While using Messages on an iPad that meets minimum system requirements, you can share your screen or ask to see someone else’s. In supported apps, you can also use SharePlay to get together with friends while you watch the latest episode of your favorite show or listen to a new song in real time.
From Messages, you jump to FaceTime to share your screen and bring apps and webpages into the conversation, or to see another person’s screen and even control it remotely.
Show someone else what’s on your screen
Jump from Messages to FaceTime and share your screen, bringing apps, webpages, and more into the conversation.
- Go to the Messages app on your iPad.
- In a conversation with just one other person, tap the FaceTime button.
- Tap Share My Screen. See Share your screen in a FaceTime call.
See another person’s screen
To see another person’s screen, or even remotely control it, you can jump from Messages to FaceTime.
- Open the Messages app on your iPad.
- In a conversation with just one other person, tap the FaceTime button.
- Tap Ask to Share Screen. See Request remote control.
Use SharePlay to enjoy content together
Supported apps like Apple TV and Music let you start a Messages conversation right from the app.
SharePlay in Messages requires you and your recipients to be using iMessage, and shared playback controls keep everyone in sync.
- In a supported app, find a show, movie, song, album, or other content you want to share. Tap the item to see its details.
- Do one of the following:
- Tap the Share button, then tap SharePlay.
- Tap the More button at the top right, tap the Share button, then tap SharePlay.
- Tap the More button next to the content, then tap SharePlay.
- In the To field, enter the contacts you want to share with and tap Messages.
- Tap Start or Play to begin using SharePlay.
To begin viewing or listening, recipients tap the content’s title at the top of the Messages conversation, then tap Open. For everyone who has access to the content, the video starts playing at the same time.
Note: If the shared content requires a subscription, the service may ask those who don’t have access to subscribe, make a transaction, or sign up for a free trial, if available.
When you select content to share and tap the Play button, you can also select Play for Everyone (if it appears) to begin it for everyone in the conversation. (Others on the thread may have to tap Join SharePlay to see the video.)
Anyone in the conversation can play, pause, rewind, or fast-forward for everyone with the playback controls, while settings like closed-captioning and volume are up to each person.
Use Messages when you want no interruptions to the sound of the movie, show, song, or podcast, or tap the FaceTime button to switch to FaceTime when you want to see and hear other people as you chat.
Quick tip: Once the video is playing, you can stream it to Apple TV 4K. See our article, Send what you’re watching in SharePlay to Apple TV 4K.
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