Screen sharing in Zoom on Mac starts in the meeting toolbar

To share your screen during a Zoom meeting on Mac, look for the Share Screen button in the meeting toolbar at the bottom of the Zoom window. Click it, then select what you want to share — your entire screen, a single application window, or just a portion of your screen. Zoom will ask for permission to access your screen the first time you try, and you'll need to approve it in System Preferences before sharing works.

The permission step is a one-time setup. After you grant Zoom access to your screen, you won't need to repeat it for future meetings. This security requirement exists because screen sharing gives an application access to everything displayed on your Mac, including passwords, personal files, and other sensitive content visible on your desktop.

Key Takeaways

  • The Share Screen button sits in the Zoom meeting toolbar at the bottom of your window, next to the mute and video controls.
  • You must grant Zoom permission to access your screen through System Preferences before you can share for the first time.
  • You can share your entire screen, a single application window, or a portion of your screen depending on what you need to show.
  • The host of the meeting controls whether participants are allowed to share their screens — some meetings restrict sharing to the host only.

Granting Zoom permission to access your screen

When you click Share Screen for the first time, Zoom displays a dialog asking for permission. Click Open System Preferences in that dialog. Your Mac opens the Security & Privacy settings, and you'll see Zoom listed under "Screen Recording" on the left side.

Click the lock icon at the bottom left of System Preferences to unlock the settings, then enter your Mac password. Check the box next to Zoom to grant it permission. Close System Preferences and return to Zoom — you can now share your screen. You only need to do this once per Mac user account.

Choosing what to share

After you click Share Screen and grant permission, a window appears showing your options. Screen 1 (or Screen 2 if you have multiple monitors) shares everything on that display. Application Window lets you pick a single open program — useful if you want to show a document or presentation without revealing other windows or your desktop. Portion of Screen lets you drag a rectangle around just the area you want to show.

Most people choose Application Window when presenting slides or documents, because it keeps your email, messages, and other open programs hidden. Choose Screen 1 or Screen 2 when you need to show multiple windows or navigate between programs. Portion of Screen works well for highlighting a specific part of a webpage or image without showing the whole display.

Stopping screen sharing

While you're sharing, a red banner appears at the top of your screen saying "You are sharing your screen." Click Stop Share in that banner, or click the Share Screen button again in the meeting toolbar and select Stop Share. Your screen immediately stops being visible to other participants.

If you accidentally share the wrong window or want to switch to a different application, you don't need to stop and restart. Click the Share Screen button again, select a different window or screen, and Zoom switches what's being shown without interrupting the meeting.

When the host has disabled sharing for participants

Some meeting hosts restrict screen sharing to themselves only. If you're not the host and the Share Screen button is grayed out or missing from your toolbar, the host has disabled participant sharing. You can ask the host to enable it, or ask them to share their screen instead if you need to show something to the group.

Hosts control this setting when they schedule the meeting or during the meeting itself. If you're hosting and want to let participants share, open the meeting controls, find the Share Screen button, and look for an option to allow participant sharing — the exact location varies depending on your Zoom plan and version.

Troubleshooting screen sharing that won't start

If Share Screen is grayed out or Zoom says it doesn't have permission, go back to System Preferences, find Security & Privacy, and check that Zoom is listed and checked under Screen Recording. If Zoom isn't listed at all, restart Zoom completely — quit the application and open it again. This usually forces the permission prompt to appear.

If you're using an older version of Zoom, update to the latest version from Zoom's website. Older versions sometimes have permission issues on newer versions of macOS. Restarting your Mac can also resolve permission problems if nothing else works.

Screen sharing with multiple monitors

If your Mac is connected to an external display, the Share Screen window shows each monitor separately — Screen 1, Screen 2, and so on. Click the one you want to share. You can only share one screen at a time, so if you need to show content from both monitors, you'll need to switch between them during the meeting.

Some people use the Portion of Screen option to work around this limitation by dragging a rectangle that spans both displays, though this can be awkward. A simpler approach is to ask participants to watch one screen while you switch between them as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my screen if I'm not the meeting host?

Yes, unless the host has disabled participant sharing. If the Share Screen button is grayed out, the host has restricted sharing to themselves. Ask the host to enable it, or request that they share their screen instead if you need to show something to the group.

What happens if I share my screen and then open a password manager or email?

Everyone in the meeting will see it. This is why many people choose to share a single application window instead of their entire screen — it keeps other programs and your desktop hidden. If you accidentally reveal something private, click Stop Share immediately to end the broadcast.

Do I need to give Zoom permission every time I update it?

No. Once you grant permission in System Preferences, it stays in place across Zoom updates. You only need to grant permission once per Mac user account. If you create a new user account on your Mac, you'll need to grant permission again in that account.

Can I share my screen on Mac while using Zoom on my iPhone or iPad?

No. Screen sharing on iPhone and iPad works differently — you can only share your screen from an iOS device to a Mac or computer, not within the Zoom app itself. To share from your Mac, you must use the Zoom app on your Mac.

Why does Zoom keep asking for permission to access my screen?

This usually means the permission wasn't fully granted in System Preferences. Go to System Preferences, click Security & Privacy, find Screen Recording, and make sure the checkbox next to Zoom is checked. If it's already checked, try unchecking it, closing System Preferences, and checking it again.