Learn About SharePlay Features on iPhone

What SharePlay Is and How It Works on iPhone

SharePlay is a feature built into Apple's FaceTime that lets people on a video call experience content together in real time. When you use SharePlay, you can watch movies, listen to music, play games, or view photos with friends and family members while talking to them on FaceTime. The feature works across iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices, meaning you can connect with people using different Apple products.

The way SharePlay functions is straightforward. When you're on a FaceTime call, you can start sharing content from supported apps directly into the call. Everyone on the call sees the same content at the same time, and you can all pause, play, or navigate through it together. If you're watching a video, for example, when one person pauses it, the video pauses for everyone. The audio from the content you're sharing plays through the call, so it's like you're all in the same room experiencing it together.

SharePlay works with a range of apps on your iPhone. Apple's own apps like TV, Music, and Fitness+ support SharePlay. Third-party developers have also built SharePlay into their apps, including streaming services, games, and music platforms. The feature requires that both people have a compatible iPhone model and iOS version, though the specific requirements depend on which apps you're using.

One important thing to note is that SharePlay respects privacy and account settings. If you're sharing content from an app that requires a subscription, both people need to have their own subscription or access to that content. For example, if you're sharing content from a fitness app, you both need to be subscribers. SharePlay doesn't bypass any account requirements or sharing restrictions.

Practical takeaway: Before using SharePlay, check that you and the people you're calling have compatible devices and that the apps you want to use support the feature. You can find this information in the app's settings or Apple's support documentation.

Getting Started With SharePlay on Your iPhone

To use SharePlay, you need to have certain requirements in place on your iPhone. Your device needs to be running iOS 15.1 or later, as SharePlay was introduced in that update. If you have an older iPhone model, you should check whether it supports this iOS version. iPhones from iPhone 6S and newer generally support the required iOS updates, but some very older models may not.

Your FaceTime app needs to be up to date. You don't need to manually update FaceTime separately since it updates along with your iOS system updates. When you update your iPhone's operating system, FaceTime is automatically included in that update.

The apps you want to use with SharePlay need to support the feature. Not every app on your iPhone has SharePlay built in. Apple's built-in apps like TV, Music, Podcasts, and Apple Fitness+ have supported SharePlay since its launch. Many third-party apps have added support since then, including Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Apple Music, TikTok, and various game apps. The list of supporting apps continues to grow as developers add the feature.

You'll also want to make sure you have a stable internet connection. SharePlay works over your cellular data or Wi-Fi connection, so you need both good download and upload speeds. A weak connection could cause the shared content to lag or become out of sync between people on the call.

If you want to share screen content beyond what specific apps support, you can also use FaceTime's screen sharing feature. This lets you show your entire iPhone screen to others on a call, though this is different from SharePlay in that you're sharing a video of your screen rather than a shared interactive experience.

Practical takeaway: Check your iPhone's iOS version and whether the apps you want to use have SharePlay support before you invite people to a SharePlay session. You can find app information in the App Store or by opening the app and looking in its settings menu.

How to Start a SharePlay Session on FaceTime

Starting a SharePlay session involves a few straightforward steps. First, you need to be on an active FaceTime call. You can start a call with one person or a group of people. Open FaceTime and call the person or people you want to connect with. Wait until the call connects and you can see the other person's video.

Once the call is active, look at your screen. On iPhone, when you're in a FaceTime call, you'll see various controls on the screen. You need to access the apps that support SharePlay. This typically involves swiping or looking for app icons within the FaceTime interface. The exact location depends on your iOS version and which apps are installed on your phone.

When you select an app that supports SharePlay, that app opens within the FaceTime call. For example, if you open Apple TV and select a show to watch, the show will begin playing in SharePlay. Everyone on the call will see the same show playing at the same time. The audio from the show plays through the FaceTime call, and you can hear each other during moments of silence or pause the content to talk.

If you're using an app that requires you to log in or select specific content, you do that before the SharePlay session starts. For instance, if you're using a music app, you choose the song or playlist you want to share, and then SharePlay displays it to everyone on the call. Some apps let you queue up multiple items so you can continue sharing content one after another.

During a SharePlay session, the person who started the session generally has control over playback. This means you can pause, play, rewind, or fast-forward the content. The controls are synchronized across everyone's devices, so when you pause, it pauses for everyone. However, some apps may allow others on the call to take turns controlling the content or to request changes.

Practical takeaway: Organize your SharePlay session by opening the right app and selecting your content before inviting others to join. This makes the experience smoother and ensures everyone starts at the same point in the content.

Apps and Services That Support SharePlay

Apple's native apps were the first to support SharePlay, and they remain among the most commonly used. Apple TV lets you watch movies, TV shows, and Apple Original content together. Apple Music lets you listen to songs and playlists in sync. Apple Fitness+ allows people to work out together with the same guided fitness classes. Podcasts, Apple Books, and other Apple-developed apps have also integrated SharePlay into their features.

Streaming services have increasingly added SharePlay support over time. Disney+ allows viewers to watch movies and shows together. Hulu offers SharePlay functionality for shows and movies on its platform. ESPN+ lets sports fans watch games in sync. Peacock, the NBC streaming service, supports SharePlay for shows and movies. HBO Max has integrated the feature for its content library. Paramount+ and other major streaming platforms continue to roll out SharePlay compatibility.

Music and audio services beyond Apple Music have added support. Spotify, one of the world's largest music streaming platforms, supports SharePlay. This lets groups listen to the same playlist or song in sync while on a FaceTime call. Other music services continue to add the feature as well.

Gaming apps have incorporated SharePlay for multiplayer experiences. Users can play games together while on a FaceTime call. Games like Crossy Road, Sonic Dash, and various other titles support this feature. The gaming experience in SharePlay works similarly to playing together, though both players control their own characters and the game stays in sync across devices.

Social media and video platforms have added limited SharePlay features. TikTok supports SharePlay, allowing users to watch videos together. Other platforms continue to explore how SharePlay can be integrated into their apps.

The number of apps supporting SharePlay grows regularly. You can check whether a specific app supports SharePlay by opening the app and looking in its settings or menu options. Many apps display a SharePlay indicator or option when the feature is available. You can also check the App Store listing for an app to see if SharePlay is mentioned in its features list.

Practical takeaway: Before planning a SharePlay session, verify that the apps you want to use actually support the feature. Look in the app's menu or check its App Store listing to confirm SharePlay compatibility.

Troubleshooting Common SharePlay Issues

Sometimes SharePlay doesn't work as expected. One common issue is that the SharePlay option doesn't appear during a FaceTime call. This typically means one of several things is happening. The