Feature Request: Screen Sharing + Remote Desktop Support

[renne]

• I have searched open and closed issues for duplicates

Bug description

Teamviewer and others have devastating security records.

Expected result:

Please add support for screen sharing and remote desktop in Signal-Desktop:

1. Alice requests screen sharing/remote desktop from Bob
2. Bob accepts/denies screen sharing/remote desktop

Platform info

Signal version:
Next one

Operating System:
Any

[Trolldemorted]

rdp or vnc in a ssh tunnel have devastating security records?

[renne]

RDP or VNC in a SSH tunnel are too complicated for average joes. That's why Teamviewer is used so much. Adding screen-sharing/RDP to Signal-Desktop offers synergy effects:

1. Easy to use AND secure remote administration for a average joes
2. Wider spreading of Signal-Desktop

[Edu4rdSHL]

Renne, has you tested anydesk.com?

[renne]

@Edu4rdSHL
I just looked at their website. It seems there a two NO-GOs:

1. closed source
2. OS dependent

[MarcinSzafran]

Screen sharing is necessary - that's why I'm using Wire
https://wire.com/

[Venve]

I agree that it is necessary on desktop and mobile app to. (Wire is not free.)
Instead of sending frames from camera it could be option to switch on screen.
I don't know of any other application has this. (Opportunity for Signal)

Remote desktop is totally another type of app, out of scope for messaging app.
People who need it will use other tools.

[tpapp]

Skype has screen sharing (just view, not remote desktop control). That's the only reason I keep using it on the desktop instead of Signal when screen sharing is necessary. This would be a great feature.

[TeoColuccio]

Skype has screen sharing (just view, not remote desktop control). That's the only reason I keep using it on the desktop instead of Signal when screen sharing is necessary. This would be a great feature.

Me too..

[2Belette]

+1

[ph777]

+10

[TheColonel2688]

+1

[invious]

+1

[daya]

+100

Considering WhatsApp is on the heels albeit without desktop screen sharing functionality this feature in Signal will be a big plus and would make me dump WhatsApp, Screen, Teams and Skype forever.

[briandoconnor]

+1

[Energiereaktor]

+1
This feature would be amazing! It could be similar to discord. There you can select an application or a screen to share and set the resolution and frequency of the video stream.

[hubyhuby]

+1000 that s my most anticipated feature of any software out there!

Edit 26/04/21 : Any news on this feature ?
Really looking forward to screen SHARING so I can get ride of Skype !
I use skype every day with my other companies folks just for this unique feature : screen sharing.
(Remote desktop is definetely not as urgent as sharing for most professional users I think )

[lu4p]

I don't need remote desktop like functionallity, but screen sharing would be nice.

[pierre-luc]

+1

[dinnymate]

+1

[kazimkarta]

+1

[mennucc]

RDP or VNC in a SSH tunnel are too complicated for average joes.

in particular, it is a PITA if the other side is (1) computer illiterate (2) behind a NAT (3) I am behind NAT as well . (Choose two out of three).

[lu4p]

I think screen-sharing can be nicely integrated into group/ one to one calls.

[ibby89]

I'd like to voice support for this as well. We currently use AnyDesk at the office but I find myself needing to offer remote assistance more and more to family and friends since the virus situation began.
It'd be good to have a secure, accessible and user-friendly service to handle both professional and private remote desktop and screen-sharing!

[EvanHahn-Signal]

Just wanted to give an update and say that we're aware of this request. I have no ETA on a release, but we know it's a desired feature.

[rlengland]

Another vote for screen share. Signal is 90% ready to let me leave Google Hangouts/Meet
(That and the lack of video image rotation between Signal-Desktop and the phone)

Use case for screen sharing:
Assisting family/friends installing/using software on their computers (AdHoc support)
Remote Education

[malek-f]

+1

[chrisrede]

+1 for screen sharing!!

[erik55]

I would consider the OBS option but it has a lot of bells and whistles and I don't find a way to set it up to stream with Signal. Is there a tutorial or howto available that explains this?

@rlengland

You can use the open source GPLv2 software OBS Studio on Windows, Mac and Linux for the Virtual Cam that gives you Screen Sharing also for Signal. Here is a short but good video tutorial

In case you are using Linux, the Virtual Camera is still not included as of version 26.1 of OBS Studio. Here is an explanation on how to install the plugin for Linux. (Howto for Ubuntu/Debian and Fedora + this to start/in case of problems)

Of course I’d also prefer if it was included in Signal Messenger (on the phone and the desktop). I could get rid of Zoom, Skype etc.

[ghost]

+1 Would make signal feature complete 👍

[cfgardez]

+1 for screen sharing

[adih2001]

+1 this feature would be amazing!

[jakobfdev]

+1 would be a big thing

[igorivanovic]

+1

[astrosticks]

+1 We need it! So I can finally screenshare to help my parents fix their computer problems.

