Yes, it is possible to share your screen on a WhatsApp call. This allows you to show the person you are talking to what is on your device’s screen. Screen sharing is a useful feature for demonstrating something visually during a call rather than trying to explain it verbally. Here are some quick answers to common questions about screen sharing on WhatsApp:
How do you share your screen on WhatsApp?
Sharing your screen on a WhatsApp call is easy. Simply start a WhatsApp call like normal. Once the call has connected, tap the three dot menu icon in the top right corner. From the menu, select “Share Screen”. This will bring up a prompt asking which screen you want to share. You can choose to share your full screen, a specific app, or a portion of the screen. Tap the option you want and your screen will begin streaming to the person on the other end of the call.
Is screen sharing available on both Android and iPhone?
Yes, screen sharing capabilities are available on both Android and iOS devices. The feature works the same way – by tapping the three dot menu during a call and selecting “Share Screen”. This option became available back in 2020.
Does the other person need to have any special software?
No, the person you are sharing your screen with does not need to have any special software installed. As long as you are both on a standard WhatsApp video call, your screen will show up on their device. Screen sharing works for both individual and group video calls.
Can you share your screen with audio?
Yes, when sharing your screen on WhatsApp, the audio from your device will also stream to the other participants on the call. This allows you to showcase apps, videos, presentations and more, complete with sound. The shared audio replaces the standard call audio while screen sharing is enabled.
Is there any limit on screen sharing time?
As of now, there is no time limit for sharing your screen during a WhatsApp call. You can share for as long as you want or need to. The call itself also does not have a maximum time limit. However, longer calls will use more data, so be mindful of that.
Can I share only a portion of my screen?
On Android, you have the option to share your entire display or just a specific app window. However, on iPhone currently you can only share your full screen. There is no way to select a portion of the screen to share on iOS. Apple may add more granular control in a future update.
Is my personal information secure when screen sharing?
WhatsApp’s screen sharing feature is encrypted end-to-end, just like WhatsApp calls and chats. This means the screen sharing content cannot be seen by anyone outside of the call, including WhatsApp and its parent company Meta. However, you should still be careful about sensitive or private information that may appear on your screen.
Can I record my screen sharing session?
There is no built-in recording function for screen sharing on WhatsApp calls. If you want to record your screen, you would need to use a separate screen recording app on your device while the sharing session is underway. Be sure to get permission from the other call participants before recording a call.
Is screen sharing available on WhatsApp Web?
At launch, screen sharing is only available on the WhatsApp mobile apps for Android and iOS. It does not currently work on the WhatsApp desktop apps for Mac or Windows. Support for WhatsApp Web screen sharing may be added in the future.
Conclusion
Screen sharing on WhatsApp video calls provides a handy way to present visual information during a call. It works seamlessly across Android and iOS with no extra software required. Audio can also be shared to enhance the presentation. While there are still some limitations, such as lack of support for partial screen sharing on iPhone, the feature greatly improves the communication experience on WhatsApp calls. As with all features, it should be used with proper discretion depending on the situation and information being shared.
Detailed Overview of Screen Sharing on WhatsApp
Screen sharing allows you to display your mobile device’s screen to other participants on a WhatsApp call. This gives you the ability to visually showcase apps, presentations, photos, videos, documents and more during a call. It provides an interactive way to communicate instead of just describing something verbally. Here is a more detailed look at how it works:
Initiating Screen Sharing
To start sharing your screen, first start a normal WhatsApp video call with an individual or group. Once connected, tap the three dot or more options menu in the top right. Then select “Share Screen” from the menu. On Android you will have the choice of sharing your entire display or just a specific app’s display. On iPhone currently only full screen sharing is available. Tap your choice to begin sharing.
Shared Audio
By default, audio from your device will also be shared along with the visual screen feed. This allows any videos, music or sounds from what you are showing to be heard by the other call participants. The normal call audio is replaced by your device’s audio while sharing is active.
Encryption
Like all WhatsApp calls and chats, screen sharing streams are protected by end-to-end encryption. This ensures the sharing content remains private and cannot be intercepted by anyone outside of the call, including WhatsApp itself.
