How to Share Your Screen for a Telehealth Session
This guide covers how to share your screen during a video call so that links open correctly for the person you're speaking with, and so they can hear the audio from any videos you play.
Before You Start: Two Things to Know
Clicking a link during a call often opens a new browser tab. For the other person to see that switch, you need to share your browser window, not a single tab.
- Share a tab: the other person stays on the old tab when a new one opens. They won't see the switch.
- Share a window: the other person sees whatever is active in it, including new tabs that open.
Keep these two things in mind:
1. Choose Window over Tab or Screen.
2. Turn on audio sharing separately. It's off by default, and it's essential if you're playing a video.
Steps are provided below for Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Coviu.
Note: this isn't an exhaustive list of platforms. Other video call tools work in a similar way. Look for a "Window" sharing option and a separate audio toggle.
Quick Reference
Zoom
Select: Window (not Screen)
Turn on audio: "Share sound" checkbox, bottom left, before sharing
Microsoft Teams
Select: Window
Turn on audio: "Include computer sound" toggle, before sharing
Google Meet
Select: A window
Turn on audio: "Also share system audio" toggle (needs a recent version of Chrome)
Coviu
Select: Window (via your browser's own dialog)
Turn on audio: "Also share system audio" toggle
Zoom
1. Click the green Share Screen button in the meeting toolbar.
2. In the window that appears, click the specific application window you want to share (for example, your browser window). Don't choose a shared screen with multiple windows.
3. Before clicking Share, tick the Share sound (or Share computer sound) checkbox in the bottom left corner.
4. Click Share.
5. A green border will appear around the window you're sharing. This confirms you're sharing the right thing.
6. When you're done, click the red Stop Share button at the top of your screen.
Tip: if you forgot to turn on sound before sharing, stop the share, tick Share sound, and start again.
Microsoft Teams
1. Click Share in your meeting controls.
2. Before selecting what to share, turn on the Include computer sound toggle (sometimes labelled Include sound) at the top of the share panel.
3. Then select Window, and choose the specific browser window you want to share.
4. Click to confirm and start sharing. A coloured border marks what's being shared.
5. If you forgot to turn on sound first, hover over the "You're sharing" bar at the top of your shared window and turn on Share audio mid call.
6. Click Stop Presenting when finished.
Note: on Mac, the first time you share computer sound, Teams may prompt you to install a small audio driver. Just follow the on screen prompts.
Google Meet
1. Click Present now (bottom right of the meeting screen).
2. Choose A window.
3. Select the browser window you want to share.
4. Turn on the Also share system audio toggle before clicking Share.
5. Click Share.
6. Click Stop presenting when finished.
Important: sharing audio while presenting a window is a newer Google Meet feature. It requires Chrome version 142 or later, plus a recent version of Windows 11 or macOS. If you don't see the audio toggle when sharing a window, update Chrome first. If it's still unavailable, present A tab instead and tick Also share tab audio. Keep in mind that with tab sharing, if you open a link in a new tab, the other person won't see the switch, so window sharing is still the better option whenever it's available.
Coviu
1. During your call, click Apps & Tools+ and select the screen share option, or the screen share icon on the call toolbar.
2. Your browser's own sharing dialog will open. Choose Window, then select the specific browser window you want to share.
3. Toggle Also share system audio on before confirming.
4. Click Share.
5. To stop, click Stop sharing at the top or bottom of your screen.
Note: Coviu uses your browser's built in sharing options, so what you see depends on your browser. Use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge for full window and audio options. Safari on Mac only allows sharing the entire screen.
Troubleshooting
The other person says the screen "froze" after I clicked a link.
You likely shared a tab instead of a window. Stop sharing, restart it, and choose Window this time.
They can't hear the video audio.
Check that you ticked the audio sharing option before you clicked Share. On most platforms this can't be turned on after the fact without restarting the share. Teams is the exception, since you can enable it mid share.
No audio option appears when sharing a window in Google Meet.
Update Google Chrome to the latest version. If it's still missing, share a tab instead and tick "Also share tab audio."
Notifications or private messages are visible during the share.
Sharing a window only shows that one window, so other apps stay hidden. Just be mindful of your browser's own tabs and pop ups, since anything in that window is visible.
Video looks jumpy or laggy when it first starts playing.
This usually comes down to internet connection strength, especially on a mobile hotspot or weaker Wi-Fi. Let the video play for a few seconds, since it's common for it to look choppy at first and then smooth out once the connection catches up. If it doesn't settle after 10 to 15 seconds, check your connection strength or try moving closer to your router.