How to Share Your Screen on FaceTime

FaceTime can show your iPhone, iPad or Mac screen to everyone on a call. Screen sharing is part of SharePlay. This guide covers how to start sharing, how to check what others see, and how to stop.

Before you start

Screen sharing in FaceTime first appeared in iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1 and macOS Monterey 12.1. Your device needs one of these versions or later. Other participants who want to see your screen need them too. If you can't find the option, check your device's software update settings before anything else.

Screen sharing does not run only on your device. FaceTime uses Apple's service, so you need an internet connection and a signed-in Apple Account. Your screen image is sent to the other participants through that service. If it matters how call content is handled, read Apple's current privacy documentation.

People who join from Android or Windows through a FaceTime link in a web browser get fewer features than Apple device users. Before you depend on screen sharing with them, confirm that they can actually see shared content on their current setup.

Prepare your screen first. Close apps, tabs and documents you don't want others to see. Turning on a Focus mode or Do Not Disturb cuts down on notifications that could pop up while you share.

Step-by-step instructions

On iPhone or iPad

• Start or join a FaceTime call.
• If the call controls are hidden, tap the screen to show them.
• Tap the SharePlay button in the call controls. It looks like a rectangle with a person in front of it.
• Tap Share My Screen. A short countdown runs, and then sharing starts.
• Open the app or content you want to show. The call keeps going while you leave the FaceTime app.
• To stop, open the call controls again and tap the SharePlay button.

Newer system versions add features to screen sharing, such as letting a viewer ask to control the shared screen. The person sharing has to approve that request. Whether these features work depends on the versions running on both devices, so check Apple's release notes for your version.

On a Mac

• Start or join a call in the FaceTime app.
• Open the FaceTime call controls. They appear in the menu bar during a call.
• Click the screen sharing button.
• Choose Window to share a single app window, or Screen to share your whole display, then select the window or screen.
• To stop, click the screen sharing button again and choose the option to stop sharing.

Button labels and their exact location vary slightly between macOS versions. When privacy matters, share a single window: other windows, the desktop and the menu bar then stay out of view.

Your camera is separate from your shared screen. The selected camera and the camera permission only affect your own video tile. The same goes for lighting: it changes how you look, not how the shared screen looks. If you want participants to see only your screen, turn your camera off with the camera button in the call controls.

Check the output

The simplest check is to ask a participant what they see. Your device also shows a sharing indicator in the call controls while sharing is on. If that indicator disappears, sharing has stopped.

The resolution and frame rate of the shared image depend on your connection and on the devices involved. Small text and fast motion can look less sharp to viewers than they do on your own screen. To share a movie or show, use SharePlay inside a supported app instead of screen sharing. Many streaming apps block their content from screen capture, and viewers may see a black area.

Anything that appears inside the shared area may be visible to participants. Some system versions hide notifications while you share, but don't count on it. Use a Focus mode if you need to be sure.

Common problems and next steps

If Share My Screen or the SharePlay button is missing, start with your system version. Then check that SharePlay is turned on in FaceTime's settings. If some participants are on older devices or joined through a web link, they may be unable to see your screen even when you can share it.

Only one person can share at a time. If someone else is already sharing, FaceTime may ask whether you want to replace their share with yours.

If viewers see a black window or a blank area, the content is probably protected from screen capture. Use the app's own SharePlay option, if it has one, or show different content.

If the shared image lags or freezes, the connection is usually the cause. Move closer to your Wi-Fi router or switch to a more stable network. Pausing large downloads or other video streams on the same network can also help.

If your group mixes Apple and non-Apple devices and FaceTime screen sharing doesn't reach everyone, consider a video call app that supports screen sharing on every participant's platform.