How to Share Screen on Zoom and Google Meet

How to Share Your Screen on Zoom

Desktop (Windows / macOS)

1. Join or start a Zoom meeting.

2. Click the green Share Screen button in the meeting controls at the bottom center.

3. Choose one of the options:

   • Desktop/Screen: shares the entire display.

   • Window: shares a single application window.

   • Advanced or Portion of Screen: for partial sharing (if available).

   • Chrome Tab (when using Chrome and Zoom web client).

4. To include system audio, check Share sound (Windows) or Share computer sound (macOS) at the bottom-left of the share selection window.

5. Click Share. Use the floating toolbar to pause or stop sharing.

Mobile (iPhone / Android)

1. Open the Zoom app and join the meeting.

2. Tap Share in the meeting controls.

3. Select Screen, then follow on-screen prompts to start broadcast (iOS) or select the app/window (Android).

4. For iOS, enable Start Broadcast to begin. For Android, grant screen capture permissions when prompted.

Zoom Screen Sharing Settings, Permissions & Host Controls

• Allowing participants: In the meeting, the host clicks the up arrow next to Share Screen > Advanced Sharing Options > set Who can share? to All Participants or Host Only.

• If not host: Request host permission or ask the host to enable participant sharing via Advanced Sharing Options.

• Common permission fixes:

  • macOS: System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Screen Recording. Add Zoom and enable access, then restart Zoom.

  • Windows: Ensure the app/browser has screen capture permissions and run Zoom as administrator if needed.

  • Browser: If using Zoom web, allow screen sharing in the browser prompt and enable microphone access.

• If Zoom won’t let me share my screen, confirm the host's settings, restart the app, update Zoom, and check system permissions for screen recording and microphone.

How to Share Screen on Google Meet

Desktop (Chrome / Edge)

1. Join a Google Meet meeting.

2. Click Present now in the bottom-right corner.

3. Choose:

   • Your entire screen: shares the full desktop.

   • A window: shares a specific application window.

   • A Chrome tab: shares a browser tab and can include tab audio (select Share audio when prompted).

4. Select the item to share and click Share. To stop, click Stop presenting or return to Meet and select You are presenting > Stop presenting.

Mobile (iPhone / Android)

1. Open Google Meet app and join the meeting.

2. Tap the three-dot menu and select Share screen or Present screen.

3. Confirm broadcast permission and begin sharing. For iOS, the system will prompt to start broadcast; for Android, grant the app permission to capture the screen.

Note: Sharing a Chrome tab works well for playing videos or music with audio, while Your entire screen is useful when switching between apps.

Google Meet Screen Sharing Issues & Fixes

• Blocked permissions: On macOS, enable Screen Recording for the browser in System Preferences > Security & Privacy. On Windows, allow the browser to capture the screen in app permissions.

• Participants not seeing the screen: Ensure the presenter clicked Share and that the viewer’s browser or network isn't blocking the stream.

• Browser issues: Use the latest Chrome or Edge for the best Google Meet experience. Disable conflicting extensions or try an incognito window.

• Audio not sharing: When presenting a Chrome tab, check Share audio. Some systems don’t include system audio when sharing the entire screen or a window.

• Network latency: Poor upload bandwidth can delay or freeze shared content; switch to a wired connection or reduce video quality.

Screen Sharing Tips for Zoom and Google Meet Meetings

• Prepare materials: Open presentations, tabs, or files before the meeting to avoid delays.

• Close unnecessary apps: Reduce notifications and CPU load for smoother sharing.

• Mute notifications: Use Do Not Disturb or mute app notifications to avoid interruptions while presenting.

• Test audio sharing: Play a short clip in a Chrome tab (for Meet) or enable Share sound (for Zoom) to confirm audio routes correctly.

• Use the right share option: Choose tab sharing for browser content with audio, window for a single app, and entire screen for multiple apps.

• Documentation and follow-up: Use Smart Noter to record meeting audio, transcribe spoken content, and generate summaries and action items. Smart Noter helps keep shared discussion points organized for later review.

Want to capture everything discussed in your screen sharing sessions? Start for free and try Smart Noter today.