Older versions of OS X provided screen sharing capability that was built into the iChat application, and worked with AIM and Jabber accounts. When iChat was replaced by Messages in OS X Mountain Lion, the feature was still available but in Yosemite, Apple makes it even easier to share your computer’s screen with another Mac user, right from the Messages application.
In order to share your screen with other Mac users there are several things you need to check first, as follows:
Ensure that both you and the other person are running OS X Yosemite
Both users must be signed in to the Messages app. However, Messages does not have to be open to receive a request
You must have already started a conversation in Messages with the other party, so that you can see the screen sharing icon!
How to use screen sharing
Step 1: open Messages
To get started, the person that wants to start sharing must open Messages (it’s located in the Dock by default). Note that as long as the other person has signed in previously, they don’t need to have Messages open at all, as they will receive an onscreen notification.
Open Messages to get started..
Step 2: choose who you want to share with
In Messages, select the person that you want to screen share with, then click the Details button in the upper right.
Step 3: invite someone to share your screen
Click the screen share button, as shown circled in red below.
There are now two options: you can invite someone to share your screen or you can ask to share their screen.
Choose the desired option to start sharing your screen in OS X Yosemite.
Step 4 – start sharing
In this example, my friend Drew has requested to share my MacBook Pro’s screen. I can either choose Accept to start, or the Decline menu which contains two options – Decline or Block User.
If you decline the request, the other person sees a message stating that you are unavailable. In this case, since I know Drew and had already arranged for a screen share, I’ll just Accept the request. Note that in the unlikely event that someone you don’t know tries to share your screen, it’s possible to block them using the Block User option.
Screen sharing will start in view mode to begin with, but the other person can click and drag the screen to create a highlighted circle on your computer screen.
When someone asks to share your screen, choose the relevant option as shown.
Step 5: menu bar options
Once you are connected to the other person’s Mac, look at your title bar and you’ll see the screen sharing icon and its status (e.g. Connected).
You can pause or end the screen share from this menu, as well as allowing the other person to control your screen. Voice chat is enabled by default, but can be turned off in this menu too.
The relevant options are shown on your Mac’s title bar during the call.
Final words
That’s really all there is to using screen sharing on OS X Yosemite. It’s extremely easy and intuitive to use, and seems to work well without any noticeable delay. For friends that both have Macs, it’s a really great feature that is particularly useful if you want to share a presentation, or help the other person with something on their computer. There are other tools available (such as Skype), but since it’s already built into the Mac it’s a much more seamless experience.
We hope you enjoy using the new screen sharing feature in Yosemite!
To learn more about sending and receiving SMS’s using Messages on your Mac check out our earlier article, or by using the command line here.
Roland Banks has been passionate about Apple for more than a decade. He started his career at British Telecom’s research division working on collaborative virtual reality environments, before becoming a video streaming specialist at 3 UK where he helped launch some of the world’s first mobile video services.
Roland moved to Asia 4 years ago, where he writes about his passion for all things Apple.
The problem you may be experiencing is the fact that this article, like most explaining how to screen share via Messages, forgets to mention that both parties must be signed into iCloud with their Apple ID and using an Email address associated with their iCloud account.
No, the sharing preferences in system preferences has nothing to do with screen sharing in Apple’s Messages App. An additional note here: I was having problems screen sharing via my 2013 nMacPro but not my 2011 MacBook Pro. I spent quite a bit of time with one of those Apple genius’ online and he couldn’t figure out the problem either. So I reinstalled Yosemite before upgrading to El Capitan and it was working fine. Works great in El Capitan also.
I have tried this on numerous occasions with my colleague (who is on a remote network and not my local network). It never works! You get as far as trying to establish a connection and it just hangs. I get a message telling me to check sharing has been enabled (it has, on both machines) and check the Network settings (I have and all is A-OK). Something else must be blocking establishing a connection. Weird because we can message freely and Facetime too. TeamViewer also works.
Such a shame – I have to rely on TeamViewer instead of a function advertised as part of the new Yosemite.
I agree with Craig Riches. I have all the correct settings enabled on both macs for screen sharing , but it refuses to connect. after pressing accept nothing happens and it times out. I can FaceTime and message but no screen sharing. Any ideas how to get this to work?
Sadly, this is becoming increasingly true of Apple software (both iOS and OSX). Buggy functionality that surprisingly often requires you to do time-consuming trouble shooting. Their software hasn’t always been this way (have been a Mac user since 2006), but Apple seems to be resting on their legacy and sliding slowly toward mediocrity like Microsoft did. Unfortunately, most of us have two choices: Apple or Windows (there is Linux, but I don’t know enough about it to say it’s the way to go). Both Windows and Apple OSX have their problems, but while Apple used to be more robust it’s no longer true. Reality is, since Apple has become such a rich and powerful company they really don’t have to create great things anymore. They get away with creating mediocre software/hardware, but continue to charge premium prices by using their legacy reputation (and slick advertising). In essence, Apple has devolved into typical corporate mediocrity.
The problem you may be experiencing is the fact that this article, like most explaining how to screen share via Messages, forgets to mention that both parties must be signed into iCloud with their Apple ID and using an Email address associated with their iCloud account.
Does your email client have to active also? Are there any special settings (boxes to be checked) in “Sharing Preferences”?
No, the sharing preferences in system preferences has nothing to do with screen sharing in Apple’s Messages App. An additional note here: I was having problems screen sharing via my 2013 nMacPro but not my 2011 MacBook Pro. I spent quite a bit of time with one of those Apple genius’ online and he couldn’t figure out the problem either. So I reinstalled Yosemite before upgrading to El Capitan and it was working fine. Works great in El Capitan also.
I have tried this on numerous occasions with my colleague (who is on a remote network and not my local network). It never works! You get as far as trying to establish a connection and it just hangs. I get a message telling me to check sharing has been enabled (it has, on both machines) and check the Network settings (I have and all is A-OK). Something else must be blocking establishing a connection. Weird because we can message freely and Facetime too. TeamViewer also works.
Such a shame – I have to rely on TeamViewer instead of a function advertised as part of the new Yosemite.
I agree with Craig Riches. I have all the correct settings enabled on both macs for screen sharing , but it refuses to connect. after pressing accept nothing happens and it times out. I can FaceTime and message but no screen sharing. Any ideas how to get this to work?
Sadly, this is becoming increasingly true of Apple software (both iOS and OSX). Buggy functionality that surprisingly often requires you to do time-consuming trouble shooting. Their software hasn’t always been this way (have been a Mac user since 2006), but Apple seems to be resting on their legacy and sliding slowly toward mediocrity like Microsoft did. Unfortunately, most of us have two choices: Apple or Windows (there is Linux, but I don’t know enough about it to say it’s the way to go). Both Windows and Apple OSX have their problems, but while Apple used to be more robust it’s no longer true. Reality is, since Apple has become such a rich and powerful company they really don’t have to create great things anymore. They get away with creating mediocre software/hardware, but continue to charge premium prices by using their legacy reputation (and slick advertising). In essence, Apple has devolved into typical corporate mediocrity.