[Oymate]

I think it's better to just do screen sharing if the client wants and not to prompt it from the other side. Remote desktop also seems like something a specialized client should do not signal. I know you want to help your relatives and friends with signal. But, it's not fit for this purpose, whereas screen sharing is a hole in the video sharing functionality to be fully useful.

[gfiasco]

+1

[acceleratesage]

I would love to have screensharing in Signal -- that would take the app to another level!

[erik55]

Use cases wouldn't only be

• helping with computer/telephone problems,

but also

• interactively showing routes and points on a screenshared map for tactical planing,
• or watching (in corona times) a movie/any video together and commenting on it.
• Watching tutorials together for not having to learn alone.
• Distant pair programming.

I think we need more use cases. Maybe instead of “+1” or “me too” you other commentators should add uses cases.

[codebot5OOO]

Yes Please!

[tpapp]

This comment suggests that developers are aware of the popularity of this feature, and plan to do it. The bottleneck may not be demand, but developer time, especially considering the need to maintain the existing high quality and security of Signal.

Further comments and elaborations on this issue may just serve as noise and might even prompt developers to unsubscribe from this topic, if they haven't already. PRs and/or donations are probably the best way to help.

[ashermes]

I use messenger apps for work, for personal use, as well for courses/training.
From the 2 functionalities, the most useful for me would be screen sharing.
One particularly scenario where this option would be great would be for courses/online trainings. Since a lot web cams have a low resolution and are not very good on focusing on different objects on my desk, I use the combination of iPhone + QuickTime + Screen (App) Sharing, to simulate a better/more customisable web cam.
Another way that I could have done something similar, would be with Teams app, which has a very interesting feature - the ability to enter calls from multiple devices. The advantage of this feature, is that you could use certain connected devices for certain inputs; for example you could output the image and sound from the laptop, while using the phone for image and sound input.

I know my comment is a bit long and not fully on the subject, but long story-short, adding the Screen Sharing feature would be an easy win (from my perspective) and would unlock a LOT of usage scenarios. Anything else added besides this feature (like Remote Desktop, multiple device connection, App View Sharing, etc), would be also appreciate, but not critical at this point.

[tuxedo0801]

Google Hangouts had it... missing it now with signal :-(

so... +1 from my side.

[ccmy04]

+1

[twoXes]

+1

[Sebastian-Maier]

+1 for screen sharing

[EvanHahn-Signal]

No need to comment further—"+1" messages are not super helpful to us. This feature request is on our radar. We'll let you know if we implement it!

[baermathias]

@EvanHahn-Signal Do you have any timeline for us? Is there in general a public roadmap for signal? This one is a nice example https://portal.productboard.com/strapi/1-roadmap/tabs/2-under-consideration

[seadra]

An early implementation of screen sharing ships in 5.3.0 (commit ceffc23), but it is behind a feature flag. Anyone knows how to enable this flag?

[David-Else]

It is in the new beta! (see description): https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Desktop/releases/tag/v5.4.0-beta.2 , latest version today: https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Desktop/releases/tag/v5.4.0-beta.4

Anyone tested on Linux?

[TheColonel2688]

Beautiful!!

Now remote control please!!!!!

[erik55]

Beautiful!!

Now remote control please!!!!!

Control the remote by voice. :-) Tell them: Click here, click there. Works good enough. Remote control is to much for a chat application. Really. Signal will become a monster if you put every function in it. Calender, fitness tracker, video editor, … NO. Keep it simple. But screen sharing is really very very nice.

[TheColonel2688]

Most chat and video chat solutions have remote control.... it is not out of scope. It doesn't have to be always on service. It just needs to allow others to control your screen in meetings with keyboard and mouse.

…

On Fri, Jun 4, 2021, 7:37 AM ☠☠☠ ***@***.***> wrote: Beautiful!! Now remote control please!!!!! Control the remote by voice. :-) Tell them: Click here, click there. Works good enough. Remote control is to much for a chat application. Really. Signal will become a monster if you put every function in it. Calender, fitness tracker, video editor, … NO. Keep it simple. But *screen sharing is really very very nice.* — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#2230 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ACCZEX7ZURXUE6FNZEHBBETTRC3GLANCNFSM4EZN6W3Q> .

[Backspaze]

@baigalmaab screen sharing is already available.

[erik55]

Please close this issue. And open a new one, if anything is missing. Screensharing works fine.

[EvanHahn-Signal]

There are two feature requests in this issue:

1. Screen sharing. Signal Desktop now supports this!
2. Remote Desktop support.

We're trying to move feature requests from GitHub to our community forum, so I'm going to close this issue and encourage people to discuss this in the thread for the feature request.

Thanks for the request...glad we got the big part of it done!