share display on Mac the simple means by way of Messages app

Slightly-known function in macOS enables you to share your Mac’s display to another person’s Mac straight from the Messages app — no third-party apps or downloads required. It’s nice if you must give tech help to a far-off member of the family in a pinch. Usually, you simply have to see what’s taking place as an alternative of relying on what your expensive previous father is making an attempt to explain over the cellphone.

Get him to share his Mac’s display with you, and also you doubtless can remedy his drawback rapidly. Even higher, it’s not difficult organising display sharing on a Mac like it’s on a PC. It takes only some clicks within the Messages app. Let me present you throughout this superior hidden function.

share your display on a Mac

You don’t want the most recent Mac or the most recent software program replace to make use of this function. I bear in mind discovering it practically 10 years in the past in OS X Yosemite. That covers Macs as previous as 2009. Plus, you are able to do greater than see the opposite Mac person’s display. You’ll be able to take full management remotely, discuss by way of the microphone, and duplicate and paste stuff between the 2 Macs. It’s easy, but extremely helpful.

Begin display sharing from iMessage

First, make sure that each Macs have the Messages app open in addition to robust web connections. Click on in your iMessage thread with that individual, then click on the ⓘ within the higher proper nook. Click on the share button. If you wish to present them your display, click on Invite to Share My Display screen. If you wish to see their display, click on Ask to Share Display screen.

The opposite individual will obtain a notification within the higher proper nook of their Mac’s display asking them in the event that they wish to share entry. They should click on Settle for. Then, a window might seem the place they’ll select whether or not to allow you to management the display or simply watch. As soon as they click on Settle for, display sharing will begin.

Mute the microphone

By default, when your display is being shared, your microphone can even be lively so the opposite individual can hear you talking. It’s very easy to show this off, although. On the correct aspect of the menu bar, you’ll see a blue icon to regulate the screen-sharing session. Click on that and click on Mute Microphone to chop it off.

Nonetheless, understand that if the opposite individual has management of your display, in the event that they so select, they’ll maliciously flip it again on by clicking the identical menu icon.

Take management

Seeing a Mac display that’s shared with you is simply the beginning. If you need to have the ability to management the opposite individual’s mouse and keyboard remotely, click on the pointer icon within the toolbar (or go to View > Swap to Management Mode within the menu bar). This may ship them a request they’ll settle for or deny. In the event that they settle for, your mouse will management the cursor on their pc and your keyboard will management their keyboard.

If you must test one thing by yourself pc actually rapidly, you’re not trapped. Simply transfer your mouse out of the sharing window. Then you possibly can management your personal Mac. For the keyboard, you must make sure that Display screen Sharing isn’t the lively window. Simply test which app is within the menu bar to make certain.

Copy and paste throughout screens

It’s simply as simple to repeat and paste bits of textual content or photographs out of your Mac to the opposite individual’s Mac. Say you’re display sharing and also you simply discovered a useful web site you wish to ship over. Ensure that Shared Clipboard is on by clicking Clipboard within the toolbar (or go to Edit > Use Shared Clipboard). Then, no matter you copy out of your Mac (⌘C), you possibly can paste onto the opposite Mac (⌘V).

Be cautious of screen-sharing scams

Clearly, this can be a highly effective function that you just wish to be extraordinarily cautious with. It’s best to solely settle for requests to share your Mac display from folks you realize.

Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, PayPal, it doesn’t matter who — professional corporations will by no means ask to see your display out of the blue. Should you get a cellphone name or electronic mail claiming there’s one thing mistaken together with your pc and they should display share or take management, instantly cling up and report the decision as spam.

We initially revealed this put up on easy methods to easy methods to share display on Mac from the Messages app on February 25, 2023. We up to date the information.