FaceTime SharePlay Feature Won’t be Available at iOS 15 and macOS Monterey Launch

FaceTime SharePlay Feature Won’t be Available at iOS 15 and macOS Monterey Launch

Apple’s FaceTime SharePlay feature will not be available when iOS 15, iPadOS 15, tvOS 15, and macOS Monterey launches this fall. The new feature will come as part of an update to the operating systems, which will come later this year. The SharePlay feature has been disabled for future beta releases.

Since SharePlay has been removed temporarily, Apple is offering an alternative tool for developers to test SharePlay development features, and a SharePlay profile is available for developers to download.

SharePlay has been disabled for use in iOS and iPadOS 15 developer beta 6 and will be disabled for use in its initial release this fall. SharePlay will be enabled for use again in future developer beta releases and will launch to the public in software updates later this fall. To continue your development, we have provided a SharePlay Development Profile which will enable successful creation and reception of GroupSessions via the Group Activities API.

SharePlay allows users to listen to songs together with Apple Music, watch a TV show or movie in sync, or share their screen to view apps together while connecting with friends on FaceTime. SharePlay works across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and offers shared playback controls, allowing anyone in a SharePlay session to play, pause or jump ahead.

SharePlay even extends to Apple TV, so users can watch shows or movies on a big screen while connecting over FaceTime, and SharePlay will keep everyone’s playback in sync. Disney+, ESPN+, HBO Max, Hulu, MasterClass, Paramount+, Pluto TV, TikTok, Twitch, and many others are integrating SharePlay into their apps — creating entirely new ways to connect.