How to Share Your Screen on Zoom (2026)
Sharing your screen on Zoom takes one click — but the options around it (sharing only one window, including computer audio, letting someone else control your screen) are where people get stuck. Here’s the full rundown for desktop and mobile.
Share Your Screen on Desktop
- In the meeting, click the green Share Screen button on the toolbar.
- A window opens with everything you can share:
- Screen — your entire desktop (everything is visible)
- A specific app window — only that app shows; the rest of your desktop stays private
- Whiteboard — a blank collaborative canvas
- iPhone/iPad — mirror a connected mobile device
- Click your choice, then click Share.
- A green border marks what’s being shared. The toolbar moves to the top of your screen.
- Click Stop Share (red) to end.
Tip: Sharing a single app window is safer for presentations — notifications and other tabs stay hidden.
Share With Sound (Video or Music)
By default, screen sharing sends video but not your computer’s audio.
- In the Share Screen window, look at the bottom-left.
- Tick Share sound (choose Mono or Stereo from the dropdown).
- Tick Optimize for video clip if you’re playing a full-motion video.
- Click Share.
Now participants hear the audio from your computer, not just see the picture.
Let Someone Else Control Your Screen
While sharing, you can hand over mouse and keyboard control:
- From the sharing toolbar at the top, click Remote Control.
- Choose the participant’s name.
- They click inside your shared screen to take control. Click Stop Share or press Esc to revoke it.
Share Your Screen on Mobile
- In the meeting, tap Share (or Share Content).
- Choose Screen.
- Tap Start Broadcast (iOS) or Start Now (Android) and confirm the permission prompt.
- Everything on your phone is now shared — switch apps freely.
- Return to Zoom and tap Stop Share.
You can also share Photos, a Document, a Website URL, or a cloud file directly from the Share menu.
Troubleshooting
”Host disabled participant screen sharing”
Only the host can share. Ask them to allow it: host clicks the ^ next to Share Screen > Advanced Sharing Options > All Participants.
Participants see a black screen when I share
This is usually GPU/hardware acceleration. On Windows, Settings > Share Screen > Advanced and untick hardware acceleration options; on Mac, grant Zoom Screen Recording permission in System Settings > Privacy & Security.
My shared video has no sound
You didn’t enable Share sound before sharing. Stop the share, restart it, and tick Share sound in the bottom-left.
Mac won’t let me share at all
Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording and enable zoom.us. Restart Zoom afterward.
Sharing is laggy
Tick Optimize for video clip only for video; for static slides leave it off, since it lowers resolution. Close other bandwidth-heavy apps.
Quick Reference
| Goal | What to do |
|---|---|
| Share everything | Share Screen > Screen |
| Share one app only | Share Screen > that window |
| Include computer audio | Tick “Share sound” first |
| Play a video smoothly | Tick “Optimize for video clip” |
| Give control to a guest | Remote Control > their name |
| Stop | Stop Share (red, top) |
Related Zoom guides: How to record a Zoom meeting · How to use breakout rooms in Zoom · How to schedule a Zoom meeting · How to change your background on Zoom · How to pin someone in Zoom
Ready to automate your busywork?
Carly schedules, researches, and briefs you—so you can focus on what matters.
Get Carly Today →Or explore our free tools
