• Mac To Mac Screen Sharing
• Best Screen Sharing App

You can help out a friend by showing them something on their Mac by taking over their screen. There are many ways to start screen sharing between Macs, but the easiest is probably by using Messages. You can request to take over their screen during a chat. You can simply point things out to them, or you can actually take control over their cursor and text input.

Check out Mac Screen Sharing Through the Messages App at YouTube for closed captioning and more options.

Video Transcript: Hi, this is Gary with MacMost.com. In this episode let me show you how to help out somebody by taking control of their Mac starting with the Messages app.Maybe you've been in this situation before. You want to help somebody out. Maybe a parent, maybe a child, somebody that is not at your location and they are having trouble with their Mac or maybe they are just trying to figure out how to do something and you know how to do it. It's difficult sometimes to tell them over the phone or using email how to help them.But you can take control of their screen using ScreenSharing. Now a lot of time this involves configuring exactly where they are, what their IP address is, setting things up on their Mac and all that. But the simplest way to do it is to start by using the Messages app.If you are using iMessage to communicate with them with the Messages app on your Mac and their Mac you can very easily take over their screen and show them how to do something or do it for them.So I'm going to start off by just going into the Messages app. If you don't have the messages app yet configured for you or the person that you're trying to help then you want to just go into Messages and you go into Preferences, add your account to it, and of course have them do the same thing. You can use your email address, usually your Apple ID address right there, as the way to contact them.Now that I've got mine set up and they have theirs set up, and I have it here on my laptop next to my desktop, I'm going to contact them using the Apple ID of the other machine. Again this is on my desk where I have two machines on my desk. But this can be somebody halfway around the world.I'm going to type a message now at the bottom. Just something that will get this going. You can see here on the other screen I've got a message and I can respond. Great. So now that I've done that, of course you can use this for normal chatting, but if you want to help the person out on a technical issue you can click on the Details button here and then click on this ScreenSharing button and you can either invite them to share your screen or you can ask them to share their screen. So we'll ask to share their screen. You can see on the other machine here we have a notification that we have to Accept. Once we do we go into ScreenSharing.So now we've got that and they're going to hear our voice over their speaker. So you're doing something similar to FaceTime and you are actually communicating with voice. Just audio only.This is their screen and I'm seeing inside of a window here. You can see when I go in I can hone in on it at specific spot and they will see there which spot I'm looking at. Now if I want to control what they've got you can see I have it set to binoculars for observe mode. I can switch to control mode and they'll get a question there of whether or not they want to do it.Now you can see I'm actually controlling their cursor. So I can do things. For instance I can run an app or just anything I want down here. I'm basically controlling their cursor and their keyboard. So I can run Safari. So I'll run Safari on their machine and I can type. So if I was going to doing something like say show them how to configure something on their Mac I can do that by going to System Preferences and actually doing it.So I can now use all the standard ScreenSharing things here. I can even use the Shared Clipboard. I can set the scaling so I can actually see their screen at full size and then move my cursor around to adjust where I'm looking.When I'm done with this I can actually just quit ScreenSharing or close the window here and now we return here where we are just back in the regular Messages chat and I've helped them out.So this is great for helping out a relative, a parent, a child, anybody that needs help with their Mac from your Mac. It really works best when you're both using the latest operating system. If they're using too old of an OS or you are then it's not going to work out. So you want to make sure that everybody is up to date to begin with. Then you can provide technical assistance to those you want just by using Messages. Not having to setup anything special with your router or using any special software. You can just do this by using the Messages app between two Macs.Now this whole thing can be thwarted by some advanced security protections, firewalls, certain routers may not allow traffic over this port that ScreenSharing needs. But it should work for most people. You may want to try it out before you actually need it. So if there is somebody you sometimes help out with Mac stuff you may want to just chat with them on Messages, try taking over their Mac so they can see what it's like and you can see what it's like and then when you need it in the future it will be very easy for you both to be able to set it up and do it.

OS X has many useful but nearly unknown features that are missed by many users. And one of the most helpful is the ability to share your Mac's screen via the Messages app in OS X. Share your screen: Choose Invite to Share My Screen. View your friend’s screen: Choose Ask to Share Screen. When the screen-sharing request is accepted, an audio call begins automatically (so you can talk while you work) and the Screen Sharing app opens. For information about using the Screen Sharing app, see Share the screen of another Mac. The Messages app allows sharing the screen with other users as well as they can share theirs with you. If you want to share your Mac’s screen with someone, you can do that via the iMessage app. Screen sharing is handy to use for remote work. An audio call starts together with screen sharing, so it is possible to talk while you work.

• Share a screen In the Messages app on your Mac, send a message to the person you want to share with, then click the Details button. To search for contacts and content in conversations.
• You can use Apple’s Messages app on your Mac to share your screen with another person who’s also using the app. Conversely, they can share their screen.

Screen sharing is a great way to collaborate with colleagues, clients, friends, and family. And thanks to some of the best screen sharing Mac apps, you can do a whole lot of things. You can help them fix a problem, teach/learn something new, open, move, and close files and apps, create projects, and much much more. So, let’s go ahead and find the best screen sharing apps that make collaboration easy.

#1. Mac to Mac Screen Sharing

You might not need a third-party app when you want to screen share between two Macs. Thanks to built-in screen-sharing, you can share a screen over the local network or the internet.

