How to share your iPhone screen with support

How does iPhone screen sharing with support work?

iPhone screen sharing with a support agent uses Apple's screen recording and broadcast system, the same one behind the Screen Recording control in Control Center. You start the broadcast yourself by approving it on your iPhone, iOS counts down from 3, and then the support app sends a live picture of your screen to the agent until you stop. While it runs, iOS shows a red indicator: a red circle in the Dynamic Island on newer iPhones, or a red timer in the top-left corner on other models. The agent sees what you see, including notifications that pop up, so it helps to turn on Do Not Disturb first. Remote support apps that rely on this broadcast, such as TeamViewer QuickSupport, are view-only on iPhone, and GuidedView is view-only on every device. The agent watches and talks you through each step, and you stay in charge of every tap.

How do you share your iPhone screen with GuidedView?

If a business sends you a GuidedView invitation while you are on the phone with them, this is exactly what happens. GuidedView is free for customers, with no account or sign-up.

1. Open the invitation on your iPhone

   Open the text message or email the agent just sent, on the iPhone or iPad you want to share.

2. Get the free app if asked

   The link opens the free GuidedView app. If it is not installed, the link sends you to the App Store. After installing, go back to the original text or email and open the invitation again.

3. Confirm the call

   GuidedView asks you to confirm you are on a call with the person who sent it. Choose Share only if you are on that call right now; otherwise choose Decline.

4. Approve Apple's prompt

   Approve Apple's screen broadcast prompt. Apple's red indicator appears, and the agent starts seeing your screen.

5. Follow along by voice

   Keep talking on your normal phone call. The agent tells you where to tap, and you do all the tapping and typing.

6. Pause or stop

   Tap Pause before typing passwords, codes, payment details or other private information. Only you can resume. Tap Stop to end the session.

How do you stop sharing your iPhone screen?

Apps that use Apple's broadcast system can be stopped in the same few ways, so it is worth knowing all of them:

• Tap the red indicator. On iPhones with a Dynamic Island, tap the red circle, then the stop button. On other models, tap the red timer in the top-left corner, then tap Stop.
• Use Control Center. Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen and tap the red screen recording control.
• Use the app. In GuidedView, tap Stop. In Zoom, return to the app and tap Stop Share.

For more detail, see how to stop screen sharing on iPhone.

What should you check before sharing your screen?

Screen sharing is safe when you know who is watching and you control what they see. Tech support scammers also ask people to share their screens or allow remote access, so run through these checks first.

1. Be wary of unexpected contact. The FTC says legitimate tech companies won't contact you by phone, email or text message about a problem with your computer. If someone reached out to you first, hang up and call the company at a number you look up yourself.
2. Make sure the invitation matches the call. Share only if you are on the phone with the person who sent it, right now. Never open an invitation someone forwarded to you.
3. Close private apps first. Close banking apps, messages and photos you do not need, and turn on Do Not Disturb so notifications do not pop up during the share.
4. Pause for private steps. Pause or stop before entering passwords, verification codes or card numbers. No legitimate agent needs to watch you type them.
5. Never pay with gift cards. The FTC notes that tech support scammers often insist on gift card payments.

Got a GuidedView invitation and want to check it? Read is GuidedView safe and our guide to sharing your screen safely.

What if sharing will not start?

• The link was already used or has expired. GuidedView invitations work once, and unused ones expire after 30 minutes. Ask the agent to send a new invitation.
• You installed the app but nothing happened. Go back to the original text or email and open the invitation link again.
• You dismissed Apple's prompt by mistake. Ask the agent for a new invitation and approve the prompt when it appears.
• Part of an app looks blank. Some apps do not allow their content to be recorded, so describe that screen to the agent instead.

More fixes are on the GuidedView support page.