SharePlay Added in macOS Monterey 12.1 Beta - MacRumors
Skip to Content

SharePlay Added in macOS Monterey 12.1 Beta

Apple's WWDC 2026 Keynote: Follow along with our live blog.

Apple today seeded the first beta of macOS Monterey 12.1 to developers, and it turns out the update adds a missing Monterey feature -- SharePlay. According to Apple, SharePlay is enabled in the macOS Monterey 12.1 beta, so those who have the beta installed can do more with their friends and family members over FaceTime.

facetime screen sharing
SharePlay was previously introduced in iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1, and tvOS 15.1, but it was missing from the macOS Monterey update that came out last week. At the time Monterey launched, Apple said that SharePlay would be added in a subsequent update.

With SharePlay, ‌FaceTime‌ users can listen to music, watch TV, watch movies, and even share their screen with the people they're chatting with.

SharePlay works with first-party Apple experiences like Apple TV, Apple Fitness+, and Apple Music in addition to enabling screen sharing between multiple people, but it is also compatible with third-party app experiences. Developers have already been building SharePlay experiences for iOS devices, and now they can build SharePlay features into Mac apps as well.

Popular Stories

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple Says CarPlay Ultra is Coming to These Vehicle Brands

Thursday May 21, 2026 11:53 am PDT by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly a year later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. CarPlay Ultra...
ios 26 iphone 16 pro lock screen notifications feature 1

iOS 27 Notifications Will Slide in From Left Side of Your iPhone's Screen

Friday June 5, 2026 7:24 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today revealed another iOS 27 change: notifications will slide in from the left side of the screen instead of from the top. In addition, accessing Notification Center on iOS 27 will require swiping down on the top-left corner of the screen. If you swipe down on the Dynamic Island area, a new "Search or Ask" interface tied to the revamped Siri will appear, instead of...
WWDC26 Mock Feature 2

Will Apple Launch New Hardware at WWDC Next Week?

Friday June 5, 2026 7:56 am PDT by
Apple has several hardware releases in the pipeline, but will we see any of them unveiled at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference? WWDC is primarily a software event where new versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS take center stage, but it's not unusual for Apple to introduce new hardware during the developer conference. Take WWDC 2017, for example, where Apple...

Top Rated Comments

60 months ago
None of the SharePlay coverage seems to mention this, but do all the people on the call each need to be subscribed to the services that are streamed over SharePlay? Or does only the person streaming need to have a subscription?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Marshall73 Avatar
60 months ago
meh, where’s universal control?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Think|Different Avatar
60 months ago

None of the SharePlay coverage seems to mention this, but do all the people on the call each need to be subscribed to the services that are streamed over SharePlay? Or does only the person streaming need to have a subscription?
Yes, yes, and yes — all parties need “a sub” if it’s DRM content.

I agree, I’m surprised more people aren’t even finding that out and “complaining.” Hope more and more free and premium services add it, tbh — YouTube would be clutch!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
60 months ago
I cannot imagine watching a show and having FaceTime on.

I am jot judging those who do, but for me it seems dry and also irritating.
Rather have the people over and spend some time together.

This feature is not something I am looking forward to. as much as continuity since I tend to use both iPad and Mac at the same time.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jakec Avatar
60 months ago

Do you need to have a newer Mac for it?

I was disappointed my 2017 iMac can be an airplay receiving device
I think it works on any Mac that is on Monterey 12.1.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
btrach144 Avatar
60 months ago
Do you need to have a newer Mac for it?

I was disappointed my 2017 iMac can be an airplay receiving device
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)