The long-awaited SharePlay feature is coming to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac next week, following Apple's release of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 last month. On Monday, macOS 12 Monterey will be released, and at the same time Apple will distribute the iPhone and iPad software 15.1 update.

SharePlay allows users to watch videos, listen to music, and synchronize and share screens over FaceTime. Apple previewed this feature at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, but eventually removed SharePlay from the beta version in order to tweak the feature before launch. Disney Plus then added SharePlay shortly after launch.

However, the good news is that the triumphant launch of this feature is just a few days away, as confirmed by the inclusion of SharePlay in the release candidate distributed yesterday (October 18). Release Candidates give beta testers access to the final build of an operating system prior to its launch, providing a last chance to discover potential bugs before that version is released to the public.

This time, the iOS 15.1 release notes confirm that SharePlay is included along with several other major updates, with the software update stating that "SharePlay, a whole new way to share experiences with family and friends over FaceTime will be added."

To watch a video together using SharePlay, both users simply initiate a regular FaceTime session and load the content individually; SharePlay automatically synchronizes the video between each connected device during the call. The same can be done via Apple Music, where users can listen to songs together and SharePlay will again automatically sync the music.

SharePlay works with Apple's own app, but is also compatible with other streaming services. These include popular platforms such as HBO Max, Hulu, Disney Plus, and even TikTok; it is unclear when services such as Netflix will support SharePlay, but this list is expected to grow in the coming months.

SharePlay will work on all Apple devices, with iPad, Apple TV, and Mac adding support. Software support for all these devices will receive a Monday update that will enable SharePlay.

As for iOS 15.1, restoring SharePlay to FaceTime is not the only feature coming to the iPhone; other features coming to the iPhone include the ability to capture ProRes video on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max - ProRes Video Check out our guide on how to record ProRes video. Apple Wallet will also be able to store COVID-19 vaccination cards in the iOS 15.1 update.