WhatsApp is playing catch-up with Zoom and Apple FaceTime by introducing screen sharing.
As its name implies, the new feature allows you to capture and broadcast what’s on your phone’s display with others during a video call.
Aside from the aforementioned apps, screen sharing has also long been available on WhatsApp owner Meta’s Messenger platform as well. That makes its late arrival on WhatsApp all the more puzzling, but at least it’s available now.
Alongside the new feature, WhatsApp video calls can now be flipped to landscape mode for when you want a wider view.
You can access screen sharing on Whatsapp for iPhone, Android, desktop, and the web. Here’s how to start using it today.
How to share your screen on WhatsApp
To activate screen sharing on WhatsApp, just press the “share” icon during a one-to-one or group video call.
You can choose between showing everything that’s on your display or a specific application.
When sharing your screen, you’ll see profile pictures of everyone on the call including your own.
Just tap or click stop screen sharing to stop broadcasting your display.
To avoid embarrassment, you should also make sure to close any tabs or browser windows you don’t want people to see before sharing your entire screen
WhatsApp screen-sharing tips
Keep in mind, screen sharing only works if your video is turned on, otherwise the option will be greyed out. The feature also doesn’t work for audio calls.
To avoid embarrassment, you should also make sure to close any tabs or browser windows you don’t want people to see before sharing your entire screen.
However, if you want to share specific apps or windows, make sure not to minimise them as that will prevent others from viewing them.
When to use screen sharing
Anyone who has taken a meeting on Zoom or Microsoft Teams will have probably come across the option, which is widely used to share documents and presentations between colleagues.
But screen sharing has benefits outside of the office, too. You can use it to help hapless relatives troubleshoot a tech issue on their phones or laptops.
It could also come in handy when you need a second opinion on that new dress you’ve been eyeing online.
And it is also a way to share gameplay with your pals who don’t have a Discord account.
New WhatsApp features you need to know
WhatsApp has been releasing updates thick and fast this year, including ways to lock down your chats, silence unknown callers, and transfer your history to new devices.
The platform also recently released its first official app for Android smartwatches, allowing you to respond to messages and take calls without your phone.
To make it easier to keep up with all of WhatsApp’s essential features, we’ve made this useful guide to the popular messaging app.
