint Manager.
• Set a custom lock screen timeout on Android (Settings → Security) to reduce the window a thief could access unlocked data.

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Clipboard Sync – Seamless copy‑Paste Across platforms

New Features

• Rich‑text & graphics support – Images, tables, and formatted text now sync instantly.
• Sync history – Up to 10 recent clipboard items are stored in the cloud for quick retrieval.
• Privacy toggle – Disable cloud sync per app or per device for sensitive workflows.

How to Activate

• Navigate to Settings → System → Clipboard on windows 11 and toggle Link to Windows sync.
• On Android, open the Link to Windows app, go to Clipboard Settings, and enable Sync clipboard.

Practical Tips

Tip	Benefit
use keyboard shortcut Win + V	Quickly view and paste from the clipboard history without leaving the current window.
Pin frequent items	Pin text snippets (e.g.,email signatures) to keep them always available.
Turn off sync during confidential work	Prevent accidental cloud exposure of proprietary data.

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Battery & Wi‑Fi Stats – Real‑Time Device Health at a Glance

What You See

• Battery percentage and estimated time‑to‑empty for the Android device.
• Current Wi‑Fi signal strength (dBm), band (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz / 6E), and throughput displayed in the Link to Windows pane.

Why It matters

• Power management – Developers can schedule heavy tasks (e.g., large file transfers) when the phone is charging, extending battery life.
• Network optimization – Users can switch to a stronger Wi‑Fi band directly from Windows, improving transfer speeds and streaming quality.

Configuration Steps

1. Open Link to Windows → Device Info.
2. Toggle show Battery Stats and Show Wi‑Fi Details.
3. (Optional) Set Alert thresholds: battery < 20 % triggers a Windows notification.

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Faster File Transfers – Smart Transfer Protocol

Speed Gains

• Smart Transfer automatically selects the optimal path: WLAN, Bluetooth LE, or direct USB (if connected).
• Leveraging Wi‑Fi 6E and MU‑MIMO reduces latency, delivering up to 2 GB/s on compatible hardware.

Transfer Workflow

1. Right‑click a file/folder in File Explorer.
2. Choose Send to Link to Windows → transfer.
3. Monitor progress in the Transfer Hub within the app.

Real‑World Performance

A recent benchmark from TechPowerUp (oct 2025) showed a 73 % reduction in transfer time for a 5 GB video file between a Surface Laptop Studio (Wi‑Fi 6E) and a Galaxy S23 Ultra (Android 13).

Best Practices

• Connect both devices to a 5 GHz or 6E network for maximum throughput.
• disable Power‑saving mode on the Android device during large transfers.
• Use the “Batch Transfer” option (accessed via the ellipsis menu) to queue multiple files and avoid repeated handshakes.

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Benefits for Power Users and Enterprises

• Enhanced security – Remote Lock and encrypted transfer protect sensitive data on mobile devices.
• Productivity boost – Clipboard sync and fast file transfer eliminate friction between windows and Android workflows.
• Device health visibility – Battery and Wi‑Fi stats help IT teams proactively manage device performance.
• Scalable management – Integration with Microsoft Endpoint Manager enables bulk policy deployment for Remote Lock and clipboard controls.

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practical Tips to Get the Most Out of the Update

1. Confirm Compatibility

• Windows 11 version 22H2 or later.
• Android 12+ with the latest Link to Windows client (available on Google Play).

2. Keep Firmware Updated

• Latest wi‑Fi 6E drivers on Windows 11 PC and Android OEM firmware ensure the Smart Transfer protocol works at peak speed.

3. Leverage Cloud Policies

• In Azure AD, create a Link to Windows policy that enforces Remote Lock and disables clipboard sync for high‑risk groups.

4. Monitor Transfer Logs

• Use Event Viewer → Applications and Services Logs → Microsoft → Windows → LinkToWindows to audit file‑transfer activity and detect anomalies.

5. Optimize Battery Usage

• Set “Transfer only when charging” in the Transfer Hub settings to avoid draining mobile batteries during night‑time syncs.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Question	Answer
Do I need a Microsoft 365 subscription?	No. Link to Windows works with personal Microsoft accounts, but enterprise features like centralized remote Lock policies require Azure AD or Microsoft 365 Business.
Is Remote Lock reversible?	Yes.After locking,you can unlock the device by entering the Android PIN,pattern,or biometric on the phone itself.
Can I sync the clipboard across multiple Windows PCs?	Clipboard sync is limited to a single paired Android device per Windows 11 PC. Use Cloud Clipboard for cross‑PC sync.
What happens to transferred files?	Files are stored in the Downloads folder on windows and the Files app on Android, respecting existing folder permissions.
Is the data encrypted?	All dialog between Windows 11 and Android uses TLS 1.3; file payloads are also encrypted with AES‑256 during transfer.

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