SharePlay Is Not Working? 10 Ways to Fix it

With the release of the SharePlay feature on Apple FaceTime, you can now stream songs or videos from apps with your favorite person while on a FaceTime call. Since it’s a recent update with 15.1 OS software, some users are reporting several issues while using it.

For instance, SharePlay might not work if the app is incompatible with the feature. Similarly, it might not function properly if both the users haven’t updated the device with the latest OS software.

This issue has a simple fix and you can easily solve this problem by updating your device. Or, you can also check whether you have a subscription to the streaming app.

Why Is My SharePlay Not Working?

How to Fix if SharePlay Is Not Working

You can simply turn on this feature on FaceTime or update the latest OS system software of your device. You can also try restarting your device and connecting to a strong network. Moreover, since there are very general causes of why your SharePlay is not working, these fixes will guide you to solve the issue.

Connect to Strong Network

You must connect to the strong network to use SharePlay without any interruptions. Check if the Wi-Fi or cellular data of your device is stable. To solve this issue, you can also reset your network from the device settings.

However, please note that resetting network settings will erase all the data of Wi-Fi and hotspot. So, make sure to back up the passwords. Follow the given steps below.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, Go to your phone Settings 
2. Navigate to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone
   
3. Tap on Reset iPhone 
4. Choose Reset Network Settings from the option 
   

Check if Other Users Have SharePlay

To use SharePlay, it must be available and activated for both parties. So, it might not work if it does not support your or another user’s device. Since the OS software influences the accessibility of this feature, you can simply check the Software Update from the phone Settings. 

Check App Compatibility With SharePlay

Sometimes there can be instances when your SharePlay is working fine for a few apps. But, it does not work on some apps. In such a case, you must check the app compatibility. The App might not support this feature. 

Update Streaming App 

Some apps you use for streaming might release this feature with the newer versions. So, if you are using an older version, SharePlay might not work. So, make sure to update the App fully. Follow the given steps for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. 

1. Go to App Store
2. On the Bottom-right Search Bar, type the App you want to stream
3. Open App and tap on Update

Activate SharePlay

Although you have installed the latest software update, it might not work if you have disabled SharePlay. So, you must turn on this feature to use it. Follow the steps below. 

On iPhone or iPad

1. Go to Settings > FaceTime
   
2. Scroll Down and Tap on SharePlay
3. Switch the Toggle towards the right to turn it on
   

Check the Streaming Subscription 

You need to subscribe to premium to use various apps such as Hulu, HBO Max, etc. So, for streaming such apps on SharePlay, both the users must have a subscription. It might not support if the membership has expired. Therefore, check if you and the other person have subscribed to the App.

Use SharePlay Properly

For beginners, you might have trouble navigating SharePlay to use it. You must tap on the Share My Screen button to enable SharePlay mode. So, follow the given steps.

On Mac

1. Open FaceTime 
2. Click on the FaceTime Menu next to Apple Menu > Preferences
   
3. Navigate to the SharePlay tab and click on the SharePlay Box to turn it on
   

On iPhone or iPad

1. Go to your FaceTime App and call the other person
2. Under the End button, tap on the SharePlay Icon 
   
3. Tap on Share My Screen Button
   
4. SharePlay will share your screen in 3 Seconds
   

On Mac

1. Open FaceTime and call the other user
2. Tap on the Screen Share and choose your Preference to share
3. Open the app you want to share and click on Share This Screen or Share This Window depending upon your choice
   

Sign Out and Sign In on FaceTime

You might need to refresh FaceTime when you make changes to update it. So, you can Sign out and Sign in on your FaceTime to refresh it. Check out the steps for mac and iPhone or iPad below.

On iPhone or iPad

Please follow the given steps to sign out on your iPhone or iPad:

1. Open Phone Settings > FaceTime
2. Under Caller Id, find Apple ID
3. Tap on your Apple ID
   
4. Choose the Sign Out option

Here are the steps to sign In on your device:

1. Again go to Settings > FaceTime
2. Tap on Use your Apple ID for FaceTime
3. Tap on Sign In
   

On Mac

Here are the steps to sign out and sign in on mac;

1. Open FaceTime app 
2. Navigate to the FaceTime menu and choose Preferences 
3. Click on Sign Out 
4. Again, press on Sign Out option to confirm

Similarly, you can sign in using the steps below:

1. Open the FaceTime app 
2. Enter your Apple Id 
3. Click on the Sign In button 

Restart Device

Restarting your device will clear excessive RAM usage. So, you can restart your device to improve the system performance. Find out the steps to restart your device.

On iPhone or iPad

1. Press the Power Button and Volume Button together and hold them till Slide to Power Off shows on the screen
2. Slide the power button to the right to switch off the device
3. After a few seconds, Press the power button and Hold it to open your device

On Mac

1. Navigate to Apple Menu 
2. Tap on the Restart button and wait for a few minutes
3. Once the device restarts, use FaceTime again

Update Your OS Software

You must have the latest version of iOS or at least updated with iOS 15.2 to use this feature on your Mac or iPhone. So, turn on automatic updates to avoid missing any new software updates. Follow the given steps.

On iPhone or iPad

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap on General > Software Update
3. Tap on Download and Install 
4. Open Automatic Updates
   
5. Switch the Toggle of Download iOS updates and Install iOS updates
   

On Mac

1. Navigate to Apple Menu and click on System Preferences
   
2. Open Software Update
   
3. To update, click on the Upgrade Now or Update Now button as shown on your screen.

 If you have tried all the mentioned fixes but still face problems, there might be a serious hardware issue. In such a case, you can contact Apple Support to take help from the experts.