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By , IT support technician

Quick Answer

Click the green Share Screen button at the bottom of the Zoom window, select the specific application you want to show (like PowerPoint) instead of your whole desktop, and click Share.

How to Share Your Screen in Zoom ​

Applies to: Zoom Desktop Client
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-07-10

Summary ​

Sharing your screen is one of the most critical skills for remote work. However, accidentally sharing a private Slack message instead of your PowerPoint presentation can be embarrassing. This guide teaches you the safest way to share your screen, and how to share computer audio so others can hear a video you play.

Prerequisites ​

  • You must be in an active Zoom meeting
  • You must have the presentation or document you want to share already open on your computer

Instructions ​

1. The Basic Screen Share ​

  1. In the active Zoom meeting, locate the control bar at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Click the green Share Screen button. (If it is grayed out, the host has disabled screen sharing for participants).
  3. A large window will pop up with many different options.

2. Screen vs. Window (The Most Important Choice) ​

When the Share menu opens, you have two primary categories to choose from:

  • Screen 1 / Screen 2 (Top Row): This shares everything on that physical monitor. If you drag a new window onto that monitor, everyone sees it. If a notification pops up, everyone sees it. This is best when you need to show multiple applications at once.
  • Specific Applications (Bottom Rows): This shares only the specific app you click (e.g., "Microsoft PowerPoint" or "Google Chrome"). Even if you drag another window in front of it, the audience only sees the PowerPoint. This is the safest and most professional option.

To start sharing:

  1. Click the thumbnail of the specific app you want to share (e.g., your PowerPoint window).
  2. Click the blue Share button in the bottom right corner.
  3. A green border will appear around the window you are sharing. Everything inside the green border is visible to the meeting.

3. How to Share Audio (For Videos) ​

If you are going to play a YouTube video or an MP4 file, the meeting participants will not hear the sound unless you check a specific box.

  1. Click the green Share Screen button.
  2. Select the window playing the video (like Google Chrome).
  3. Look at the very bottom left of the Share window. Check the box that says Share sound.
  4. (Optional but recommended): Also check the box that says Optimize for video clip. This makes the video play smoothly instead of looking like a choppy slideshow.
  5. Click Share.

4. How to Stop Sharing ​

When you are finished, don't leave the document up on the screen.

  1. Move your mouse to the top center of your screen. A drop-down menu should appear.
  2. Click the red Stop Share button.
  3. You will be returned to the normal video gallery view.

Troubleshooting ​

TIP

If you need someone else to click a button on your screen, use the "Remote Control" feature. While sharing, click the Remote Control icon on the top menu and select a participant. They can now control your mouse.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
"Host disabled participant screen sharing"Meeting security settingsAsk the host verbally to click the Security shield icon and check "Share Screen"
Participants can't hear the video I'm playingForgot to share soundStop sharing, click Share Screen again, and check the "Share sound" box at the bottom
I can't see the Zoom chat while sharingZoom minimized the controlsMove your mouse to the green ID bar at the top of the screen to reveal the menu, then click "Chat"
My screen looks tiny on their endHigh-resolution monitorShare the specific application window instead of the whole 4K screen