Limitations
- Can only share full screen on iPhone, no app or portion selection
- No option to record the screen sharing session
- Cannot share system audio during a call on iPhone
- No capability for sharing phone screen during WhatsApp Web calls
Using Screen Sharing
There are many productive ways to use WhatsApp’s screen sharing feature:
- Give a slideshow presentation or showcase photos
- Demonstrate an app or new software
- Watch videos together with friends or family
- Teach a digital class on how to use technology
- Show documents, spreadsheets, PDFs
- Debug an issue by allowing remote view of your device screen
Tips for Screen Sharing
Follow these tips for the best screen sharing experience on WhatsApp:
- Use over a WiFi connection for optimal video quality
- Make sure the app you want to demo is already open before starting the share
- Close or minimize any apps you don’t want seen by other participants
- Silence notifications so they don’t disrupt the presentation
- If sharing a video, start the playback before activating screen share
- Clean up your home screen by removing widgets and clutter
Comparing Screen Sharing on WhatsApp vs Other Apps
While WhatsApp provides a convenient way to share your screen during calls, there are other apps that offer expanded options and control for screen sharing. Here is a comparison of key features:
| Feature | Zoom | Skype | Google Meet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share full display or app window | Android only | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Share portion of screen | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Record sharing session | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Annotate shared screen | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Works on desktop | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
As you can see, dedicated video conferencing and screen sharing apps like Zoom, Skype and Google Meet offer more robust toolsets and controls around screen sharing. However, WhatsApp provides the benefit of easy sharing initiated from an existing call with your contacts.
How Does WhatsApp Screen Sharing Work Technically?
Under the hood, WhatsApp leverages real-time video streaming technology to transmit the screen sharing feed during a call. Here are some of the technical details:
Protocols Used
The open source communication protocols used for WhatsApp screen sharing include:
- SRTP – Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (provides encrypted transport of audio/video streams)
- SCTP – Stream Control Transmission Protocol (transmits streams over IP networks)
- DTLS – Datagram Transport Layer Security (adds security to SCTP)
Streaming Method
WhatsApp utilizes adaptive bitrate streaming to deliver the screen share feed. This means the quality is continuously monitored and adjusted based on available bandwidth between the sender and receiver. Higher quality video is sent when bandwidth is plentiful, and lower quality when bandwidth constraints occur.
Codecs
For video encoding and decoding, WhatsApp makes use of the following codecs:
- H.264 – For video compression and quality
- OPUS – For audio encoding
Device Hardware Acceleration
To achieve smooth real-time screen sharing feeds, WhatsApp takes advantage of hardware GPU and DSP acceleration built into mobile devices. Dedicated graphics and digital signal processing chips handle the heavy encoding/decoding work.
Connection Methods
Screen sharing streams can adaptively use 4G/LTE mobile data or WiFi internet connections available on devices. The multimedia content is broken down into packets and reassembled in real-time during the call.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp Screen Sharing Problems
While WhatsApp screen sharing is generally reliable, you may occasionally run into issues. Here are some common problems and tips for troubleshooting:
Can’t Find Screen Sharing Option
- Update to the latest version of WhatsApp on your device
- Use a WhatsApp voice or video call, sharing does not work from chats
- On iPhone, make sure you are on iOS 12 or later
- On Android, make sure your device supports WhatsApp screen sharing
Call Disconnects When Sharing Screen
- Try toggling between WiFi and mobile data to use best connection
- Move closer to your router if using WiFi to improve signal strength
- Ask the remote participant to close other apps using bandwidth during call
- Avoid excessive movement or multi-tasking on your device when sharing
Poor Video Quality
- Use over a solid WiFi or 4G/LTE connection without congestion
- Reduce on-device motion and animations while sharing
- Pause other network activities like downloads or streaming
- Adjust video call resolution in WhatsApp settings if needed
No Sound
- Check that device volume is set appropriately
- Confirm the app being shared has its own sound enabled
- Switch to speakerphone if using iPhone earpiece to hear shared audio
- Allow WhatsApp access to microphone if prompted
Following troubleshooting best practices can help resolve most screen sharing issues on WhatsApp. But if problems persist, contacting WhatsApp support or your device manufacturer may be needed.
Conclusion
The ability to share your phone’s screen directly during a WhatsApp call makes for richer conversations and collaboration. While not as full-featured as dedicated screen sharing apps, the convenience of activating it mid-call makes the feature very useful. As WhatsApp continues improving capabilities and expanding platform support, screen sharing will become an even more integral communication option via the messaging app. Utilizing the tips and information covered here will help you master this handy new tool for visual communication with your WhatsApp contacts across both Android and iOS.