How to Share Your Screen in Microsoft Teams During a Meeting
Applies to
Microsoft Teams for Windows, macOS, web, iPhone, Android, work, school, and personal accounts
Last updated
6 July 2026
Problem
You want to share your screen in a Microsoft Teams meeting, but you are not sure whether to share your entire screen, a single window, a PowerPoint file, or other content. Some users accidentally show private information, share the wrong screen, or forget to include computer sound when presenting video.
Using screen sharing correctly helps you present clearly and avoids exposing information you did not intend to show.
Solution
Use the Share button during a Teams meeting, choose the correct sharing option, and check whether you need to include sound. For sensitive work, share a single window rather than your whole screen.
Step by step instructions
Join the Teams meeting
Open Microsoft Teams or go to:
Join your meeting from the Teams calendar, Outlook invite, meeting link, or chat.
Before sharing, make sure your microphone and camera settings are correct.
Find the Share button
In the meeting controls, look for Share.
The icon usually looks like an arrow pointing upwards or a screen with an arrow.
Select Share to open the sharing options.
If the Share button is missing or disabled, you may not have permission to present. Ask the meeting organiser to make you a presenter.
Choose what you want to share
Teams may offer several sharing options.
Common choices include:
- Entire screen
- Window
- PowerPoint Live
- Whiteboard
- Browser tab
- Excel Live if available
Choose the option that best matches what you need to show.
Share your entire screen
Choose Screen or Entire screen if you need to switch between several apps during the presentation.
This is useful when demonstrating a process across multiple windows.
Be careful because attendees can see everything on that screen, including notifications, open tabs, desktop icons, and private documents.
Before sharing your full screen, close anything you do not want others to see.
Share a single window
Choose Window if you only want attendees to see one app.
This is usually safer than sharing your full screen.
For example, you could share only:
- A PowerPoint window
- A Word document
- An Excel spreadsheet
- A browser window
- A PDF viewer
- A specific application
If you switch to another app, attendees will not see it unless you stop sharing and choose a different window.
Share a PowerPoint presentation
If you are presenting slides, Teams may allow you to use PowerPoint Live.
Select Share.
Choose the PowerPoint file if it appears, or browse for it.
PowerPoint Live can give presenters more control and may let attendees move through slides depending on meeting settings.
This is often better than sharing your whole screen for slide presentations.
Include computer sound if needed
If you are sharing a video or audio clip, you may need to include computer sound.
Before or during sharing, look for an option such as Include sound or Share computer sound.
Turn this on before playing the video or audio.
If you forget this step, attendees may see the video but not hear the sound.
Share from Teams on the web
If you are using a browser, go to:
Join the meeting.
Select Share.
Your browser may ask whether you want to share:
- A tab
- A window
- An entire screen
Allow the browser sharing prompt.
If sharing does not work in one browser, try another supported browser or use the desktop app.
Share from a mobile device
Open the Teams mobile app.
Join the meeting.
Tap the meeting controls.
Select Share.
Choose whether to share your screen, photo, video, or other content.
Your phone may ask for screen recording or broadcast permission.
Approve the prompt to begin sharing.
Be careful when sharing mobile screens because notifications and personal content may appear.
Stop sharing
When you are finished, select Stop sharing in Teams.
Confirm that your screen is no longer visible to others.
If you shared your entire screen, wait for Teams to show that sharing has stopped before opening private windows.
Change what you are sharing
If you need to switch from one window to another, stop sharing first.
Select Share again.
Choose the new screen, window, file, or app.
This avoids accidentally showing the wrong content while switching.
Optional methods or tools
- Use https://teams.microsoft.com if the desktop app is unavailable
- Use PowerPoint Live for slide presentations where available
- Use a second monitor if you need presenter notes or reference material
- Use Whiteboard for brainstorming or visual explanations
- Share a single window instead of your full screen when handling sensitive information
Best practices or tips
- Close private windows and disable pop up notifications before sharing
- Share a single window when possible for better privacy
- Turn on computer sound before playing videos
- Test screen sharing before important meetings
- Stop sharing before switching to confidential documents or apps
Screen sharing in Microsoft Teams is one of the most useful meeting features, but it should be used carefully. Choosing between full screen, window sharing, PowerPoint Live, or mobile sharing affects both presentation quality and privacy.
For most meetings, sharing a single window is safer than sharing your entire screen. By checking permissions, including sound when needed, and stopping sharing before opening private content, you can present confidently in Microsoft Teams.