To avail of the feature, your Screen Sharing setting should be enabled. You can also set screen sharing preferences, set viewing options, send files, and even share contents of the Clipboard.

#2. Teamviewer

A viral screen-sharing app for Mac and Windows, and rightly so. TeamViewer offers a full remote access suite that packs various enterprise features.

The app lets you connect and control another computer, its keyboard, and mouse. Making it an excellent asset for support and training business.

Moreover, you can also record screen sharing sessions and refer them back when in need. However, it might be slightly complicated for casual users and basic screen sharing needs.

Mac To Mac Screen Sharing

Price: Free
Download TeamViewer

#3. Skype

While Skype is a widely popular video-calling app, it is also a reliable screen sharing solution. Though it’s not as feature-full as others in the list.

For instance, it only shows your screen to others; they can’t control it. Moreover, it does not support PowerPoint integration or screen sharing from mobile apps

In saying so, it manages to a pretty decent job for basic screen sharing needs. Another added advantage is that the feature is free to use.

Price: Free
Download Skype

#4. Screenleap

Screenleap offers an effective screen sharing service without being too complicated or heavy-duty. It’s perfect for those who don’t want to install a full-fledged application on their computer.

With just a Chrome extension, you can quickly share your screen with anyone over the internet. Screenleap lends you a permanent URL that can be used to join the session when you’re sharing.

This makes the app great for recurring meetings, and quick access sharing, such as webinar-style sessions and sales demos.

Price: Free (In-app Purchases start from $15/Month)
Download Screenleap

#5. Screens 4

Screen 4 amalgamates the goodness of screen sharing and remote desktop apps. You can connect and control your Mac, Windows, Linux PC, or Raspberry Pi from anywhere in the world.

From accessing a forgotten file, performing software updates remotely to configuring a remote computer, Screen 4 can manage it all.

And that’s not all; the app also sports multiple display support, clipboard sharing, drag, and drop file sharing, Touchbar and Hot Corners support, amongst many more features.

Price: $29.99
Download Screen 4

#6. USE Together

As the name suggests, the app allows multiple users to simultaneously work over the host’s screen while on a voice call.

All participants have their own mouse cursors that they can use to control the screen. Basically, you can interact with the display and apps as if all are at the same desk.

Whether you want to work together on code, write, design, or just play something together, all is possible. This feature is particularly helpful for activities like pair programming and designing.

Price: Free (In-app Purchases start from $10/Month)
Download USE Together

#7. Slack

An efficient team management app that lets you manage your teammate’s screen as well. The sharing includes features such as host switching, collaborative annotation, and participants can use their cursor on the host’s screen.

For the last part, the host needs to allow access by clicking on the cursor icon. Moreover, the sessions are private, between members of the channel.

Each session is recorded and saved like other communication logs. So, if you are already using Slack, you don’t need another screen sharing tool.

Price: Free (Standard plan – $8 Per Month)
Download Slack

#8. Zoom

Zoom is a feature-full video-calling app. And along with changing the background at your will, it also allows screen sharing between participants.

The app auto-adjusts the video quality depending on bandwidth. It is this feature that makes screen sharing on zoom quite seamless even under bad network conditions.

This is great for webinars as well; wherein multiple hosts can access the same presentation screen to annotate. Users can host screen sharing from a laptop or mobile apps.

Price: Free (In-app Purchases start from $14.99/Month)
Download Zoom

#9. GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting by LogMeIn offers a wide range of solutions that help you in remote working. From one-click video meetings, webinar support, cloud recording, many drawing tools, and of course, screen sharing.

But what makes GoToMeeting stand apart is its stable mobile screen sharing. Oh, yes! The iPhone, iPad, and Android app support screen sharing, document sharing, and whiteboard collaboration.

So, in a way, the app converts your smartphone and tablets into a remote for your Mac.

Price: $12/user/month
Download Goto Meeting

#10. Jump Desktop

The name says it all; you can seamlessly switch between computers. We particularly enjoy the productivity features.

For instance, even when you connect a Mac with Windows PC, you can still use Mac/Windows keyboard shortcuts. You can also configure your own shortcuts.

Jump Desktop also supports collaborative screen sharing, i.e., each user gets their own mouse cursor.

Price: $14.99
Download Jump Desktop

Bonus

#11. CrankWheel

CrankWheel uses screen sharing as a way of lead generation. Instead of co-browsing, your exact screen is broadcasted for the client’s perusal.

It is basically designed for the sales teams to connect and convert hard-to-reach prospects. A plus point is that your client can view your screen via any browser, whether from desktop or mobile.

Moreover, it offers an easy-to-use interface, so the sales rep can concentrate on the pitch rather than setting the app.

Price: Free (In-app Purchases start from 75$/Month)
Download Crankwheel

After All, Sharing Is Caring!

The right or shall I say that the best screen sharing Mac app for you will depend entirely on need, usage, participants, and of course, budget. What is your favorite screen-sharing app?

If you want something basic, Skype or Zoom might suffice. Though, if you want something extremely collaborative, then Teamviewer, USE Together or Jump Desktop are also great.

Links that you might like:

A self-professed Geek who loves to explore all things Apple. I thoroughly enjoy discovering new hacks, troubleshooting issues, and finding and reviewing the best products and apps currently available. My expertise also includes curating opinionated and honest editorials. If not this, you might find me surfing the web or listening to audiobooks.

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