Robert Karty

Q: Why is Messages screen sharing icon grayed out?

Trying to do remote screen sharing with my mom's Mac using the new feature in Yosemite.

 

If you're not familiar with it, the new method does not require AIM, Jabber, etc and is independent of screen sharing settings in System Preferences (per Messages Help).

 

The procedure is:

 

In the main Messages window, select the name of the person you want to share with or, if you haven't previously exchanged messages, do so now.

 

Click 'details' on the right of the top bar of the main window.

 

In the menu that pops up, there are three icons: screen sharing, video chat, and audio chat/phone call. Click the screen sharing icon and send a request.

 


 

Today, my mom signed into her Messages account and we successfully exchanged iMessage messages (not SMS).

 

When I clicked 'details' the screen sharing and phone call icons were grayed out (or, more accurately, 'blued out' - they were a fainter shade of blue).

 

I clicked another name in the Conversations list and then clicked back to my mom's name. When I clicked 'details' this time, the screen sharing icon was no longer grayed out, so I sent a request to share her screen. She didn't receive the request, so I canceled it.

 

When I clicked on 'Details' again, the screen sharing icon was grayed out again. As far as I know, nothing had changed on my mom's end.

 

What could cause the screen sharing icon to be grayed out? And what could cause it to toggle back and forth between grayed out and normal?

 

Both computers are running the latest version of Yosemite, 10.10.3. Mine is a 2009 Mac Pro 8-core with 16 GB RAM, hers is a MacBook Pro from around 2012 or 2013.

 

Thanks!

 

Bob

Mac Pro (Early 2009), OS X Yosemite (10.10.3), 16 GB RAM

Posted on Apr 26, 2015 3:07 PM

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Q: Why is Messages screen sharing icon grayed out?

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  • by Robert Karty,

    Robert Karty Robert Karty Apr 29, 2015 2:19 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apr 29, 2015 2:19 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    We're not using Google, but good to know it's still an option - thanks, Ralph!

     

    I didn't know that Connection Doctor only refers to the old methods - like most of this, it's not mentioned in the documentation, unless I missed it. Thanks for that too.

     

    I imagine Apple has good intentions offering different ways of screen sharing in the same app, but it's a mess without adequate documentation and training of support staff.

     

    At least I got AIM sharing to work.

  • by djeby,

    djeby djeby Apr 29, 2015 7:13 PM in response to Robert Karty
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Apr 29, 2015 7:13 PM in response to Robert Karty

    Robert Karty wrote:

     

    If you're not familiar with it, the new method does not require AIM, Jabber, etc and is independent of screen sharing settings in System Preferences (per Messages Help).

     

    Robert, you’re right about this. The new method doesn’t require AIM, Jabber, or Screen Sharing enabled in System Preferences. I know this because, using this new method, I’ve fixed my aunt’s computer from 300 miles away many times. I’ve also fixed my nephew’s computer from 1,000 miles away. None of the computers use AIM, Jabber, or Screen Sharing in System Preferences. Everything was handled by Messages and iMessage accounts.

     

    Unfortunately, I experience the extremely annoying grayed out icon about half of the times I try to share a screen through Messages. I suspect that the problem might be related to two-step verification or the "You can be reached for messages at:" setting in the Messages preferences, but I still need to test this.

     

    Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that you’re not alone on this.

  • by PJ'sPal,

    PJ'sPal PJ'sPal Apr 29, 2015 8:45 PM in response to Robert Karty
    Level 1 (59 points)
    iWork
    Apr 29, 2015 8:45 PM in response to Robert Karty

    Apple was probably trying to be backward compatible with prior users that have used aim and jabber accounts for screen sharing.

    Older versions of OSX do not support screen sharing via iMessages. 

  • by PJ'sPal,

    PJ'sPal PJ'sPal Apr 29, 2015 8:54 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (59 points)
    iWork
    Apr 29, 2015 8:54 PM in response to Linc Davis

    I Don' know what account they are signing into either.

    icloud maybe?

     

    you are correct that bonjour account only works local.

  • by PJ'sPal,

    PJ'sPal PJ'sPal Apr 29, 2015 9:09 PM in response to Robert Karty
    Level 1 (59 points)
    iWork
    Apr 29, 2015 9:09 PM in response to Robert Karty

    Some thoughts/guesses-

    public IP address changes After restart or access point changes.

    bandwidth variations between remote systems.

    Different port selections through routers/firewalls.

     

    We are not really sure what account is being used for screen sharing.

    I do not have an iPhone that can influence how yosemite now works with messaging either.

    was your iPhone or iPad turned on when trying this? I have found my friends iPad can influence the messages connection.

  • by PJ'sPal,

    PJ'sPal PJ'sPal Apr 30, 2015 1:51 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (59 points)
    iWork
    Apr 30, 2015 1:51 AM in response to Linc Davis

    OK.

    here is the info regarding setting up an iMessage account.

    Mac Basics: Messages helps you chat instantly - Apple Support

     

    i think it better to say it is an icloud account,

    however it is really tied to the users Apple ID and password.

     

    I Don't know if the Apple Remote Desktop client is used to screen share in this case.

  • by Konrad Cichocki,

    Konrad Cichocki Konrad Cichocki Aug 26, 2016 9:24 AM in response to Robert Karty
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Aug 26, 2016 9:24 AM in response to Robert Karty

    I had a similar problem that the share screen icon was grayed out.

    Fixed it by signing in to iCloud (via preference panel). Restarted Messages and we could share the screen again.

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