What Is Shared with You in macOS 13?

The Shared with You section in macOS 13 (macOS Ventura) is a built-in continuity feature designed to automatically organize, surface, and integrate content sent to you via the Messages app directly into the corresponding native Apple applications. Instead of requiring you to scroll endlessly through old conversation threads to find a photo, website link, or song recommendation, macOS automatically places that content into dedicated "Shared with You" sections in apps like Safari, Photos, Music, Podcasts, Apple TV, and Freeform.

Centralizing Content Across Native Apps

The primary purpose of Shared with You is to bridge the gap between social communication and media consumption. When a contact sends you supported media in the Messages app, the operating system recognizes the data type and routes it to the appropriate app:

  • Safari: Web links shared in Messages appear on your Safari Start Page under the "Shared with You" tab.
  • Photos: Images and videos sent by contacts automatically appear in the Photos app under a dedicated "Shared with You" section in the sidebar and are integrated into your Photo Library memories without forcing you to manually save every single file.
  • Apple Music and Podcasts: Songs, albums, playlists, and podcast episodes are curated into the "Listen Now" sections of their respective apps.
  • Apple TV: Movies and television shows recommended by friends appear in the "Watch Now" tab.
  • Keynote, Pages, and Numbers: Shared documents appear in the document manager to make collaboration faster.

Seamless Two-Way Communication

Shared with You is not just a passive storage folder; it maintains an active connection to the original conversation. When viewing a shared item in an app like Safari or Photos:

  • The sender's name and avatar appear alongside the content.
  • Clicking the contact's name immediately opens a quick-reply bubble or transitions directly back to the exact point in the Messages conversation where the item was originally shared.
  • This setup allows you to enjoy the content when you have time and instantly respond to the sender without switching back and forth between apps.

Pinning Important Content

In macOS 13, users can "Pin" specific content within a Messages conversation thread. Pinning a shared link or photo prioritizes it, ensuring that it remains featured at the top of the "Shared with You" shelf in the corresponding app, as well as in the Messages details view and Spotlight searches.

User Control and Customization

While Shared with You aims to reduce friction, it also provides granular privacy and organization controls. If you do not want content from specific people or specific apps cluttering your native applications, you can manage the feature:

  • Global Controls: In Messages > Settings > Shared with You, you can toggle the feature on or off entirely or customize it on an app-by-app basis.
  • Per-Conversation Controls: You can disable Shared with You within individual conversation threads by clicking the Info (i) button in a chat and unchecking "Show in Shared with You," preventing unwanted links or media from specific senders from appearing in your other apps.