How to Use Shared with You on Mac

How-to
By Bryan M Wolfe
published

Share With You Mac
Share With You Mac (Image credit: Bryan M. Wolfe / iMore)
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Shared with You is a macOS Monterey feature that launched with iOS/iPadOS 15. As designed, it keeps track of certain attachments sent to you by people or groups through the Messages app. You can find a running list of those items directly in the Messages app — or in the supported apps. Currently, Shared with You is supported in photos, podcasts, Apple TV content, weblinks, and Apple News stories.

Here's a closer look at Shared with You on macOS Monterey on all the best Macs:

How to find Shared with You content in Messages

The easiest way to find shared content on Monterey is through the Messages app since everything sent is kept in the exact location.

To find content:

  1. Open the Messages app on your Mac.
  2. Choose the person who sent you the content.
  3. Select the information icon at the top right.

To find Shared with You content in Messages, open the Messages app on your Mac, then choose the person who sent you content. Select the information icon at the top right. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. On the pop-up, scroll down until you see the content you want to view. The files are sorted by type.

To find Shared with You content in Messages, on the pop-up, scroll down until you see the content you want to view. Click on the shared content. (Image credit: iMore)

How to find Shared with You content in the Podcasts app

When someone shares a podcast link with you through Messages, it will automatically show up in the native Apple Podcasts app across all of your devices.

To find content:

  1. Open the Podcasts app on your Mac.
  2. Scroll down until you see the Shared with You section.
  3. Click on the shared content to play.

To find Shared with You content in the Podcasts app, open the Podcasts app, then scroll down to the Shared with You section. Click on the shared content to play. (Image credit: iMore)

All shared content is marked as "From (Person's Name)."

How to find Shared with You content in the Photos app

When someone shares photos with you through Messages, they will automatically show up in the Photos app on Mac and your other devices.

To find these photos:

  1. Open the Photos app on your Mac.
  2. Click Shared with You on the left side of the screen.
  3. Click on the shared photos you'd like to edit or expand.

To find Shared with You content in the Photos app, open the Photos app, then click Shared with You on the left side of the screen. Click on the shared photos you'd like to edit or expand. (Image credit: Apple)

How to find Shared with You content in the Apple TV app

Links to Apple TV content shared through Messages will show up in the Apple TV app on Mac.

To find links to this content:

  1. Open the Apple TV app on your Mac.
  2. Click Watch Now on the top menu.
  3. Scroll down until you see the Shared with You section.
  4. Click on the shared content to play.

To find Shared with You content in the Apple TV app, open the Apple TV, then click Watch Now on the top menu. Scroll down to the Shared with You section. Click on the shared content to play. (Image credit: iMore)

All shared content is marked as "From (Person's Name)."

How to find Shared with You content in Safari

You can find shared web links inside the Safari app on Mac.

To find the shared links:

  1. Open the Safari app on your Mac.
  2. Go into the Start Page.
  3. Scroll down until you see the Shared with You section.
  4. Click on the shared content to go to that website.

To find Shared with You content in Safari, open the Safari app, then go into the Start Page. Scroll down to the Shared with You section and click on the shared content to go to that website. (Image credit: iMore)

All shared content is marked as "From (Person's Name) at the top of the browser.

Stop sharing

Not everyone will like using Shared with You. If that's you, it's possible to turn off the feature. Unfortunately, you can only turn this off on a person-to-person basis. To get started:

  1. Open the Messages app on your Mac.
  2. Choose the person who sent you the content.
  3. Select the information icon at the top right.

To find Shared with You content in Messages, open the Messages app on your Mac, then choose the person who sent you content. Select the information icon at the top right. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Scroll down and uncheck the Show in Shared With You box.
  2. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 to unshare content from other people.

To stop using Shared With You, scroll down and uncheck the Show in Shared With You box

To stop using Shared With You, scroll down and uncheck the Show in Shared With You box (Image credit: iMore)

No Shared with You content?

If you don't see a section for Shared with You in an app, it's because nothing has been shared yet. It will show up automatically as it occurs. Also, to find out how to use Shared with You in iOS, be sure to check out our guide on that as well.

It will be interesting to see how Shared with You is developed in future versions of macOS. Stay tuned!

Updated April 2022: With new information on how to disable Shared with You.

Bryan M Wolfe
Bryan M Wolfe
Staff Writer

Bryan M. Wolfe has written about technology for over a decade on various websites, including TechRadar, AppAdvice, and many more. Before this, he worked in the technology field across different industries, including healthcare and education. He’s currently iMore’s lead on all things Mac and macOS, although he also loves covering iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Bryan enjoys watching his favorite sports teams, traveling, and driving around his teenage daughter to her latest stage show, audition, or school event in his spare time. He also keeps busy walking his black and white cocker spaniel, Izzy, and trying new coffees and liquid grapes.