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iMessage Screen Sharing Greyed Out?

Hi All,


I am trying to use Screen Sharing through Messages with my Friend who is also on Mountain Lion & Using an Imac.


but for some reason it is greyed out.


ThanksUser uploaded file



Under the Video Option i have Screen Sharing Enabled.


Any Ideas?

iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2011), OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Jul 26, 2012 4:11 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jul 26, 2012 4:21 PM

Are you only chatting using iMessage? You need to use an instant message service in order to screen share.


Edit: Ah I think you are using Gchat? I don't think you can use screen sharing on gchat. You have to use someting like AIM or use your AppleID as an AIM account to screenshare.

31 replies

Aug 31, 2012 11:42 PM in response to Hami_88

I'd like to point out that something has definitely been lost since abandoning iChat. I had the same problems onces I downloaded Messages beta. I thought once I had my whole family on Mt. Lion I'd be able to use screen share easily again, but I still haven't figured it out yet, and I'm relatively proficient on my computer.


In Gtalk, I don't get the option to screen share, I don't in Messages either... come on, seriously, such a helpful feature and now I need to research in hopes that I can one day can make it work again? Help!!

Oct 1, 2012 8:46 AM in response to applefandan

This doesn't make any sense. So I have to have Messages open and also another client open?


I am logged into AIM, gChat, and my AppleID. My Apple ID is enabled with my @icloud, @me, my normal email address, and my phone number. Under no circumstance am I able to screen share.


When I press Cmd+1 I get the Buddies window, which shows only myself as able to video chat or screen share. Yet the same contacts I see here as not available to video chat I can FaceTime with just fine.


I am so confused as to how to get this going. It doesn't make any sense to me.


Could someone explain, in language a two year old would get, what I need to do to make this work?


Thanks!!

Oct 7, 2012 7:15 AM in response to Ian Zeunert

Hi All,

Seems to be slight comfusion here, This is still currently working for me if you could:


Please note is this Screen Sharing from Gmail Account to Gmail Account thourgh Messages


Open Messages

Select Messages from the top left
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Select Account and add in the Gmail account if not already there:


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Open Message and press Cmd + 1 this will bring up a "Buddys" box for Gmail contacts:


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The above list is a list of Gmail Contacts, if you rightclick on any of thse contacts you can start Screen Sharing.


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Hopefully this is a bit clearer 🙂


Graeme.

Oct 7, 2012 1:33 PM in response to paulsapple2

Hi,


First of all set up Messages like iChat.


That is to say Add either AIM or Jabber names to the Accounts list (Messages > Preferences > Accounts)

Enable them if they are there already but not Enabled.


Go to the Window Menu

This should now show you "Buddies" and CMD + 1 as an option to display a combined Buddy List.

In the General Section of the Messages Preferences you can unlink multiple Buddy lists by unticking the line about gathering All Accounts in to one list.

User uploaded file
Uploaded with Skitch!



Now make one of those Buddy Lists the "Front" window in Messages.

When you do this several Menu items including Screen Sharing become "Active" (Dark and Usable)






User uploaded file
9:33 PM Sunday; October 7, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Oct 7, 2012 3:56 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi Ralph. Thanks for the info. I am very familiar with the Mac having had them since 1986 and done lots of programming however I have used iChat minimally and now want to get into Messages as it is incorporated more in OSX. I am used to Apple stuff just working and was assuming I only had to have an iMessage account. When I look back at my account I have obviously set up an AIM account at some stage and maybe this is what allowed me to share screens. I haven't tested my theory yet but from what you say this might be what I am missing ie. enabling AIM accounts on both computers. I have never had Gmail though. If I am correct it seems strange (to me who has very little messaging experience) that I have to set up an AIM account for no other reason than to use it in Messages.

Regards,

Ian

Oct 8, 2012 11:56 AM in response to Ian Zeunert

HI,


In the greater story of iChat and Messages iChat started as an AIM client (An app the could join the AIM service).


Apple made an Agreement with AOL/AIM that the then .mac service names ending in @mac.com would be valid Screen Names with the service.


iChat 2 introduces A/V chats in about 2004 in Panther. (OS x 10.3)

(There was a beta for a short time in Jaguar before the Panther release.)


OS X 10.4 saw iChat 3 released which brought Jabber abilities to the app.

GoogleTalk IDs needed a bit of extra work as Google don't follow the general Server Naming trend that every other Jabber server uses.

It also brought 4 way Video chats and 10 way Audio Only chats

http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/versions/ichat3/ichat3.html


OS X 10.5 brings iChat 4

This adds iChat Theatre (Showing files on your computer as the Video feed including pics from iPhoto as Slide shows.)

Probably most dramatic were Effects and Backdrops plus Screen Sharing

http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/versions/ichatvers4/ichatvers4.html


OS X 10.6 is for iChat 5 but adds little to what is already there.


OS X 10.7 and iChat 6 add s the Yahoo ability (text chat only)

The Messages Beta comes out during this time and allows a new Account called the iMessage account.


This introduces the ability for the app to send iMessages over Apple's own Service to iOS devices (with the "right" version of iOS)


The full version as it tends to be referred to is released with OS X 10.8

The OS X 10.8.2 update adds the Ability to spoof the iPhone Number (Or use it as an Alias if you would rather) instead of the Apple ID when sending iMessages.


With the change to MobileMe and in some cases linking @mac.com name to @me.com accounts came the change to accommodate these names with AIM.


iCloud @Me.com account have followed.

I have yet to test an @icloud.com name.


This can mean you have an Apple ID from ages ago that ends @mac.com

These tend to work "forever" with the AIM service.

You may also be using as an Apple ID still even it it has lapsed fro some of the paid for services like email.

This can mean you have both an iMessages potential name and an AIM valid name.







User uploaded file
7:56 PM Monday; October 8, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Jun 26, 2013 11:45 AM in response to Judy

Hi,


Screen Sharing will be greyed out in some circumstances.


1) If the Buddy cannot Screen Share such as Google Buddy Logged in via a web browser (which also cannot Video or Audio Only chat)

2) If the Buddy is a Yahoo Buddy (The Yahoo Account can only Text chat)

3) That the person is not a iMessages contact (i.e not a Buddy and not in any Buddy List combined or otherwise.)

4) If the computer's Internet connection's too slow (less than 128kbps) or is capped too low in Messages > Preferences > Video Section > Bandwidth. This should not be at the 100kkbps setting.


The Screen Sharing can be done between Macs with any Jabber ID (included Facebook and GoogleTalk) or any AIM valid Screen Names.



AS by default Messages creates this Combined List for all Non iMesssage accounts I am suggesting separating them so you know precisely which Accounts and IDs are effected.




User uploaded file
7:45 PM Wednesday; June 26, 2013


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.4)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

iMessage Screen Sharing Greyed Out?

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