Apple’s iPhone User Guide explains how to share your screen, ask to see someone else’s screen, or remotely control it during a call in the Phone app. Apple says both you and the other participant need iOS 26 or later, and that remote control is not currently available in the European Union.
The feature is handy for helping a relative through a setting or walking a friend through an app, without switching to a video call.
What you need
Apple’s guide sets out these conditions:
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- Both you and the other participant need iOS 26 or later.
- Screen sharing works during a call with just one other person.
- Remote control works during a one-to-one phone call.
- To control your screen, the other person must be saved in your contacts and using an iPhone with iOS 26 or later.
- Remote control is not currently available in the European Union.
Apple also notes that, to help protect your data and privacy, additional restrictions may apply to remote control requests.
How to share your screen or see theirs
These are Apple’s steps from the iPhone User Guide:
1. Go to the Phone app on your iPhone.
2. During a call with just one other person, tap the More button, then tap Screen Sharing.
3. Do one of the following. To share your screen, tap Share My Screen. To see the other person’s screen, tap Ask to Share Screen.
Apple says a countdown from 3 to 1 appears on the screen before screen sharing begins.
Apple adds a tip: during a one-to-one phone call, a participant who is using an iPhone can tap, draw, or write on your screen to call your attention to a specific area. The circle, drawing, or writing disappears after a few seconds.
How to stop screen sharing
To stop sharing your screen, tap the More button, then tap Stop next to Screen Sharing. Apple notes that ending a call also ends screen sharing.
How to request remote control
Once someone is sharing their iPhone screen with you, you can ask to control it. Apple’s steps:
1. Go to the Phone app on your iPhone.
2. During a call, tap the window showing the shared screen, then tap the Remote Control button.
If the other participant accepts your request, Apple says you can tap or swipe to interact with the shared screen. You can also use the onscreen keyboard within apps.
How to accept or decline a request
When you receive a remote control request notification in the Phone app on your iPhone, tap Allow to accept it, or tap Don’t Allow to decline.
If you decline, Apple says screen sharing continues, and the other participant can still tap, draw, or write on your screen to highlight important areas.
What the other person can and cannot do
Apple includes a direct warning in its guide: “The person remotely controlling the screen can perform tasks on your iPhone such as opening and closing apps, changing settings, deleting items, or sending messages. Only approve remote control requests from people you trust.”
There are some guardrails. According to Apple:
- The person remotely controlling the screen may be restricted from tasks such as changing your Apple Account or Face ID settings, making payments, or erasing your device.
- Your Face ID and Touch ID will be disabled during a remote control session.
- You can still tap, swipe, or type while your screen is remotely controlled, and your actions take priority over remote actions.
How to stop remote control
You can end remote control at any time. If you are allowing someone to control your screen, tap Stop at the bottom of the screen sharing window. If you are controlling someone’s screen, tap the Remote Control button at the bottom of the screen sharing window. Apple says ending a call also ends remote control and screen sharing.
SharePlay on a phone call
The same menu also offers SharePlay. During a call, tap the More button, then tap SharePlay, choose a supported app such as Apple Music or Apple TV, find the content and tap Start or Play. Apple says SharePlay may not support the sharing of some movies, TV shows, or live sports events across different countries or regions.
Calls on iPhone have picked up several tools lately. Our look at how iOS 27 Call Screening works and its limits covers another one.
For Apple’s full instructions, see the iPhone User Guide page on sharing screens during a phone call.
The bottom line
Screen sharing on an iPhone call takes two taps from the More button, and remote control is one more tap on the shared screen. Both people need iOS 26 or later, remote control only works with someone saved in your contacts, and it is not currently available in the European Union. Only allow control for people you trust.
