People are just now realizing that the iPhone has hidden an “instant upgrade” in one of its most popular apps

APPLE has hidden a trick in the latest iOS upgrade that can bring you closer to your loved ones.

When you’re away from friends and family, you may miss the bonding experience of settling down to watch a movie together.

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Or maybe you miss snuggling up with a significant other to watch your favorite show.

Apple has hidden a new feature in its latest iOS 16 upgrade that will bring you closer to your loved ones – whether they’re down the road or thousands of miles away.

what is the function

Users can now stream TV shows, movies, podcasts, and songs together in sync while using SharePlay while on iMessage.

SharePlay works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and “with shared playback controls, anyone can play, pause, or skip forward in a SharePlay session,” Apple writes on its website.

For example, SharePlay can be used on Apple TV, allowing users to watch shows or movies on TV through apps like Disney+, ESPN+, HBO Max, Hulu, MasterClass, and Paramount+.

The feature also works for songs and podcasts in apps like Spotify and Apple Music.

Until now, SharePlay was a FaceTime exclusive feature, but now you can start typing while watching together, minute after minute.

Everyone can pause and skip ahead in sync for a better experience.

It’s not limited to a two-person conversation either – the feature works in group chats, unlocking the potential for families or friends to stream together.

“iOS 16 is a major release with updates that will transform the way you experience iPhone,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s vice president of software engineering, who discussed the new integration at the company World developer conference in June 2022.

How can I access it?

Here’s everything you need to know about accessing the feature, according to Apple’s iPhone User Guide.

1. In a supported app, search for a show, movie, song, album, or other content that you want to share.
2. Choose one of the following options:
   • Tap the Share icon and then SharePlay;
   • Tap the three dots at the top right, tap the Share icon, and then tap SharePlay;
   • Tap the three dots next to the content, then tap SharePlay.
3. In the To field, enter the contacts you want to share with, then tap Messages.
4. Tap Start or Play to begin using SharePlay.
5. To start viewing or listening, recipients tap the content title at the top of the message conversation and then select Open.

But there is a downside

Apps must subscribe to SharePlay to be compatible, and not every streaming platform does.

Netflix and YouTube are just two examples of apps that don’t sync with SharePlay.

Also, both users need to subscribe to the same streaming service like HBO Max or Disney+ and download the app.

For example, if your texting partner wants to share a fun TikTok that you can watch together in harmony when you don’t have the app, the feature won’t work.

Discover more iPhone hidden gems

With this secret setting, you can send text messages to people in a flash.

Plus, a hidden upgrade button gives you additional storage for free.

In the meantime, these seven simple steps enable a hidden iPhone feature that unlocks your device with a simple command.