What screen sharing does and when you need it
Screen sharing lets another person see exactly what is on your monitor in real time. When you share your screen, they watch your cursor move, see your open windows, and watch you click through documents or websites. You stay in control — they cannot touch your keyboard or mouse unless you give them permission to do that separately.
You use screen sharing when you need someone to see what you are looking at: troubleshooting a problem together, showing a coworker how to do something, presenting slides to a group, or letting a support person walk you through steps on your own computer. The person watching does not need any special software on their end if you are using a video call app — they just need to be in the call with you.
Screen sharing is different from remote access. With screen sharing, the other person watches. With remote access, they can control your computer from their own. This guide covers screen sharing. If you need someone to actually operate your computer, that requires a different tool and more setup.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows and Mac, you can share your screen through video call apps like Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, or Skype without installing anything extra.
- During a video call, look for a "Share Screen" button — usually in the toolbar at the bottom of the call window — and click it to choose which window or monitor to show.
- You can share your entire screen, a single window, or just a browser tab, depending on what the app offers and what you want the other person to see.
- Before you share, close any windows or browser tabs with passwords, bank information, or private messages so the other person does not see them.
- The other person sees your screen in real time but cannot move your mouse or type unless you give them control, which you can turn off at any time.
Screen sharing on Zoom
Start or join a Zoom meeting the way you normally do. Once you are in the call with video on, look at the bottom toolbar. You will see buttons for mute, video, and other options. Click the button that says "Share Screen" — it usually looks like a rectangle or window icon.
A window will pop up showing you what you can share. You can choose to share your entire screen, a specific window (like a single browser tab or document), or just your screen audio. If you have two monitors, Zoom will let you pick which one. Select what you want to show, then click "Share." The other people in the call will now see your screen. Your own screen will show a toolbar at the top with a red "Stop Share" button — click that when you are done.
If you want to let the other person control your mouse and keyboard while they watch, click "More" in that top toolbar and select "Allow participant to control screen." You can turn this off the same way. If you accidentally share the wrong window, click "Stop Share" and start over.
Screen sharing on Google Meet
Join a Google Meet call and turn on your camera. At the bottom of the screen, you will see a row of buttons. Look for one that says "Present now" or shows a screen icon — the exact label depends on whether you are on a computer or phone. Click it.
Google Meet will ask you to choose between "Your entire screen," "A window," or "A tab." Pick whichever matches what you want to show. If you choose "A window," you will see a list of all open programs — select the one you want. If you choose "A tab," you will see all your browser tabs — pick the one to share. Once you select, click "Share" and the other people in the call will see it.
To stop sharing, look for the "Stop presenting" button, which usually appears at the top of your screen or in the call controls. Google Meet does not offer built-in remote control the way Zoom does, so the other person can only watch.
Screen sharing on Microsoft Teams
During a Teams call, look at the bottom toolbar for a button that says "Share" — it usually looks like a rectangle or monitor icon. Click it. Teams will show you options: "Screen," "Window," or "PowerPoint presentation." Choose "Screen" to show everything, "Window" to show just one open program, or "PowerPoint" if you are presenting slides from a file on your computer.
After you pick, click "Share" and the call participants will see what you selected. A red toolbar will appear at the top of your screen with a "Stop sharing" button. Click it when you are finished. If you want to switch from sharing your screen to sharing a different window, click "Share" again and pick a new option — you do not have to stop first.
Teams also lets you give control to another person. While you are sharing, click the three dots on the toolbar and select "Give control." The other person will get a notification asking if they want to take control. They can then move your mouse and type on your keyboard. You can take control back at any time by clicking "Take back control."
Screen sharing on Skype
Start a Skype call and look at the toolbar at the bottom. You will see a button that looks like a monitor or rectangle — that is the screen share button. Click it. Skype will ask whether you want to share your entire screen or just one window. Pick whichever you need, then click "Start sharing."
Everyone in the call will now see your screen. A toolbar will appear at the top showing "Stop sharing" — click that when you are done. Skype does not offer remote control built in, so the other person can only watch and tell you what to do.
What to do before you share your screen
Before you click "Share," take 30 seconds to close anything you do not want the other person to see. Close browser tabs with your email, bank account, passwords, or private messages. Close any documents with sensitive information. If you have notifications turned on, they might pop up during the call and show personal information — consider turning notifications off while you share.
On Windows, you can do this by clicking the notification icon in the bottom right corner and selecting "Focus assist" or "Do not disturb." On Mac, click the notification icon in the top right and select "Do Not Disturb." This prevents pop-ups from appearing while you are sharing.
If you are sharing a single window instead of your whole screen, you have more privacy — the other person will only see that one program. This is the safest option if you are not sure what else is on your screen. You can always switch to sharing a different window if you need to show something else.
Troubleshooting screen share problems
If the "Share Screen" button is grayed out or missing, check that you are actually in a call — screen sharing only works during an active video call, not in a chat. If you are in a call and the button still does not appear, try closing the app completely and opening it again.
If the other person says they cannot see your screen, ask them to wait a few seconds — sometimes it takes a moment to start. If it still does not work, click "Stop Share" and try again. If the problem continues, restart your video call app. If you are sharing a window and it is not showing up in the list, make sure that window is actually open on your computer.
If your screen is sharing but it is very slow or choppy, close other programs that might be using your internet — streaming video, large downloads, or video calls in other apps. The more bandwidth you have available, the smoother your screen share will be. You can also try sharing just a single window instead of your entire screen, which uses less data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the other person see my passwords while I am sharing?
Yes, if the password is visible on your screen. If you are typing a password into a login box, they will see the characters. If you have a password manager open or a document with passwords in it, they will see those too. Always close anything with passwords before you start sharing, or use a password manager that hides the text as you type.
What if I accidentally share the wrong window?
Click "Stop Share" immediately. The other person will no longer see your screen. Then look at what is open, close anything you do not want them to see, and start sharing again with the correct window selected.
Can I share my screen on a phone or tablet?
Yes, most video call apps including Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams support screen sharing on phones and tablets. The steps are similar — look for a share button during the call and select what you want to show. Some apps may have limited options on mobile, such as only being able to share your entire screen rather than a single window.
Do I need to pay extra to use screen sharing?
No. Screen sharing is built into most video call apps and does not cost anything. It works the same whether you are using a free account or a paid one.
Can I share my screen with someone who is not in a video call with me?
Not through the standard screen share feature. Screen sharing only works during an active video call in the app. If you need to show your screen to someone outside a call, you would need to use a separate remote access tool, which is different from screen sharing.