How To Screen Share on a Mac in 2025

If you want to share the screen on your Mac, you don’t need to use remote desktop software in order to do it.

Sharing your Mac’s screen has never been easier in 2025. Whether you’re helping a friend, doing remote work, or presenting to a team, macOS offers built-in tools – and there are some excellent third-party options too.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• Native macOS methods (local network, over the internet)
• Remote tools and services
• Pros, cons, and tips to get the best experience
• When built-in tools aren’t enough (for iOS, cross-platform, etc.)

1. Preparation: What to Do Before You Share

Before jumping into screen sharing, it’s always a good idea to do a bit of “housekeeping” to make your Mac look respectable! If you’ve got files and folders all over your desktop, it doesn’t look great, especially in meetings.

Here’s a few tips how to do it:

• Tidy your desktop: Remove sensitive files, arrange icons, hide clutter. You can do this easily by going to Finder > View and use one of the “Group By” options.

• Clean your menu bar: Use System Settings → Control Center (or System Preferences → Dock & Menu Bar on older versions of macOS) to hide unnecessary Dock icons.

• Disable notifications temporarily: Use Focus mode or “Do Not Disturb” so alerts don’t pop up while you’re sharing.

• Check system requirements & macOS version: Newer macOS versions (Ventura, Sequoia, Tahoe etc.) add enhancements for screen sharing like better background sharing, presenter preview, etc.

2. Native Screen Sharing (Mac ↔ Mac)

macOS includes a built-in Screen Sharing feature (based on VNC) that works well on local networks and in many remote setups if you just want to share Mac to Mac.

Before you start, you need to make sure that Screen Sharing is enabled on the target Mac i.e. the Mac that you want to appear on your own desktop.

Home users should have no problem with the following instructions but those working on a company network with a Firewall may not be able to because sharing may be blocked by system administrators.

If you do experience problems with this tutorial on a corporate network, please contact your network administrator.

To activate screen sharing in macOS follow these instructions.

• On Apple Silicon Macs running the latest versions of macOS, click on the Apple logo in the top right, go to System Settings and search for “Screen Sharing“:

• On Intel Macs running versions of macOS Monterey or earlier, go to System Preferences and click on “Sharing” under Internet & Wireless Preferences:

• Then activate screen sharing on mac by clicking the Screen Sharing box.

• On Intel Macs running older versions of macOS Monterey or earlier, it will look more like this:

You’ll see a network address like vnc://192.168.x.x (make a note of it).

There are also options to:

• Allow anyone to request permission to control screen (they must still be approved).
• VNC viewers may control screen with a password (lets others connect using a set password).
• Restrict access to specific users if desired.

Now you are ready to access the screen of the Mac remotely.

3. Connecting from Another Mac (Same Local Network)

If both Macs are on the same Wi-Fi or Ethernet network, you can now start screen sharing in a few different ways.

a) Finder Sidebar

1. On your own Mac, open Finder.
2. Under Network or Shared, select the target Mac.
3. Click Share Screen.
4. Choose either:
   • Ask Permission (sends a prompt to the other Mac), or
   • Registered User (enter a username/password if you have one).

b) Connect to Server (VNC)

1. In Finder, choose Go ▸ Connect to Server… (⌘K).
2. Enter the VNC address you noted earlier, e.g. vnc://192.168.x.x.
3. Click Connect.

c) Browser Shortcut

Some browsers allow you to type the VNC address directly in the URL bar (e.g. vnc://192.168.x.x) to launch the Screen Sharing app automatically.

Use Screen Sharing Controls

Once connected, the Screen Sharing app opens. You can:

• Resize or go full screen (arrow icon in the top right).
• Adjust quality and scaling from the View menu.
• Drag and drop files if both Macs are running macOS Mountain Lion (10.8) or later.

Tips & Limitations

• Performance depends on network speed – wired connections give the smoothest experience.
• Built-in Screen Sharing only shares Mac screens, not iPhone or iPad. To mirror iOS devices, use apps like Reflector or AirServer.
• Always limit access to trusted users and set strong passwords.

4. Share a Mac Screen from Anywhere (Over the Internet)

Apple’s Screen Sharing works best on the same local network. To connect over the internet you’d need to configure routers and port forwarding, which can be complex.

Instead, I strongly recommend using a free remote-desktop service such as:

• Chrome Remote Desktop – Quick setup, works in any browser.
• Microsoft Windows App – Ideal if you also need Windows access.
• AnyDesk or TeamViewer – Simple cross-platform apps
• Zoom / Google Meet / Slack – allows you to collaborate and screen share at the same time

Alternatively, you can also use FaceTime which allows you to instantly screens with other Apple device users anywhere in the world.

How to share via FaceTime (requires macOS 12.1 and iOS 15.1 or higher):

1. Start a FaceTime call.
2. Click the Share Content icon.
3. Choose “Share Entire Screen” or “Share This Window.”

Here’s a quick overview of these options with their pros and cons.

Tool	Best Use Cases	Pros / Cons
FaceTime (macOS / iOS)	Share screen within Apple ecosystem	Built into macOS; easy; limited controls
Chrome Remote Desktop	Cross-platform sharing in browser	Free, works well across systems
Microsoft Remote Desktop	Mac → Windows access	Great for hybrid workflows
TeamViewer / AnyDesk	Support or presentation across platforms	Feature-rich, handles firewalls well
Zoom / Google Meet / Slack	Collaboration + screen sharing in calls	Combines video + screen share

These tools are far easier and more reliable than manually opening ports for Apple’s built-in service.

6. Fine-Tuning Your Screen Sharing Session

For best results, you can tweak a few settings in macOS:

A) Display & Quality Settings

• In the Screen Sharing app, go to Settings (menu bar) to adjust quality & scaling.
• Use “High Performance” mode on newer Macs for smoother images.
• Match resolution and color profiles if you’re using graphic design software.

B) File Sharing During Screen Share

• Drag files between Macs in the Screen Sharing window.
• Use copy/paste and share files easily.

C) Annotation Tools

• You can use annotation tools like Presentify to highlights things on your screen which is useful for for tutorials or guided walkthroughs.

D) Hide Sensitive Data

• Before sharing, close or hide windows with private content (especially if you’re screen sharing with colleagues!).
• Use macOS “Hide Others” or minimize clutter to keep focus.

7. Sharing iPhone / iPad Screens

macOS doesn’t natively share iOS screens via its Screen Sharing. For this we recommend using:

• QuickTime (with cable) for recording iOS screens.
• Reflector, AirServer, or LetsView for wireless mirroring.

8. Recording While Screen Sharing

You can use built-in tools for screen recording on a Mac:

• Press Shift + Command + 5 → select screen recording.
• Or use QuickTime → New Screen Recording.
  Third-party tools (Capto, ScreenFlow) offer richer options.

Troubleshooting Screen Sharing Issues

If you run into any problems sharing your screen, try one of the following:

• Check firewall/NAT issues: macOS Firewall or router NAT may block VNC traffic.
• Keep Macs awake: Prevent sleep mode while sharing.
• Use wired/Ethernet connection for best performance.
• Close unneeded apps to reduce CPU load.
• Test access before critical sessions, especially on remote or multi-network settings.

Summary

As we’ve seen, for Macs on the same network, using Apple’s native Screen Sharing is by far the easiest option – it’s fast, built-in, and no extra installs are required.

For remote connections, opt for Chrome Remote Desktop, TeamViewer, AnyDesk, or screen sharing in a conference app.

Whichever method you use, always use strong passwords and limit user access.

And don’t forget to clean your desktop, toggle off notifications, and test the connection before presenting.