WhatsApp Screen Sharing: How to Use It

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

WhatsApp screen sharing lets you broadcast your phone or computer screen live to the person you are on a call with, making it easy to show photos, documents, or walk someone through an app. You can start it during a video or voice call on both Android and iPhone, and on the WhatsApp desktop app for Windows and Mac. This article explains exactly how to turn it on, what the other person sees, and the common hiccups you might hit.

What Is WhatsApp Screen Sharing?

Screen sharing is a built-in feature of WhatsApp calls, not a separate app or add-on. When you share your screen, the other participant sees a live view of whatever is on your display — your home screen, an open chat, a photo album, a website, anything. They do not see your camera feed unless you also keep your camera on, and they cannot control your screen; they can only watch.

The feature works on:

WhatsApp for Android (phones and tablets)
WhatsApp for iPhone
WhatsApp Desktop for Windows and macOS

It is available for both one-on-one calls and group calls. During a group call, everyone can see the shared screen, and any participant can start sharing their own screen (though only one person can share at a time).

How to Start Screen Sharing on Android and iPhone

Starting a screen share takes only a few taps, but the exact button differs slightly between mobile and desktop.

On a phone (Android or iPhone):

Start a video call (or a voice call) with the contact or group you want.
Tap the screen once to reveal the call controls if they are hidden.
Look for the icon that looks like a rectangle with an arrow pointing up (Android) or a person icon inside a rectangle (iPhone). On some versions it is labelled “Share screen.”
Tap it, then confirm that you want to start sharing.
Your screen is now visible to the other person. A red or highlighted bar usually appears at the top to remind you that sharing is active.

On WhatsApp Desktop (Windows or Mac):

Start a video or voice call.
Click the screen-share icon in the call controls (usually near the camera and microphone icons).
Choose whether to share your entire screen or a specific window (such as a browser tab or a document).
Click “Share.” The other person sees whatever you selected.

To stop sharing, tap or click the same icon again, or end the call. On mobile, you can also pull down the notification shade and tap “Stop sharing.”

What the Other Person Sees (and Doesn’t)

When you share your screen, the recipient sees a live, real-time view of your display. If you switch apps, they see the new app. If you open a photo, they see it. If you scroll, they see the scrolling.

What they do not see:

Your camera feed (unless you keep your camera on separately)
Your face (unless you switch to the front camera)
Your notification previews? Actually, on Android, notifications that pop up on your screen are visible to the other person. On iPhone, if you have notifications set to show previews, they can also appear. To avoid accidentally sharing private messages, turn on Do Not Disturb or mute notifications before you share.
Your screen if you lock your phone — sharing stops when the screen locks.

A common misconception is that screen sharing also shares audio from your device. It does not. The other person hears your voice through the call, but they do not hear sound from videos or music playing on your phone unless you also play it aloud near the microphone.

Why Use WhatsApp Screen Sharing?

People use it for many everyday tasks:

Helping a relative set up a new app or fix a phone setting
Showing a document or photo in a group call instead of sending it as a file
Walking a colleague through a presentation or a website
Demonstrating how to use a feature in an app
Sharing a map, a boarding pass, or a receipt during a call

It is especially handy because it works without installing any third-party screen-sharing tool. However, it is not a full remote-control tool — the viewer cannot tap or type on your screen. If you need remote control, you need a dedicated app like TeamViewer or AnyDesk.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Screen sharing can fail or glitch. Here are the most frequent issues and what to do.

1. The screen-share button is missing or greyed out.
Make sure you are on a call — it won’t appear before you start one. On some Android devices, the button is hidden in the “more” (three-dot) menu. If it is greyed out, the other person may be on an older WhatsApp version. Update both apps to the latest version.

2. The other person sees a black screen.
This usually happens on Android when the app you are sharing uses a secure flag (like banking apps or password managers). Some video apps (Netflix, YouTube) also block screen capture. There is no fix — the app itself is blocking the share.

3. The share stops after a few seconds.
This can happen if your phone locks, if you switch to a different app that blocks sharing, or if the call connection is weak. Check your internet connection and keep your screen awake (you can change the screen timeout to a longer period).

4. No sound from a video you are sharing.
As noted, screen sharing does not transmit device audio. The other person will see the video but hear no sound. To share sound, you would need to play the video on your phone and hold it near the microphone, or use a separate screen-sharing app that supports audio.

5. The other person cannot see your screen at all.
Restart the call and try again. If it still fails, both of you should check that WhatsApp has permission to draw over other apps (Android) or has screen recording permission (iPhone). On Android, go to Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Permissions and enable “Display over other apps.” On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording and make sure WhatsApp is allowed.

Privacy and Safety Tips

Because screen sharing reveals everything on your display, a little caution goes a long way.

Before sharing, close any apps or windows that contain sensitive information like banking, email, or private chats.
Turn off notifications or enable Do Not Disturb so that incoming messages don’t pop up on your screen during the share.
If you are sharing your whole desktop on WhatsApp Desktop, be aware that any open window is visible. Share a single window instead of the entire screen when possible.
Stop sharing immediately if you accidentally open something private — the other person has already seen it, but ending the share prevents further exposure.
Remember that the other person can take screenshots or record the call on their end. Do not share anything you wouldn’t want saved.

Screen Sharing vs. Video Call

Screen sharing and video calling are complementary, not the same. A video call shows your face and surroundings through the camera. Screen sharing shows your device’s display. You can do both at the same time — keep your camera on while sharing your screen, and the other person sees a small window of your face plus the full-screen view of your display.

Some people wonder if they can share a specific photo or document without sharing the whole screen. On WhatsApp, you cannot share just one file — you share your entire screen. To show a specific photo, open it in your gallery before you start sharing, and then share the screen. The other person sees the photo full-screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my screen during a voice call?
Yes. On both mobile and desktop, you can start a voice call and then tap the screen-share icon. The other person will see your screen while hearing your voice. This is useful when you don’t need video but want to show something.

Can the other person hear audio from my phone during screen sharing?
No. WhatsApp screen sharing does not transmit device audio. The other person only hears your voice through the call. If you play a video, they see it silently.

Does screen sharing work in group calls?
Yes. Any participant can share their screen in a group call, and everyone else sees it. Only one person can share at a time — if someone else tries to share, the current share stops.

Can the other person control my screen?
No. Screen sharing is one-way. The viewer can only watch; they cannot tap, type, or scroll on your device. For remote control, you need a separate app.

Is screen sharing available on WhatsApp Web?
No. WhatsApp Web (the browser version) does not support screen sharing. Only the WhatsApp Desktop app for Windows and Mac has this feature.

Does screen sharing work on older phones?
It works on any phone that runs a recent version of WhatsApp and has the necessary permissions. Very old Android versions (pre-Android 5.0) may not support the screen-capture API that WhatsApp uses.

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