The PlayStation 4 (PS4) console has a great feature called Share Play that allows you to share your gameplay screen with friends and even play co-op multiplayer games together online. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to use Share Play on your PS4 to share your screen or play co-op with friends.
Table of Contents
Share Play is a feature exclusive to PS4 that allows you to virtually “share” your gameplay session with a friend as if you were in the same room. Using Share Play, you can:
- Share Screen – Let a friend watch your gameplay on their own PS4. They can’t control your game, they are just spectating.
- Pass the Controller – Temporarily hand over control of your game to a friend so they can try it out.
- Online Co-Op – Play local co-op/multiplayer games together over the internet, even if the game doesn’t normally support online multiplayer.
Share Play uses streaming technology to share your screen over the internet. It’s an easy way to showcase games to friends or play games together without having to buy multiple copies.
To use Share Play, both you and your friend need:
- A PS4 console
- An internet connection (at least 2 Mbps recommended)
- To be friends on PlayStation Network
- To be in a Party together
Additionally:
- To share screen, neither person needs PlayStation Plus
- To pass controller or play online co-op, the host needs an active PS Plus subscription
Follow these steps to share your gameplay screen with a friend:
- On your PS4, go to the Party tab and start a Party
- Have your friend join the Party
- Select Share Screen > Start Share Play
- Choose your friend from the list
- Your friend will get a notification to view your shared screen
Your friend can now watch your gameplay on their own PS4. They can’t control your game, they are just spectating. Share your screen this way to showcase games to friends!
Follow these steps to play local co-op/multiplayer games together over the internet with Share Play:
- Start a Party and have your friend join
- Select Share Screen > Start Share Play
- Choose Play a Game Together
- Pick a local multiplayer game to play
- Both of you will now play on the same screen as if you were in the same room!
This allows you to play couch co-op and multiplayer games online even if the game doesn’t support online multiplayer. Just make sure the host PS4 has an active PS Plus subscription.
Here are some tips to get the smoothest Share Play experience:
- Both PS4s should use a wired internet connection for best stability
- Close any background apps to preserve internet bandwidth
- The host should have the faster internet connection
- Adjust video quality in Share Play settings if needed
- Use Party chat so you can talk while sharing screens
With good connections, Share Play works great! But if connections are poor, you may experience lag, quality drops, or disconnects.
Here are some common Share Play issues and fixes:
Can’t connect to Share Play:
- Check internet connections – a minimum 2 Mbps connection is recommended
- Make sure both users are friends on PSN
- Try closing and restarting the game
Game crashes when using Share Play:
- Close any background apps hogging bandwidth
- Adjust Share Play video quality to Low
- Game may not be fully compatible with Share Play
Share Play disconnects:
- Check internet connections for stability
- Reduce Share Play video quality if connections are poor
- Disable any bandwidth-intensive apps/downloads
Can’t find friend to Share Play:
- Make sure both users are friends on PlayStation Network
- Both need to be online and in the same Party
Share Play lags/stutters:
- Reduce Share Play video quality
- Use wired internet connections for best stability
I hope this comprehensive guide helps you use Share Play on your PS4 to share your gameplay screen or play online co-op with friends! Let me know if you have any other questions.
