Tech Reference

How to share your screen on FaceTime using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac

Facetime icon
Apple's FaceTime video calls allow you to share your screen on a computer or mobile device. Shutterstock
Updated
Read in app

Thanks to screen sharing in FaceTime, anyone using Apple's video calling app can let the rest of the call see what's on their display. You can share almost anything, including a photo, webpage, or app.

Here's how to do it. 

How to share your screen in FaceTime on an iPhone or iPad

1. Start a FaceTime call.

2. When you are ready to share your screen, tap the Share Content button at the top of the screen.

The FaceTime app on iPhone, with the "Share Content" button highlighted.
Tap the "Share Content" button.  Stefan Ionescu/Insider

3. In the pop-up, tap Share My Screen. You'll see a short countdown and then your screen will be shared.

The FaceTime app on iPhone, with the "Share My Screen" option highlighted in the "Share Content" pop-up.
Tap "Share My Screen."  Stefan Ionescu/Insider

4. You can now display any app or content you like. Everyone will now be able to see what you see on your iPhone or iPad. 

5. To end your screen sharing session, tap the Share Content button again.

How to take over screen sharing from someone else on an iPhone or iPad

If another person on the FaceTime call initiated the screen sharing session, you can easily take over when it's time to share your screen.

1. In the FaceTime app, tap the Share Content button at the top of the screen.

The FaceTime app on iPhone, with the "Share Content" button highlighted.
The FaceTime app on iPhone, with the "Share Content" button highlighted.  Stefan Ionescu/Insider

2. In the pop-up, tap Share My Screen.

3. Tap Replace Existing. Now you can show other participants on the call what's on your screen.

The FaceTime app on iPhone, with the "Replace Existing" option highlighted.
Tap "Replace Existing."  Stefan Ionescu/Insider

4. To end your screen sharing session, tap the Share Content button again.

How to share your screen in FaceTime on a Mac

In order to share your screen in FaceTime, you need to be running MacOS Monterey 12.1 or later, and all the participants need to be running MacOS 12.1 or later or iOS or iPadOS 15.1 or later.

1. Start a FaceTime call on your Mac.

2. During the call, open an app that you want to share on the call.

3. In the menu bar, click the Screen Share button.

FaceTime on Mac, with the "Screen Share" button highlighted.
Click "Screen Share."  Stefan Ionescu/Insider

5. Now choose how you want to share. In the pop-up window, select Window or Screen depending on if you want to share a specific app window or entire screen.

FaceTime pop-up on Mac, with the “Window” or “Screen” options highlighted.
Choose whether to share an app window only or the entire screen.  Stefan Ionescu/Insider
  • Share the app window: Select Window, move the mouse pointer to the app you want to show, and click Share This Window.
  • Share the entire screen: Select Screen, then move the mouse pointer anywhere on the screen and choose Share This Screen.

To end your sharing session, click the FaceTime button in the menu bar and Stop Sharing.

Read next

Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.