Messages for Mac: Share your screen or another user’s screen in Messages
When you share a screen with Messages, you and your friend can work together on the shared desktop. When you start a screen-sharing session, Messages automatically starts an audio call. You can perform actions such as opening folders, creating documents, and copying files by dragging them from one desktop to another.
If the person you’re sharing a screen with uses a different Apple ID in Messages than they use to sign in to iCloud preferences, you must have a contact card for that person. The contact card must include both Apple IDs—the one they use to sign in to iCloud preferences, and the one they use in Messages. For information about creating contact cards, see Create a contact card.
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
Select a conversation with your friend, or send your friend a message.
Click Details in the Messages window.
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 app, see Screen sharing overview.
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.