Messages (El Capitan): Share your screen

Share your screen

When you share a screen, you and your friend can do anything on the shared desktop, such as opening folders, creating documents, and copying files by dragging them from one desktop to another. Messages automatically starts an audio chat when you start a screen-sharing session.

You can share screens using iMessage. You must be logged into the same Apple ID in the iCloud pane of System Preferences and in Messages.

Important:   When you share your screen, your friend can request to control your screen, which gives your friend the same access to your computer that you have. Grant screen control only to people you trust. If you share your screen but don’t grant screen control, your friend can highlight areas on your screen by clicking them but can’t control your screen.

Share your screen or a friend’s screen

  1. Select a conversation with your friend, or send your friend a message.

  2. Click Details in the Messages window.

  3. Click the Screen Share button , then choose an option.

    • Share your screen: Choose “Invite to share my screen.”

    • Share a friend’s screen: Choose “Ask to share screen.”

When the screen-sharing request is accepted, the Screen Sharing app opens. For information about using the Screen Sharing

Respond to an invitation

When someone invites you to a screen-sharing session, a small window appears notifying you of who sent the invitation.

Accept, decline, or block the user (hold the pointer over Decline, then click ).

Screen sharing in Messages is independent of screen-sharing settings in System Preferences. You can share screens using Messages even when Screen Sharing is deselected in the Sharing pane of System Preferences.

Last Modified: Sep 30, 2015
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