iOS 15 brought many changes to FaceTime, including the watch-party-like feature that Apple calls SharePlay. However, not all users can jump on this fun wagon as their SharePlay is not working on iPhone after the iOS 15 update. Sad, no? But don’t worry! Here are some quick fixes that’ll make your SharePlay work smoothly.
- Check your iOS version
- Ensure SharePlay is enabled
- Check the app you are using
- Check other participant’s device
- Disable and re-enable FaceTime on iPhone
- Check your internet speed and stability
- Force restart the iOS device
- Sign out and sign in to FaceTime
- Reset network settings
- Contact Apple Support
1. Check your iOS version
SharePlay allows you to watch movies, listen to music, or share the screen with your friends via FaceTime. So, check your device and ensure that you are running iOS 15.1 or above
- Go to Settings → General → About.
- Check the Software Version.
If it’s iOS 15.1 or above, move on to the next step. Or else, go back to General → tap Software Update. If an update is available, select Download and Install. Once the installation is complete, check SharePlay to see if it’s working.
Note: Even if your iPhone is updated, it is wiser to check for software updates, as it might bring bug fixes that could fix the SharePlay not working issue.
- Open Settings → FaceTime.
- Scroll to SharePlay.
- Toggle on SharePlay.
- Also, enable automatic SharePlay for Music and TV.
3. Check the app you are using
The next step is to check whether the SharePlay is not working for a specific app or not working at all. So, try using any other app or screen sharing. If the issue is with the app, here’s what you need to check.
- Does the app support SharePlay? – Apart from Apple’s apps like Apple Music and Apple TV+, SharePlay is also available for a variety of app from Disney+ to Twitch!
- Subscriptions problems – Every FaceTime participant should have an active subscription to the app being shared. This is done to avoid illegal sharing, so ensure that everyone on the call is logged into their app.
4. Check other participant’s device
SharePlay is a two-way street. Along with an active subscription, the other participant(s) should also have an Apple device, i.e., running iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1, or macOS Monterey.
Also, ensure that SharePlay is enabled on their device. You can also call someone else to confirm whether the issue is from your end or their. And if it is the other end, feel free to share this article with them and help them solve the problem.
Notably, while you can now FaceTime an Android or Windows user, SharePlay isn’t part of the equation, and the feature is currently limited to the Apple Ecosystem.
5. Disable and re-enable FaceTime on iPhone
In a manner, this is like restarting FaceTime and might get rid of any incorrect settings or bugs that are stopping SharePlay from working correctly.
- Open Settings → FaceTime
- Toggle off FaceTime.
- Toggle it on after a few seconds/minutes.
Hopefully, ShareTime must be up and running smoothly. If not, let’s hop on to the next step.
6. Check your internet speed and stability
If your SharePlay isn’t working correctly, the culprit might be the internet speed. Moreover, if the connection isn’t stable, there will be a delay, glitches, pauses, and more. So, the first step is to check the internet speed; you can try fast.com or speedtest.net.
You can also play a high-quality YouTube video; if it buffers, your connection is unstable. First, fix that issue, maybe restart your router or something. You can also put your iPhone on the AirPlane mode for a few seconds to reset the network settings.
7. Force restart the iOS device
When nothing goes your way, it’s time to opt for the oldest trick in the book, restart. The idea is to reset whatever setting issue is happening in the background that is hindering SharePlay.
If you need help, check out this in-depth guide on how to force restart any iPhone or iPad.
8. Sign out and sign in to FaceTime
Again the idea is to reset FaceTime settings and fix the bugs behind the issue.
- Open Settings → FaceTime.
- Tap Apple ID and Sign Out.
- After a minute, sign back in.
9. Reset network settings
When all the above resets haven’t worked, let’s pull out the big guns. Remember that these big guns are loaded and will remove your saved Bluetooth devices, Wi-Fi passwords, VPN configurations, etc. So, proceed with caution and make a copy of the necessary details.
- Open Settings → General.
- Scroll down to the end and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset and Reset All Settings.
- Enter your Passcode and tap Reset All Settings to proceed.
10. Contact Apple Support
Unfortunately, if all of the above steps have failed, this might be a hardware-related issue. And so, the only unturned stone left is contacting Apple. You can connect via live chat, schedule a callback, tweet them or visit the local Apple Store.
If you need help, check out this article for detailed step-by-step instructions to contact Apple Support.
Signing off!
I hope your SharePlay is up and running smoothly, as I promised at the start. If you are still facing issues, please feel free to connect in the comment section below.
You may also like:
- How to turn off SharePlay on Apple TV in 3 Easy steps
- How to take a Live Photo in FaceTime on iPhone
- Record a FaceTime call on iPhone and Mac
- Use FaceTime on iPhone like a pro
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A self-professed Geek who loves to explore all things Apple. I thoroughly enjoy discovering new hacks, troubleshooting issues, and finding and reviewing the best products and apps currently available. My expertise also includes curating opinionated and honest editorials. If not this, you might find me surfing the web or listening to audiobooks.
