Search results
Jul 29, 2024 · macOS Monterey 12.1 adds SharePlay, an entirely new way to have shared experiences with family and friends in FaceTime. This update also includes the Apple Music Voice Plan, new safety features for children and parents in Messages, redesigned Memories in Photos, and other features and bug fixes for your Mac. SharePlay.
- Overview
- What can SharePlay do for you?
- How to use SharePlay to watch video
- How to use SharePlay to listen to music
- How to use SharePlay to share your screen
- Some caveats to note for SharePlay
- Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox
How-to
By Steven Shaw
published 16 March 2022
Sharing is caring
(Image credit: Apple)
The software updates from Apple in 2021 carried a theme of productivity that went across the line. From widgets in iPadOS 15 to Focus, there were new features that aimed to help you cut out the additional steps required for your workflow.
SharePlay allows users to incorporate movies, music, and TV shows into a FaceTime call. You can also use it to share your screen on FaceTime, so you could share yourself browsing a photo album, a website, or another app. The only caveat is that anyone you want to share with also needs to be running a device that’s on iOS 15.1 or later, iPadOS 15.1 or later, or macOS 12.1 Monterey or later.
With video or music content, if what you select is from a subscription-based service, then everyone on the call needs to also have access to be able to see it.
SharePlay brings both productivity and social benefits. You can watch a movie with friends remotely if you aren’t together, and you can all enjoy the synced playback and shared controls that SharePlay offers. If you’re listening to music together, anyone can add songs to the shared playlist.
Alternatively, in a work setting, you might show someone some documents you’re working through, and have a discussion about it in real-time in Apple's Pages app, compared to setting up a meeting at some point in the future when you are together.
The feature also offers smart volume control, which automatically adjusts the audio so that participants can hear each other, even if the music or video is particularly loud at certain moments.
But playing video or music requires some extra steps during a FaceTime call.
The first step is to initiate a FaceTime call. You can either call a recent contact, or, if you want to have a group call, click on New Facetime, and add all the contacts you wish to include.
Once the call is connected, launch the TV app on your Mac and select whatever film or TV show you want to watch.
If this is the first time you’ve used SharePlay, you’ll be asked to confirm that you wish to use it. From then on, SharePlay will start automatically. Alternatively, you can select the option ‘Start Only for Me’, and then in the future, you will be prompted when you want to use SharePlay.
As long as everyone has access to the content, everyone can watch together. For anyone who doesn’t have access, they will be given the option of signing up for a free trial of the service that offers the show if it’s available or paying for a subscription, or making a one-off purchase.
Start a FaceTime call as normal. Open the Music app, select a song, then press the Play button to start the music.
The same principles as sharing video apply to sharing music through SharePlay. Once again, the content will be shared among users who have access to it, while others will be prompted to acquire that access.
Should you want to share your screen on FaceTime, the process is slightly different. In this case, when you are on your FaceTime call, you can start the process.
You'll see the SharePlay icon to the right of the menu during a call. When you press this, you'll be given the option to share your screen. Once this is done, you can browse your iPhone, iPad, or Mac as normal, but the recipient in the call will be watching the entire time.
We’ve already highlighted the fact that premium content will only be available to those people who have paid for it (or have a free trial). But it’s also important to note that the usual availability of Apple Media Services rules apply, so some content will be automatically region locked.
Finally, some apps that support SharePlay will also require a subscription to use, such as Fitness Plus, Spotify, and Disney Plus to name just a few. As developers increasingly get to grips with SharePlay and how it can enhance the services they provide, expect to see this become available in an increasing number of different apps for your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Get the hottest deals available in your inbox plus news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more from the TechRadar team.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors
Dec 13, 2021 · Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge. Apple has brought SharePlay to the Mac as part of macOS Monterey 12.1, which was released Monday. With SharePlay, you can now enjoy entertainment like ...
Dec 13, 2021 · The macOS Monterey update can be downloaded on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Preferences. Apple has also released a macOS Big Sur 11.6.2 update for those ...
Nov 1, 2021 · The feature has already arrived on other Apple devices with iOS 15.1, but Mac users have been left out. With the latest public beta of macOS 12.1 Monterey, it shouldn’t be much longer for ...
Sep 11, 2023 · To use SharePlay, you'll need the following: iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1, or macOS Monterey 12.1 (or newer) All people in a FaceTime call should be running an Apple OS that supports the feature. They ...
People also ask
What is Shareplay on macOS Monterey?
Is Shareplay coming to Mac?
What is Shareplay & how does it work?
Where can I download the Mac OS Monterey update?
What's new in macOS Monterey 12.1?
Does Shareplay work on iOS 17?
Jul 16, 2021 · Image: Apple. To use SharePlay on an iPhone or iPad, first, make sure that everyone on the call is using iOS 15 and iPadOS 15. Next, start a FaceTime call — either one-on-one or a group call ...
