Hey Reader! 👋

😖 The issue

Being the go-to family tech support can be challenging. It's tough to troubleshoot issues without seeing the problem firsthand.

Let’s face it—walking someone through a tech fix over the phone is frustrating. You’ve got to guess what they’re seeing, explain each step, and pray they follow along without a million "Wait, where’s that?" interruptions.

The good news?

You don’t have to do that anymore. Apple's screen sharing feature lets you see their screen and troubleshoot issues easier.

Today, I'll share how to use screen sharing on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It will make tech support easy for you and helpful for your family.

• See their screen in real time: No more guessing, you’ll be able to see exactly what’s going on.
• Fix issues faster: Solve tech problems in a few minutes, without the endless back-and-forth.
• Do it all remotely: Help your family no matter where you are, saving yourself a trip.

Once you master this, you’ll wonder how you ever did tech support without it.

Let’s dive in!

👇 Give it a try

iPhone & iPad: Using Screen Sharing with FaceTime

Apple has made it easy to share your screen on iPhone and iPad with FaceTime or Messages. You don’t need any fancy third-party apps; it’s all built into the system. Whether your aunt is stuck figuring out how to delete an app, or your cousin can’t navigate their settings, you can walk them through the process visually.

To get started, follow these 3 steps to view their screen:

1. Start a FaceTime call with your family member.
2. Once connected, ask them to tap the screen. This will show the FaceTime controls. Then, they should tap the Share button (a square icon with a person in front of it).
3. Tell them to select Share My Screen, and voilà, you’re now seeing what they see.

Now, you can guide them through fixing the issue as if you were right there in person. If they need help managing storage on their iPhone, you can say, "See that 'General' option in Settings?" Tap that, then ‘iPhone Storage,’ and let’s take a look at what’s eating up space.”

Mac: Sharing Screens with Messages or FaceTime

Your family might not always have an iPhone or iPad handy. Sometimes the tech issue is happening on their Mac, and once again, you’re called into action. Luckily, Macs also make screen sharing straightforward.

Here’s how to do it in Messages:

1. Open the Messages app and start a conversation with your family member.
2. Click the Details button (the little 'i' in a circle in the top right of the message window).
3. Then click the Share button (it looks like two rectangles overlapping).
4. Choose whether you want to Share My Screen or Ask to Share Screen.

You can also start this through FaceTime:

1. Start a FaceTime call from your Mac.
2. Once connected, click the FaceTime window and click the Share button (it looks like two rectangles overlapping).
3. Choose whether you want to Share My Screen or Ask to Share Screen.

This method works for tasks like explaining how to install software updates, troubleshooting Time Machine, or showing how to organize files using Finder. It’s so much faster to say, “Move your cursor to the Finder icon and click it,” while watching them do it in real time.

Teaching Your Family Member to Share Their Screen

A big hurdle with screen sharing is teaching your family to start it. They might not even know this feature exists, let alone how to access it. So, it’s worth taking a few minutes to walk them through it before the next tech emergency strikes.

Here's a simple way to explain it:

For family members who like visuals, send them a screenshot of the steps. Or, walk them through the process on a casual call—no tech issues required. That way, when the real moment comes, they’ll be ready.

✨ One more thing

That’s it!

The next time you get that dreaded “Can you help me fix this?” call from a family member, remember that screen sharing can be your secret weapon. Whether you're troubleshooting an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the steps are easy. They make guiding someone through an issue much smoother.

Here's what you learned today:

• How to use FaceTime to share screens on iPhone and iPad.
• How to control and fix Mac problems using either Messages or FaceTime for screen sharing.
• Teach your family how to share their screen ahead of time.

By applying the steps in this tutorial, you’ll cut your tech support time in half and avoid all the frustrating miscommunication.

The next time a family member calls you for tech support, walk them through sharing their screen with you. Start solving problems faster and with less effort.

Poll

P.S. If you ever want to revisit one of my past Apple tutorials, you can find them all here. (Feel free to share them with a friend, too!)