Watch together using SharePlay in the Apple TV app on Mac
With SharePlay, you can watch movies, shows and supported live sporting events with friends and family while on a FaceTime call together.
Note: Apple TV (formerly Apple TV+, includes Friday Night Baseball, Sunday Night Soccer, or both in some countries and regions), MLS Season Pass, Apple TV channels and some apps that support SharePlay require a subscription. To watch a movie, TV show or live sporting event together, every participant needs to have access to the content on their own device, either through a subscription or purchase. Each device must meet the minimum system requirements. SharePlay may not support sharing some movies, TV shows or live sporting events across different countries or regions. FaceTime, some FaceTime features and other Apple services may not be available in all countries or regions.
Watch together using SharePlay
Start or answer a call in the FaceTime app
on your Mac.For details, see Make and receive calls in FaceTime.
Start watching a movie, show or supported live sporting event in the Apple TV app
on either your Mac or another caller’s device.If prompted, click View to open the TV app on your Mac, then click Join.
The video plays in sync on all the devices on the FaceTime call. Everyone can use playback controls on their respective devices to play, pause, rewind or fast-forward in real time while the FaceTime app window remains open onscreen.
Tip: You can arrange windows to see the FaceTime video call on one side of your screen and the film or programme on the other side. See Use apps in Split View.
To adjust the SharePlay settings, click
in the macOS menu bar.
Stream Platonic on the Apple TV app with a subscription
Leave the call or the shared viewing session
Anyone can leave the FaceTime call (but continue the shared session), or leave the call and the shared session.
Go to the Apple TV app
on your Mac.While using SharePlay, click
in the macOS menu bar, then click 
.Do one of the following:
Leave the FaceTime call but continue the shared viewing session: Click Continue.
Leave the FaceTime call and the shared viewing session: Click Leave SharePlay.
Note: If you initiated the shared session, when you click Leave SharePlay, you end the shared session for everyone.
Start a text conversation in SharePlay
When watching together with SharePlay, you can easily start a conversation in Messages with all the participants.
Go to the Apple TV app
on your Mac.While using SharePlay, click
in the macOS menu bar, then click 
.The Messages app opens.
Enter your messages in the text field of the Messages app.
Add video effects to your video image in SharePlay
When watching a film or TV programme using SharePlay, you can add video effects and animated reactions to your live video in the FaceTime app window.
Go to the Apple TV app
on your Mac.While using SharePlay, click
in the macOS menu bar, then click 
to the right of FaceTime HD Camera.Click one or more video effects:
Portrait: Blurs the background of your FaceTime video.
Studio Light: Dims the background of your FaceTime video and illuminates your face.
Reactions: Turns on animated effects you create using hand gestures. See Use video conferencing features.
Background: Covers the background of your FaceTime video with a solid colour.
Click
to hide the video effects options.
Note: Video effects require macOS 12 or later and a Mac with Apple silicon.
Adjust your microphone sensitivity in SharePlay
During a shared viewing session, you can adjust the sensitivity of your microphone to isolate your voice from background noise, or to capture every sound around you.
Go to the Apple TV app
on your Mac.While using SharePlay, click
in the macOS menu bar, then click to the right of Mic Mode.Click a microphone option:
Standard: No processing is applied to the microphone signal.
Voice isolation: Sounds other than your voice are filtered out of the microphone signal.
Wide Spectrum: Sensitivity is enhanced to include all the sounds around you.
Click
to hide the microphone options.The currently selected mic mode is displayed to the left of the disclosure arrow.
Note: Microphone processing requires macOS 12 or later and a Mac with Apple silicon.
Use AirPlay to stream what you’re watching in SharePlay to an Apple TV 4K
You can use AirPlay to send what you’re watching in SharePlay on your Mac to an Apple TV 4K that’s connected to the same network.
Go to the Apple TV app
on your Mac.While using SharePlay, move the pointer over the viewer window to show playback controls, click
, then select the Apple TV 4K you want to use for watching.Note: SharePlay notifications and access to controls from Control Centre on Apple TV 4K aren’t available when streaming from a Mac.