SharePlay is a powerful set of features that allows you to share experiences via FaceTime, offering Apple users new ways to stay in touch. SharePlay is compatible with Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Fitness+, and many well-known apps such as NBA, TikTok, Twitch, Paramount+, and SHOWTIME, and allows you to watch movies and TV shows, listen to music, or work out with friends during a FaceTime call. SharePlay also works with Apple TV, so you can watch content on the TV screen while using FaceTime on your iPhone or iPad. With the ability to share the screen, you can also do other things together, such as browsing the internet, viewing photos, or showing something in your favorite app. SharePlay is available with iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1, and tvOS 15.1, and will arrive on Mac in the fall.

“SharePlay offers a whole new way to stay in touch, share experiences, and have fun together via FaceTime,” said Bob Borchers, Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing at Apple. “SharePlay leverages the seamless integration of Apple hardware and software to deliver a magical experience on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, and works with many Apple services and some of the most downloaded apps from the App Store.”

New ways to stay in touch via FaceTime

With SharePlay, those using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac1 can have shared experiences with friends and family during a FaceTime call. For instance, users can chat while watching a movie together, listening to an album, or working out together, even at a distance: SharePlay keeps these activities synchronized for all the people participating in the FaceTime call.

SharePlay sessions offer shared playback controls, so every user in the FaceTime call can start, pause, or fast forward the synchronized content. When someone in the call starts speaking, the streamed content's audio automatically lowers, allowing the conversation to continue even during a noisy scene or in the middle of a chorus. For those who prefer not to interrupt the audio, simply tap the Messages button in the FaceTime controls to open a thread and continue the conversation. Each participant in the SharePlay session sees the content directly in the corresponding app on their device, with high-fidelity audio and video. SharePlay works with Apple TV, so you can watch a TV show or movie on the big TV screen while using your personal device to communicate with friends via FaceTime.

SharePlay is available with Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Fitness+, and some of the most downloaded apps from the App Store.

In addition to sharing apps, you can also share the screen to browse the internet, view photos, or assist each other with the other people participating in the FaceTime call.

Watch together

With apps like Apple TV+, MUBI, Paramount+, SHOWTIME, and others, movies and TV shows can be played synchronously during a FaceTime call with friends, so everyone can enjoy the same show simultaneously. You can also share live stream content, such as the latest game available in the NBA app, or chat with friends via FaceTime while watching your favorite eSports live stream on Twitch. Soon, this feature will also be available with apps like BET+, Disney+, ESPN, HBO Max, Hulu, MasterClass, Pantaya, Pluto TV, and Starz.

Listen together

Now you can play songs, albums, and playlists directly in a FaceTime call for shared listening. With Apple Music, users can listen to the latest album or their favorite playlists together, in perfect synchrony. Soon, SharePlay will also be available with other apps, including SoundCloud and TuneIn.

Share healthy habits

SharePlay introduces new ways to stay fit with the help of family and friends. For example, many people find it more motivating to exercise together, perhaps by taking a group class or challenging their workout partner. Thanks to the power of SharePlay, you can now work out or meditate with others in Apple Fitness+, encourage each other between one HIIT session and the next with SmartGym, or listen to a relaxing story before bedtime with BetterSleep.

Learn together

With SharePlay, it's possible to study together even when physically distant. Kahoot! allows live quizzes, Explain Everything offers the ability to chat via FaceTime while collaborating on an interactive whiteboard, and Night Sky lets you identify stars, planets, constellations, and satellites with others.

Have fun together

Many developers have introduced new ways to enjoy the content of their apps. For example, TikTok has added the ability to watch an exclusive collection of videos together. Heads Up! allows you to play together even at a distance. In Cameo, you can see your friends' reactions to messages from famous people. Popshop Live allows you to share content and make purchases together. And with Apollo for Reddit, those participating in the same SharePlay session can see each other's favorite subreddits, which remain synchronized.

You can also use SharePlay with many other apps, including Bikemap, Flow by Moleskine Studio, and Redfin.

Share the screen with SharePlay

Screen sharing via SharePlay opens up endless possibilities. You can show photos from your latest trip, browse the web with others you collaborate with on a project, or teach something to a friend by answering their questions live.

1. Support for SharePlay on Mac will be introduced with an update to macOS Monterey available in the fall.