Share your desktop

It is possible to share your desktop with some of your contacts. You can use this functionality to show your desktop to your contacts to, for example, ask for help or help your contacts resolve a problem.

To be able to share your desktop, you need to have a VNC server, which has support for the feature, installed on your system. Vino, the GNOME VNC server, has the required support.

  1. From the Contact List window, do one of the following:

    • Select the contact you want to share your desktop with and choose Edit ▸ Contact ▸ Share My Desktop.

    • Right-click on the name of the contact you want to share your desktop with and select Share My Desktop.

  2. An invitation to view your desktop will be sent to the contact you have selected. To view your desktop, they will need to accept it.

  3. You can disconnect the contact from your computer using your desktop sharing application.

    For more information about how to use the remote desktop sharing application, refer to its help.

When you share your desktop with someone else, it is possible to experience system performance slowdown and low Internet speed.

Some of your contacts may not be able to use this feature. It is necessary for them to have version 2.28, or newer, of Empathy and a compatible remote desktop viewer application installed in their system.