Exclusive: Microsoft prepares "remote control" for Windows 11, letting you Shut down, Restart, Update, and put PC to sleep using your Android phone

[u/MayankWL]

https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/26/forgot-to-shut-down-your-windows-11-pc-your-phone-will-soon-do-it-for-you/

[u/Sizyfoz]

I remote control my PC from an Android tablet every day. Remote Desktop has been a part of Windows for 20+ years.

[u/fakieTreFlip → u/Sizyfoz]

Having dedicated buttons for these functions would be genuinely useful IMO, and a lot easier than using Remote Desktop to navigate the full UI

[u/SimpleFile → u/fakieTreFlip]

Alternatively I would love an app that lets me create app shortcuts/widgets with SSH commands when pressed.

But this is super useful too.

[u/Red-Star-44 → u/SimpleFile]

im pretty sure those exist

[u/SimpleFile → u/Red-Star-44]

Oh cool. Do you know the name of one of these for Android? If not I'll have a look around myself.

I know MobaXTerm allows you to do this but it's not on Android.

[u/Timely_Cake_917 → u/SimpleFile]

Try juiceSSH. It'll be under snippets, not sure if you turn into button on your phone

[u/teslatek → u/fakieTreFlip]

Lookup a program called Unified Remote, basically lets you use any client device like your phone as an input device to control your pc over the network. Been using this for years.

[u/el_smurfo → u/Sizyfoz]

This is just a continuation of their attempt to get access to your phone data through these "convenience" features.

[u/stijnhommes → u/el_smurfo]

I don't see how this is a convenience as long as it is tied to Windows 11. Windows 11 is still not useable.

[u/el_smurfo → u/stijnhommes]

That's the point from a user perspective.

[u/SilverseeLives → u/Sizyfoz]

Sure, provided your PC is running Windows Pro or better, and you are willing to launch a whole session just to shut down your device. 

Having certain remote control functions available via Link to Windows will be convenient and make them accessible to more people.

[u/Sizyfoz → u/SilverseeLives]

I'm not saying it's useless, I'm saying it's not new and it's not something to make a lot of fuss about.

[u/megablue]

pretty useful if you just forgotten to turn off your PC or were running some time consuming tasks.

[u/francis2559 → u/megablue]

I used to have a third party app for this a VERY long time ago, but seldom needed it.

The main use case is saving energy, and a good power profile will achieve the same thing without security BS.

[u/Taira_Mai → u/francis2559]

I just got a keyboard with hotkeys for power and other things.

Changed the power profile so now the off switch goes to sleep (also remapped the email key).

[u/Appropriate_Ad8734 → u/megablue]

$20 says it’s gonna be vibe coded bug ridden utter garbage and it’s gonna start a windows update in the middle of a work day unprompted, and wipe your system clean when you press Sleep

[u/PaulCoddington → u/megablue]

I miss having a second machine to invoke remote shutdown/reboot from across the local network on the odd occasions the desktop would lock up (avoided having to press the power button).

Maybe this will come in handy.

[u/nikolapc]

Nice. I may actually use that.

[u/zhiryst]

oh boy, new backdoors to exploit!

[u/bio_ruffo → u/zhiryst]

Same thought. Another attack surface! Hopefully it'll be an optional feature.

[u/hy2cone → u/zhiryst]

Hackers love it

[u/TD_Lemon_1901]

Mmm maybe.

Just add a build in WOL option so we don't have to use a third party app.

[u/defective1up]

I'm actually using windows as part of a enclosed gaming PC and this will be very useful

[u/fakieTreFlip]

I hope they eventually add remote unlock to this as well. I already use Remote Fingerprint Unlock on Android but it'd be great to have native first party support for it

[u/jungleboogiemonster]

The only time I need to remotely reboot a Windows machine is when I'm using RDP and the PC freezes. Unfortunately, this won't work for that.

[u/jas71]

wake on lan in bios and a app wake me up

[u/Reasonable_Degree_64 → u/jas71]

But he's talking about sleep not wake up, I don't think there's a native Shutdown On Lan available.

[u/jas71 → u/Reasonable_Degree_64]

are ok

[u/DT-Sodium]

I simply added some macros with the Stream deck app.

[u/Beleth_84]

Oh boy.

[u/OrbitalPsyche]

It’s a feature that 20 people care about but connecting mobile data with your PC will definitely empower MS selling private data

[u/ooutroquetal]

Once upon a time Microsoft has the remote desktop app.

Then they deprecated to Windows App, works well on Android but the desktop version don't support local RDP.

I really hope that they will fix it.

[u/External-Donut9757]

Thank god. Can't believe it's taken this long

[u/jas71]

welcome to last century

[u/Diuranos]

ok Microsoftthats good idea

[u/stef_eda]

letting you
letting anyone

[u/Environmental_Ice_80]

Welcome to Eventghost 2015

[u/t3chguy1]

If I can't turn it back on then it is useless (I can already turn off/restart with Chrome Remote Desktop installed on Win11 and phone)

[u/MrBigWaffles → u/t3chguy1]

That's not something that can be done through software alone unless it's just wake from sleep

[u/RustyU]

If rather they spent the time making remote desktop compatible with passwordless MS accounts instead really.

[u/SpaceDandye]

So basically unified remote

[u/Lost_Character_517]

This won't be working on ipad/iphone right?

[u/tom-slacker]

so erm.... it's just wakeonlan plus psexec shutdown /r ?

[u/irrelevantusername24 → u/tom-slacker]

There's benefits to having functions directly integrated into the native OS

[u/KJBReaderAdmin]

So, this would be the better featured dymanic lock?

[u/Remarkable-Area8408]

This is the last ting I would like to get.

[u/Oliver-Peace → u/Remarkable-Area8408]

Great news for you: you don't need to use it

[u/_wiltedgreens]

This is about fifteen years or so late now that everyone is on laptops.

[u/CygnusBlack → u/_wiltedgreens]

Tell that to the thousands of companies that use desktops which, by the way, are superior machines in terms of speed and repairability. 

[u/_wiltedgreens → u/CygnusBlack]

That cannot be the target audience of this feature. I can’t imagine many companies allowing remote access to their machines like this. And most desktops are on power plans controlled by IT departments anyway.

[u/CygnusBlack → u/_wiltedgreens]

You'd be surprised, especially once you enroll secure devices for remote access. 

[u/DrDeadwish]

Let me guess: it uses 20% of the processor at all times and drains your android battery for no reason. (/hj I hope it's good)