Is SharePlay not working on iOS 15? The new iOS 15.1 update brings this cool feature that allows you to share movies and shows with your friends over FaceTime on your iPhone. All that entertainment and chilling in real-time but in a virtual setup. However, being a new feature, often users are finding that SharePlay is not working on their iPhones. In this guide, I have mentioned some troubleshooting tips that will help you to fix this issue.
Mostly, it would be the usual system bugs causing SharePlay to not work on the iOS 15. It may also happen due to the simple fact that users have not enabled SharePlay on their devices. Hence, they can’t use the feature. Most users are still on an older iOS build that doesn’t support SharePlay. There are more reasons as well which can hinder the SharePlay feature.
Reasons Why SharePlay is Not Working on iOS 15
- Your internet connectivity is poor hence FaceTime is not working to support SharePlay.
- SharePlay is not enabled either on the primary streaming device or on the participant’s device.
- An Apple device is a must to use SharePlay. If any of the participants doesn’t have an Apple device, iPhone, or iPad, they cannot use SharePlay on iOS 15.
- The participants in the FaceTime streaming have not subscribed to the content on their respective devices.
Now, let’s move on to the troubleshooting part and fix the SharePlay issue on the iPhone. You can even use the guides mentioned below on your iPad. Make sure your iPad is updated to the iPadOS 15.
1. Update iOS
It is important to update your iPhone to iOS 15.1 or the latest build to be able to enjoy the SharePlay feature.
- Go to the Settings app.
- Tap on General.
- Under that navigate to Software Update and tap on it.
- While your device is connected to WiFi the system will look for any latest update that is available.
- Once an update is available you will be prompted with an option Download and Install to get the new iOS build on your iPhone.
- After installing the update your device will reboot.
- Then access FaceTime, connect with your desired contacts and try to stream any content with them via SharePlay.
If the feature is not working move on to the next troubleshooting method.
2. Force Restart your iPhone
Force restarting is a great way to fix a lot of troubles that happen on the iPhones. You can try to force restart your iPhone to fix the SharePlay feature on iOS.
To Force Restart iPhone 8/iPhone SE 2020/iPhone 11/12/13/XR
- Press the Volume Up button.
- Next, immediately press the Volume Down button.
- Now, press and hold the power button on the right side of the iPhone.
- Wait until the Apple logo appears and then release the button.
If you have an iPhone 7, then press the Volume Down button and power button at a time. Wait till the Apple logo shows up on the black screen. Leave the buttons and wait for the device to boot up normally.
For older iPhones such as the iPhone 6 series or the iPhone SE 1st generation, press the Touch ID button and the power button(also referred to as the Sleep/wake button) simultaneously. Release the buttons once you see the Apple logo showing up on the screen.
3. Enable SharePlay on All Devices
It is mandatory to enable SharePlay on your device as well as on the devices of the participants who are on FaceTime with you to stream any content.
- Open the Settings app on your Apple devices.
- Navigate to FaceTime and tap on it.
- Then tap on SharePlay.
- Now, tap on the switch beside SharePlay to enable it. Generally, the feature should be enabled by default.
4. Check your Internet Connection
It is always advisable to have an efficient internet connection to use any feature that depends upon the internet. Whether you are streaming content yourself or with your contacts via FaceTime SharePlay you should check if your WiFi network is not slow.
You can always ask for help from the ISP support team or manually try to reset the network. If you have options for multiple networks, you can switch to a network with stable speed.
5. An Apple Device and a Subscription of the Content Being Streamed
It is a must to have an Apple device such as an Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, or Apple Mac running on iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1, or macOS Monterey respectively to be able to use SharePlay. Every individual involved in the SharePlay streaming session must have an Apple device with a good internet connection.
While the FaceTime app is available on Android and Windows, the SharePlay feature is not offered on these operating systems.
Also, it is important to note that when you are casting content via FaceTime SharePlay, you and others must also have an active subscription plan to watch that content. No streaming app as far as I know provides content freely for viewing.
6. Sign Out and Again Sign-in to FaceTime
While you are busy fixing the SharePlay issue, you should try to sign out of your Apple ID that you use as caller ID for using FaceTime. Then sign-in back with the same ID to FaceTime. Often this trick helps solve FaceTime snags easily.
- Open the Settings app.
- Then tap on FaceTime.
- Navigate to the Caller ID tab and tap where your Apple ID is mentioned.
- A small menu will show up from which select Sign out.
- To sign in tap on Use your Apple ID for FaceTime.
- Confirm your Apple ID and tap on Sign In.
7. Disable and Re-enable FaceTime
A useful technique that often helps in fixing the FaceTime bugs is disabling and enabling the video calling feature of iOS.
- Open the Settings app.
- Then tap on FaceTime.
- Next, tap on the switch beside FaceTime to disable it.
- Wait for a few seconds and then enable FaceTime back on your device by tapping on the switch.
Now, try using SharePlay and check if it is working or not? So, that’s all the troubleshooting you need to follow to fix the issue of SharePlay not working on your iPhone.