Use a desktop browser to share
Start with an up-to-date desktop Chrome or Edge browser. Screen sharing requires HTTPS online; localhost works for development. Phones and tablets can be used for viewing where their browsers support WebRTC.
No sound?
- Try sharing a browser tab rather than your entire screen.
- Enable “Share tab audio” in the browser picker, if offered.
- Check that the tab itself is playing sound.
- Ask the viewer to choose “Enable sound” and check their volume.
For the full setup and troubleshooting steps, read our screen sharing with audio guide. Sound availability varies by operating system, browser and source. If the browser returns no audio track, ScreenSharing cannot add system sound on its own. You can turn on your microphone for commentary.
Draw and highlight together
Choose Draw under the shared screen to open Pen, Highlighter and Rectangle tools. Pick a color and drag on the shared view. Everyone sees your marks after you release the pointer. Use Undo mine to remove your own last mark; only the presenter can clear all marks or turn off viewer drawing. Drawing pauses with the screen.
Annotations are an overlay and do not change the original screen or control anyone’s device. Positions follow the video frame, not the document content: after scrolling or changing what is shown, clear old marks if they are no longer relevant. Stop sharing clears the board; reconnecting to the same shared screen restores it. Up to 100 marks are kept on the current board. Try the tools and see the interface on our screen annotation page.
Understand who is connected
A room works with one, two or three viewers. Room connected means the room service is reachable. Receiving screen means a viewer has received a video frame. People & connections shows each person’s state, including waiting, connecting, receiving and reconnecting. A briefly disconnected viewer retains their place for reconnecting.
Stop sharing or end the room?
Stop sharing stops the current screen and audio, clears annotations and keeps your room and invitation open. Choose another screen to continue. End session disconnects everyone and invalidates the invitation.
The page opens, but the picture doesn’t
Some firewalls, VPNs and network configurations prevent direct P2P connections. Choose “Reconnect”, try another network, or use a phone hotspot. This version does not relay media through a server.
The picture is blurry or stutters
Choose Light quality, close demanding applications and check the presenter’s upload speed. Three viewers require three outgoing media connections. Quality settings are targets: your browser may adapt them to available resources.
Screen permission was denied
Choose your screen again and accept the browser prompt. On macOS, check the browser’s screen-recording permission in System Settings. Screen-capture permission is requested each time.
The room is full or expired
Rooms allow three viewers. A briefly disconnected viewer retains their place for reconnecting. Invitations stop working when the presenter ends the session, leaves for more than the reconnect grace period, or the room expires. Ask for a new invitation.