How to share your screen on Google Meet

By Amy-Mae Turner2020-12-14 11:00:00 UTC

One of Google Meet’s niftiest features is the ability to share your screen with others when you’re on a video call. Google calls this “Presenting.” This functionality, which can be indispensable for home-working teams, is quick and easy to implement. In our experience using the Chrome browser, it works well consistently. 

If you need to know how to share your entire screen, to share a Chrome tab, or to share an application window of your screen during a Google Meet call, this walkthrough will help.

How to find the screen-sharing options on a Google Meet call

While you’re in an active Google Meet call via the Chrome browser you can access your screen-sharing options by clicking on the “Present now” button at the bottom right of your screen.

This will bring up your three sharing options: the ability to share your entire screen, to share a window, or to share a Chrome browser tab, which Google advises is the best choice if you want to share a video.

How to share your entire screen on a Google Meet call

To share your entire screen, simply click this option from the pop-up presenting menu. This will generate a preview window of what others will see.

If you’re happy to share everything you can see on screen, simply click the preview box and hit the “Share” button. 

You will now see a pop-up informing you that you’re presenting, and a message to the top left of your screen informing you of the same.

To stop presenting, simply click the “Stop presenting” button at the bottom right of your screen that appears when you click on the presenting options.

Alternatively, you can hit “Stop sharing” in the pop-up toward the bottom middle of your screen.

How to share an application window on a Google Meet call 

Another useful option for Google Chrome users of Google Meet is the ability to share an application window that you currently have open. This means you can share documents, presentations, calendars, and more.

To share an application window, simply click the “Window” option from the pop-up presenting menu. This will generate a pop-up window showing you all your open applications.

Click on the application you want to share with your audience and hit “Share.”

How to share a Chrome tab on a Google Meet call

To share a Chrome tab, simply click this option from the pop-up presenting menu. This will generate a pop-up window showing you all your open tabs.

Simply select the tab you want to share and click “Share.” Do note that Google defaults to also sharing any audio from that tab. If you don’t want to share audio, deselect this option at the bottom left of the pop-up window. 

If you jump to another tab while you’re sharing the original one, the pop-up window at the top left of your display will give you the option to “Share this tab instead.” Simply click to do so.

To stop sharing a tab, just click “Stop” on the option towards the top left of your screen.

How to share your screen on a Google Meet mobile call

It’s also possible to screen share during a Google Meet call on Android devices and iPhones and iPads. On all mobile platforms when you’re in an active Google Meet call simply look for the three dots menu icon and tap it. 

This will give you the option to “Share screen.” Select this.

Android users will then see the ability to “Start Sharing.” iPhone and iPad users will see the option to “Start Broadcast.”

Note that everything on your screen, including notifications, can be viewed by whoever you’re sharing with. On iOS devices, you can go into “Do Not Disturb” mode to prevent notifications from appearing.