A Guide to Screen Sharing for Tech Help
By Steve
How to use the built-in "Share Screen" button in FaceTime and Zoom to get crystal-clear instructions.
Have you ever been on the phone with a family member, trying to get help with something on your computer or phone? That conversation can be a true test of patience, filled with a frustrating back-and-forth of, "What do you see on your screen now?" and "No, not that button... the other one!" We've heard from so many of you about the desire for someone to just see what you're seeing to help solve a problem.
What if your helpful grandkid, from their own home miles away, could look right over your shoulder at your screen and guide you in real-time? They can! It’s called screen sharing, and it’s a simple, safe, and transformative feature built right into the video calling apps you may already use. It's the ultimate way to "show, not just tell."
Screen-Sharing for Tech Help — “Let Your Grandkid See Your Screen (Safely) Instead of Guessing”
What is Screen Sharing?
Screen sharing is a feature in video calling apps like FaceTime, Zoom, and Google Meet that allows you to temporarily replace your camera's view of your face with a live video of your device's screen. The person on the other end of the call can then see your screen exactly as you see it, allowing them to guide you, step-by-step, through any process. It’s the digital equivalent of having a trusted helper sitting right next to you.
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Why This is a True Lifesaver: A Few Use Cases
Getting Tech Help (The #1 Reason): Instead of trying to describe a confusing error message or a setting you can't find, you can simply show them. This turns a 20-minute guessing game into a 2-minute solution.
Learning a New App: A family member can walk you through setting up a new app for the first time, like the Libby app for library books or a new travel app for an upcoming trip.
Navigating a Confusing Website: Whether it's filling out a complicated online form or trying to find information on a government or healthcare website, having a second pair of eyes to guide you can be incredibly helpful.
Sharing Photos: Instead of trying to text individual photos, you can share your screen and swipe through an entire album, telling the stories behind the pictures as you go.
In a Club or Volunteer Meeting: If you are part of a book club, a gardening group, or a volunteer committee that meets on Zoom, screen sharing is perfect for collaboration. One person can share their screen to show the meeting's agenda, a budget spreadsheet, or a website you are all discussing, ensuring everyone is literally on the same page.
During a Telehealth Visit: When discussing your lab results with a doctor or nurse, you could share your screen to show them the exact chart you're looking at in your patient portal. This ensures you are both referencing the same data and can prevent miscommunication about your health information.
How to Share Your Screen (A Simple Guide)
The process is very similar across the most popular apps.
On FaceTime (iPhone/iPad):
While on a FaceTime video call, tap your screen to bring up the controls.
Tap the "Share Content" button (it looks like a small square with a person icon in front of it).
Tap "Share My Screen." After a 3-second countdown, the other person will see your screen.
On Zoom or Google Meet (Phone, Tablet, or Computer):
During your call, look for a button that says "Share" or "Share Screen" (it's often a green button with an arrow pointing up).
Your device will ask you to confirm. Tap "Start Broadcast" or "Start Now."
What Do They See? (And What Don't They See?)
This is the most important part to understand for your peace of mind.
What they SEE: The other person will see whatever is on your screen—your app icons, the web page you're looking at, your cursor moving. They will still hear your voice, but they will no longer see your face (your screen's view replaces your camera's view).
What they CAN'T do:They cannot control your screen. They can only watch and guide you with their voice. You are always in the driver's seat, and you are the only one who can tap, click, or type.
Staying in Control: Privacy and Safety
You have complete control over the experience.
Turn on "Do Not Disturb" First: Before you start sharing, it's a great habit to swipe down from the corner of your screen and turn on "Do Not Disturb" or a "Focus" mode. This is a crucial step that will prevent any of your personal text messages or other notifications from popping up on the screen for the other person to see.
Ending the Share: You can stop sharing at any time. Simply go back to the video call app (you'll often see a green or red bar at the top of your screen to take you back) and tap the "Stop Sharing" button. Your call will immediately return to a normal video chat.
Quick Tech Tip
When you're sharing your screen from a computer on Zoom or Google Meet, you will often be given a choice: you can either share your "Entire Screen" or just a "Single Window" (like only your web browser). Choosing to share just a single window is a great privacy feature, as it means the other person will not see any other apps, files, or notifications that might be on your desktop.
Tech Term Demystified: 'Screen Mirroring' vs. 'Screen Sharing'
You might hear these two terms, and they mean different things. Screen Sharing is what we discussed today—showing your device's screen to another person remotely during a video call. Screen Mirroring (sometimes called "Casting") is when you wirelessly display your phone or computer screen on a larger screen that's in the same room, like your Smart TV, for everyone there to see.
Good News Byte
Screen sharing technology is becoming a standard feature in telehealth, making virtual doctor visits even more helpful. It allows you to share your screen with a doctor or nurse to review your lab results together on a patient portal, or to get help navigating a confusing health insurance website. This makes it easier for you and your care team to be on the same page, even from miles apart.
Did You Know?
One of the very first forms of screen sharing for tech support was a system called "Telenet," developed in the 1970s. It allowed a remote user to log in and see a text-only version of another computer's screen over the early internet. It was a revolutionary tool for university and military technicians, allowing them to diagnose and fix computer problems from miles away, long before graphical screens became common!
Your Turn to Practice!
You don't need to be having a problem to try this out. This week, schedule a video call with a trusted family member. During the call, just try to find the "Share Screen" button. You don't even have to start sharing—just knowing where the button is and what it looks like is a great, no-pressure first step to getting comfortable with this amazing feature.
Know someone who could use this tip? Share it with them:
Wishing you a week of crystal-clear instructions,
Steve