Share My Screen Unavailable on iPhone? Try These 10 Easy Fixes!

Are you having trouble with FaceTime’s screen-sharing feature? It is not very pleasant when a feature suddenly stops working, especially when you rely on it to communicate with family, friends, or colleagues.

SharePlay on FaceTime is super useful. It lets you show your screen to others. This makes working together, fixing problems, or sharing things with people you care about much easier. When this feature isn’t working, it can be a big hassle. It could even affect your job or personal life. But don’t worry if you’re stuck with this problem.

In this blog, we’ll help you determine what’s wrong and how to fix it. We’ll cover what FaceTime SharePlay is, why screen sharing might not work, and give you some methods to solve it.

What’s FaceTime SharePlay?

SharePlay is a fantastic tool on FaceTime. It lets you share your screen, listen to songs, share apps, and watch movies while calling on FaceTime. The screen-sharing feature was set to be released in the iOS 15 update. It had issues, but they were resolved in the update to iOS 15.1 in October 2021.

This new addition has changed how we use FaceTime. Now, you can share your screen in client or office meetings and present the data more conveniently. You can share your favourite tunes, watch movies together, or play games with friends or family, even if they’re far away.

Why you might get the “share my screen unavailable error on FaceTime?

FaceTime screen sharing might not be working for a few different reasons. Let’s go through some possible issues so you can check your device:

• A simple reason could be that you haven’t enabled FaceTime or SharePlay on your device. Make sure they’re both turned on.
• If you’ve put an emoji next to someone’s name in your contacts, it can confuse FaceTime. It might not recognize the person you want to call. So, try using the contact names without any emojis or special symbols.
• FaceTime isn’t available in all countries and regions. For example, in the United Arab Emirates, you won’t be able to use FaceTime at all.
• You can only share your screen on FaceTime using iOS 15.1 or later. So, check if your operating system needs an update.
• A good internet connection is important for screen sharing in FaceTime. If your internet is slow or unstable, SharePlay might have issues.
• Sometimes, the problem could be unknown bugs in the system, particularly if your device is running an older version of the operating system. These bugs can cause screen sharing to stop working.

READ MORE: How to Record FaceTime with Audio on iPhone & Mac ➜

Methods to resolve share my screen unavailable issue

If you are unable to share your screen while doing FaceTime, here are some quick fixes you can try:

Method 1: Ensure you are on the right version

For FaceTime SharePlay to work, you need iOS 15.1. Make sure you have the right version. If SharePlay isn’t showing up, your iOS might be too old. If you’re still having trouble, update your iOS like this:

1. Go to your iPhone’s “Settings” app and tap “General.”
   

   

2. Next, tap on “Software Update.”
   

   

3. You’ll see the latest update for your device. If the update is available, tap “Install” to update.
   

   

Also, the person you’re trying to use FaceTime with should be on the right iOS version. SharePlay might not work if any of you aren’t using the updated version.

Method 2: Ensure SharePlay is enabled

If SharePlay is turned off, it might be why you’re having problems with FaceTime. To get FaceTime working with SharePlay, do this on your iPhone:

1. Open the “Settings” app and scroll down until you find “FaceTime.” Tap on it.
   

   

2. Then, find the “SharePlay” option.
   

   

3. Check if the SharePlay switch is on. If it’s off, tap the toggle to turn it on and try again.
   

   

Method 3: Turn off Facetime and restart your phone

To fix screen sharing, try restarting the FaceTime app. It might start working properly. Here’s how:

1. Open Settings, then scroll to find “FaceTime.“
   

   

2. Tap on the FaceTime switch to turn it off.
   

   

3. After that, restart your iPhone.

After you’ve restarted your iPhone and returned to the home screen, head back into the Settings > FaceTime section. Turn FaceTime back on there. Once it’s back up and running, try starting a FaceTime call to see if you can access the SharePlay option or if it’s still unavailable.

Method 5: Connect to a stronger network

Check your internet connection. You don’t need fast internet for regular voice calls on FaceTime. But you need a strong internet connection for screen sharing in a video call.

Make sure your phone is connected to a network with good signal strength. Usually, a Wi-Fi symbol with more filled curved lines means a better connection.

