Screen sharing icon in Messages dimmed out when it shouldn't be

Hi,

The App is Messages.

It can have an iMessages account is use.

This distinction is becoming more important as time goes on.

In Yosemite the Messages App can start a Video (or Audio and also Screen Sharing) two different ways. (it's related bear with me).

As the iChat app the AIM and Jabber accounts have been able to Video chat within the app since iChat 2 for AIM accounts and iChat 3 for Jabber when it was added. (Screen Sharing is added at iChat 4)

This needs the Video Menu > Enable the three items for Video, Audio and Screen Sharing.

In Yosemite the iMessages account can start a video from the Main window when a text Chat is going on using the Details option to right.

To start an AIM Video chat (same for Jabber and Bonjour) you need the Buddy list to be displayed, Highlight the Buddy and then use either the icon at the bottom of the Buddy List or the Buddies menu.

To Start an iMessages Video chat you need to first set up FaceTime with the same Apple ID account (it can be done with a different ID but this can cause confusing at the other end about who is calling).

Then you use the Details option having started a Text (iMessages) chat with them.

This in turn Invokes the FaceTime App and 'Calls' the ID your are iMessaging to. If you are using a different ID in FaceTime they see that and not the one in the iMessages account.

Screen Sharing

Screen Sharing is similar in that it (iMessages account) invokes an outside app to do the Screen Sharing.

You first need to go to System Preferences > Sharing and enable the Screen Sharing item.

Then in Messages in the Main window during a iMessages Chat/conversation with someone you need to use the Details option top right and select the Linked Squares for the Screen Sharing.

This invokes the Screen Sharing App (System/Library/Core Services/Applications) and connects the two computers with and Audio chat along side.

For the iChat type accounts (AIM, Jabber and Bonjour) you use the Buddy list like the Video chats.

NOTES.

If you have other Macs on your LAN and they appear in the Finder's Side bar as Shares you can select them and use the button in the Finder Window to Screen Share with those Macs.

This too invokes the Screen Sharing app.

Another way is to use the Go Menu in the Finder > Go to Server and enter VNC:// and the IP address instead of AFP or SMB (Or Browse instead)

In the System Preferences > Sharing you will also find Remote Management.

This cannot be on the same time as Screen Sharing. However in use from the Finder it allows the Screen Sharing described above.

All of these use the Client end of Apple Remote Desktop (ARD).

However the Finder methods described do not come wither Audio Chat described for the iMessages or AIM/Jabber/Bonjour way.

Also if you try to use the Details method with an AIM or Jabber of Bonjour Buddy it will not work as it tries to do this the iMessages way.

Basically "icons" and "Messages" is not enough to say where you are in the app to pin point this further.

9:49 pm Saturday; March 7, 2015

Hi,

If System Preferences > Sharing > Screen Sharing is only allowing Administrators then those would be Mac User Accounts (User and Groups in System Preferences) that are also Admin Accounts on your computer.

The fact he or she is an Admin Account on their computer is neither here or there.

If you change it to Allow All I would restart the computers at both ends just to be sure the setting has taken.

If FaceTime is Disabled (Off in the Preferences) at either end it may show up in the Details option that you cannot do Video and/or Audio Chats.

I would confirm you can Video or Audio Chat first.

I presume that you are not even seeing the Screen Sharing App icon appear in the DOCK ?

At present you do not appear to have set the Permissions for people to Share the Screen to include people not having Mac User Accounts on your computer

7:27 pm Sunday; March 8, 2015

Screen sharing via Messages with Yosemite is independent of Screen Shareing under Sharing in System Preferences. This is the best write up in Apple Support I could find: Messages (Yosemite): Share your screen

I do this quite a lot. If this is what he is referring to. Both users must be signed into Messages, current version, and using Yosemite. Set up a texting conversation first and then see if the Scree Sharing icon under Details it present. When the other user is not logged into messages here is what I see when I click on the icon:

Hope this helps.

Hi rgilbert,

The Article is incomplete at best (It does refer the Yosemite) and incorrect at worst.

Yes the AIM, Jabber and Bonjour Screen Share is separate from the Screen Sharing is System Preferences.

These make a connection the same way Video and Audio Only chats do with these services by using SIP with VNC connection alongside that has the "Pictures" as it were.

The iMessages account can now INVOKE the Screen Sharing App (as allowed by System Preferences) by using the Details spot you posted.

NOTE.

If you are using an AIM, Jabber or Bonjour accounts and already have a Text Chat with that Buddy and then use the Details option it will try to Start the Screen Sharing App and not the IN App video/audio/Screen Sharing as detailed in the Doc.

8:44 pm Sunday; March 8, 2015

Ralph,

Appreciate the information. Messages under Yosemite seems to have a lot more going on behind the scenes that is not well documented.

Thanks again.

Rick

Hi,

I agree.

As the iMessages Screen Sharing (if you can call it that) is only to other Mac users (not to iPhones or iPads) I am not sure why they did not use the In-App method anyway.

It has always seemed a smaller leap to make iMessages use the in-app method for Video/Audio as well and make it compatible with FaceTime.

These are the ports FaceTime uses

Using FaceTime and iMessage behind a firewall - Apple Support

These are iChat 3, and 4 ports

Using iChat with a firewall or NAT router - Apple Support

Later versions of iChat and then Messages use port 5678 still for the A/V invites but move directly to port 16402 to do the SIP invite and then Video or Audio chat.

As you can see FaceTime uses the same ports.

It's the Quality of the video that is different as it can be passed over lower speed connections.

9:04 pm Sunday; March 8, 2015

Replying to self as I cannot see a post by Unfettered mind.