Windows 11 might soon allow you to turn off your computer using your mobile device.

      No more worrying about whether you left your PC on after leaving home, if Microsoft launches this feature.

      Microsoft has been enhancing Phone Link to be a more integral part of Windows 11, and one of its recent updates might be among the most beneficial.

      The company seems to be experimenting with new remote power controls for the Link to Windows app on Android. These would enable users to turn off or restart a connected Windows 11 PC directly from their smartphone, in addition to options for putting it to sleep and installing outstanding updates before shutting down or restarting.

      For anyone who has forgotten to turn off their PC after leaving home, this could be a very useful enhancement.

      Your phone could function as a remote for your PC.

      Phone Link already permits Android users to view messages, calls, notifications, photos, and files from a Windows PC. Microsoft has also been pushing for better smartphone integration with Windows 11, incorporating more phone details in the Start menu and further controls in the system tray.

      The new power features would allow for greater control of the PC from the phone. While restart and shutdown are the clear additions, the ability to install pending Windows updates before either action could also help save time and prevent frustration.

      Microsoft is also seemingly adding confirmation prompts before certain commands are executed. Restarting or shutting down a PC may result in lost unsaved work, and putting the computer to sleep would cut off its connection to the phone until it is woken again.

      This is one feature I could genuinely find useful.

      Microsoft has introduced many cross-device capabilities to Phone Link over the years, but remote shutdown is among the most straightforward ones I can envision using frequently. I’ve had instances where I hurriedly left home and found hours later that my PC was still on. Being able to access Link to Windows and power it down from anywhere would quickly resolve that issue.

      This aligns well with Microsoft's broader initiative to enhance the integration of Android phones with Windows 11. Other ideas from the company, including improved clipboard syncing and enhanced phone controls within Windows, could foster a greater sense of connectivity between the two devices. Remote power controls are simpler but offer immediate practicality.

      This feature has not yet become available to users. Windows Latest discovered the controls within an August 25 build of Link to Windows, where they remain currently inactive. Microsoft has not yet revealed when, or if, this feature will be publicly deployed.