How to Use Share Screen on PS5: Start Sharing and Watch a Friend’s Game

Start Share Screen from a party

Share Screen works from a party, so you need to be in one first. Sony says party members can then watch your gameplay in real time.

Press the Create button.
Select Share Screen.
Select Start Share Screen.

You aren’t in party voice chat yet? Create a party and set its options first. Then select Start Share Screen. Party members get a notification when sharing starts.

You can also start from two other places:

Party voice chat card: Select the Share Screen icon, then select Start Share Screen.
A friend’s profile: Select the Share Screen icon, then select Start Share Screen to invite that friend to watch.
What viewers see: Only your game screen and game audio are shared. Other screens and non-game apps stay hidden, and some game scenes may not appear.

Let viewers ping, draw, and send reactions

Open the control center.
Select the party voice chat card.
Select the Share Screen icon.
Turn on Viewer Interactions.

Select Reactions Position to change where reactions appear on your screen. You can change both settings before or during sharing.

Watch a friend’s shared screen

Press the PS button.
Select Notifications.
Open the Share Screen notification.

A Share Screen card also appears in the control center when someone in your party starts sharing.

Another way is to find a party that’s already live:

Open Game Base in the control center.
Select the Parties tab.
Look under Joinable for a party with an ON AIR icon.
Join that party.

Want to watch a player who hasn’t started sharing? Open the control center and select the party voice chat card. Select the player, then select Request Share Screen. You get a notification when they start.

Want to stream beyond your party instead? Our guide explains how to broadcast gameplay on PS5.

Ping, draw, and react as a viewer

These tools work only after the sharer turns on Viewer Interactions.

Open the control center.
Select the Share Screen card.
Select the video player. The gameplay fills your screen.

Move the pointer: Use the left stick.
Ping: Press the cross button.
Draw: Press and hold the cross button, then move the pointer.
Send a reaction: Press and hold R2, press an action button, then release R2. Press the action button several times before you release for a bigger reaction.

Sharing with a PS4 player? Sony says to use Share Play instead, and our Share Play guide has the steps. Which game would you share first?

Image Credit: Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash