GroupWatch lets you watch Disney Plus at the same time as other people, even if you're not in the same room

GroupWatch is a feature built into Disney Plus that syncs video playback across multiple devices. When you start a GroupWatch session, everyone in the group sees the same scene at the same time, and the video pauses for everyone if one person pauses it. You can chat with the group using text or emoji reactions while you watch.

GroupWatch works on most devices where Disney Plus is available — phones, tablets, computers, and some smart TVs. You need a Disney Plus account to join a session, but the person who starts the watch party doesn't need to send a link or code. Instead, they invite people directly through the app, and those people get a notification.

Key Takeaways

  • GroupWatch syncs video playback so everyone watches the same moment at the same time, and pauses affect the whole group.
  • The person who starts the session invites others directly through the Disney Plus app — no link or code to share.
  • You can use text chat and emoji reactions during the watch, but GroupWatch does not include voice or video.
  • GroupWatch works on phones, tablets, computers, and some smart TVs, but not all devices support it equally.
  • The session ends when the person who started it leaves, and everyone else is disconnected.

How to start a GroupWatch session

Open Disney Plus and find a title you want to watch — a movie, series, or episode. Tap or click the play button. Once the video starts, look for the GroupWatch icon, which looks like two overlapping circles or a group symbol. On phones and tablets, this icon usually appears at the bottom of the screen during playback. On computers, it appears in the playback controls.

Tap or click the GroupWatch icon. The app will show you a list of your Disney Plus contacts — people you have invited to watch parties before, or people who have invited you. Select the person or people you want to invite. You can invite multiple people at once. Each person will receive a notification that you've invited them to watch.

Once someone accepts the invitation, they join your session and the video syncs to where you are. If you invite someone who is offline, the invitation stays active for a limited time, and they can join when they come back online.

How to join a GroupWatch session

When someone invites you to a GroupWatch session, you will see a notification on your Disney Plus account. The notification appears in the app and sometimes as a push notification on your device. Tap or click the notification to accept the invitation.

Once you accept, Disney Plus opens the title and syncs the video to match where the group is watching. You will see the other people in the session displayed on screen, usually as small icons or names. The video will be at the same point for everyone, so you may join partway through a scene or episode.

Using chat and reactions during GroupWatch

While you watch, you can send text messages to the group using the chat feature. On phones and tablets, look for a chat icon or message bubble, usually near the GroupWatch icon. On computers, the chat option appears in the playback controls. Tap or click to open the chat box and type your message.

You can also send emoji reactions without typing — quick ways to respond to what's happening on screen. These reactions appear as floating emoji above the video for a few seconds, so the whole group sees them. Reactions are useful when you want to react without interrupting the watch with a full message.

What happens when someone pauses or leaves

If anyone in the GroupWatch session pauses the video, it pauses for everyone. This means the group watches together — no one can skip ahead or fall behind. When someone presses play again, the video resumes for the whole group at that same moment.

If the person who started the GroupWatch session leaves or closes the app, the entire session ends and everyone else is disconnected. The other people can start a new session or join a different one, but the original watch party is over. If someone else in the group leaves, the session continues for the remaining people.

Devices that support GroupWatch

GroupWatch works on iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets, computers running Windows or Mac, and some smart TVs including Samsung, LG, and Roku models. Support varies by device and by when your device was last updated, so if you don't see the GroupWatch icon, check that your Disney Plus app is current.

On some older smart TVs or less common devices, GroupWatch may not be available. If you want to watch together on a TV that doesn't support GroupWatch, you can use a phone or tablet to start the session and then cast or mirror that device to your TV, though this may affect the sync quality.

Troubleshooting GroupWatch problems

If the GroupWatch icon doesn't appear, make sure your Disney Plus app is up to date. Open your device's app store, search for Disney Plus, and install any available updates. If updates don't help, try closing the app completely and opening it again.

If someone is invited but doesn't receive the notification, check that you both have Disney Plus accounts and that the person is in your contacts or has invited you before. Invitations may take a few seconds to arrive. If the video is out of sync during a watch party, pause for a few seconds and then play again — this usually resyncs the group.

If the entire session keeps disconnecting, check your internet connection. GroupWatch requires a stable connection for all devices in the group. If your connection is weak, move closer to your router or switch to a wired connection if possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use GroupWatch on a TV without a smart TV app?

Not directly through the TV itself. You can start a GroupWatch session on a phone or tablet and then cast or mirror that device to your TV using Chromecast, AirPlay, or another casting method. The sync may be less reliable this way, but it works for watching together.

Do I need to be friends with someone to invite them to GroupWatch?

No. You can invite anyone who has a Disney Plus account, as long as you have their contact information in your phone or they have invited you before. Disney Plus uses your phone contacts and past watch party history to show you who to invite.

Can I use GroupWatch with a shared Disney Plus account?

Yes, but only one person can start a session at a time. If multiple people on the same account try to start different GroupWatch sessions, only one will work. If you share an account with family members, take turns starting sessions or use separate profiles.

What happens if someone's internet cuts out during GroupWatch?

That person will be disconnected from the session. The rest of the group continues watching together. When the person reconnects, they can rejoin the same session if it's still active, or they can be invited again.

Can I watch different titles with different groups at the same time?

No. You can only be in one GroupWatch session at a time. If you want to join a different session, you have to leave the current one first.