READ MORE: What is Jitter? Decoding The Key to Faster Internet Speeds ➜

Method 6: Remove any emojis from the contact name

FaceTime screen sharing sometimes doesn’t work if you have emojis in the contact’s name. If you’ve put emojis next to your contacts’ names, this could be causing the problem. Try removing emojis from the contact names and check if screen sharing works. Here’s what to do:

1. Open the Contacts app and select the contact you were calling. Then, tap “Edit” in the top right corner of the screen.
   

   

2. Remove any emojis from that contact’s info, and to save your changes, tap “Done.”
   

   

3. Restart FaceTime and call the same contact again.

Method 7: Reset network settings

Sometimes, your phone can get messed up with network settings. This can cause screen sharing not to work properly. Doing a network settings reset can help. Follow these steps to do it:

1. Open “Settings” on your iPhone and then go to “General.”
   

   

2. Choose “Transfer or Reset iPhone“.
   

   

3. Next, tap on “Reset.”
   

   

4. Select “Reset Network Settings” to reset your network settings.
   

   

5. Type in your passcode to confirm this.
   

   

Method 8: Turn off the VPN

Sometimes, a VPN can mess with FaceTime screen sharing. If you’re using a VPN, try turning it off and then see if you can share your screen. If turning off the VPN doesn’t fix it, then the VPN probably isn’t the issue. You can turn it back on if you want.

But, if screen sharing works with the VPN off, the VPN is the problem. You have two choices:

• You can use your device without the VPN or turn it off when you want to share your screen.
• Or, you can contact the VPN software’s support team for more help. They might have updates that can solve this issue.

READ MORE: What is the Difference Between a Proxy and VPN? ➜

Method 9: Use third-party tools for help

If you’re having issues with your iPhone, like FaceTime screen sharing problems, some special third-party apps can help. Apps like UltFone, iSumSoft, or iToolab UnlockGo are made to solve these issues.

They can quickly put your iPhone in or out of recovery mode, fix screen sharing, and reset your phone without needing the current password or jailbreaking. To use these apps, first install on your computer.

Once they’re set up, select the right setting for what’s wrong with your iPhone and connect the phone to your computer. After that, they’ll sort out any bugs or glitches, ensuring your iPhone works well. Using these apps is a handy and effective way to deal with common problems on iOS.

Method 10: Reset all settings

If nothing else works, resetting all settings on your iPhone might fix the problem. Here’s what to do:

1. Open the Settings app, then scroll down to “General.”
   

   

2. Look for “Transfer or Reset iPhone.“
   

   

3. Select “Erase all Content and Settings.”
   

   

4. Your iPhone will warn you that it will erase your apps, data, Apple ID, and Find My. Tap “Continue” to go ahead.
   

   

5. Put in your passcode and then tap on reset all settings.
   

   

6. Wait while your iPhone resets all settings.

After this reset, the issues with FaceTime screen sharing, SharePlay not working, or the screen share option being disabled should be fixed. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, it is recommended to get professional help by contacting the Apple Support team or posting a query in Apple’s community forums.

Share my screen unavailable on macOS

FaceTime screen sharing on Mac can sometimes have problems that affect working together or doing things remotely. These issues often come from usual reasons. For instance, the Mac’s Firewall might stop other devices from connecting, affecting screen sharing.

You can sort this out by changing the settings of your Firewall. Making sure that screen sharing is allowed in your Mac’s system settings, properly managing when your Mac goes to sleep, turning off any remote management you don’t need, and regularly updating your macOS are all important to prevent these problems.

Here is a quick look at methods to resolve share my screen issues on Mac:

• Make sure your apps have permission to use your camera and microphone.
• Change your Firewall settings so that apps can connect.
• Update your apps from the App Store.
• Check that screen sharing is turned on in your Mac’s settings.
• Change when your Mac sleeps to avoid getting disconnected while sharing your screen.
• Turn off remote management if you’re not using it.
• Keep your macOS up to date to fix any bugs and compatibility issues.

READ MORE: Snipping Tool for Mac: How to Screenshot Effortlessly ➜

Final Thoughts

Tackling the share my screen unavailable issue on FaceTime involves a few easy steps that can make a difference. Whether on an iPhone or a Mac, resolving this problem involves checking a few settings.

Each step is crucial, from ensuring you have the right permissions for your camera and microphone, resting the settings, removing emojis from the contact name, or updating your applications and macOS.

Following these straightforward methods can enhance your FaceTime experience, ensuring that screen sharing works smoothly for all your collaborative and communication needs.