Can’t Share the Screen on Zoom? Try These Fixes

Zoom is a popular videoconferencing tool useful for letting people connect from different locations. In addition, its screen-sharing option can be extremely useful in sharing information during meetings. However, as often happens with technology, one can experience setbacks using Zoom, including with screen sharing. If you’re having problems with this feature in Zoom, we can help.

We’ve put together four common solutions for Zoom screen sharing issues, with specific steps on how to apply them via multiple devices.

Screen Sharing Not Working in Zoom on a Mac

To get your screen sharing to work via macOS, try the following fixes. At the end of each one, test whether the problem is resolved.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

For screen sharing to work well, you need to have access to a solid internet connection. To ensure you have plenty of bandwidth available, consider using an Ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to your router or modem.

2. Check You’ve Allowed Access to Your Mic and Camera

Zoom requires access to your mic and camera for all its features to work. Ensure you’ve allowed web browser access to your mic and camera:

1. From the top left, click on the Apple icon.
   
2. Select “System Preferences,” “Security & Privacy,” then “Privacy.”
   
3. Choose either “Camera” or “Microphone.”
   
4. Check the checkbox beside your browser and allow it to access your camera or mic.
   

3. Disable Other Apps Accessing Your Camera

Zoom will have problems accessing your camera if it’s currently accessed by other apps. To disable another app’s access to your camera:

1. Click on the Apple icon from the top left corner.
2. Click “System Preferences,” “Security & Privacy,” then “Privacy.”
3. Choose “Camera.”
4. Deselect the checkbox[es] beside the app[s] to turn off access.

4. Try Deleting Then Re-Installing the Zoom App

By deleting the Zoom app, you’ll remove all its associated data, which could be causing the problem. Then reinstall it to have the latest version on your desktop. To delete the Zoom:

1. Click on “Finder” from the Dock.
   
2. From the sidebar, click “Applications.”
   
3. Drag the app to the Trash, or click the app then select “File” and “Move to Trash.”
   
4. Enter your Mac’s username and password if prompted.

To reinstall Zoom:

1. Click on the App Store app via your Dock.
2. Enter a search for the Zoom app then click on it.
3. Click “Get” beneath the app to install it.

Screen Sharing Not Working in Zoom on a Windows PC

Try the following fixes via Windows to get your screen sharing to work. Check each time to see whether you’ve solved the problem.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

Zoom needs a strong internet connection for screen sharing as it takes up a lot of bandwidth. Try connecting to your router or modem via an Ethernet cable for the best connection.

2. Check You’ve Allowed Access to Your Mic and Camera

To fix your screen sharing problem in Zoom, try allowing access to your mic and camera. To do this via Windows:

1. Select “Settings” then “Privacy.”
   
2. From the left-pane beneath “App permissions,” select “Camera.”
   
3. Enable the following two options: “Allow access to the camera on this device,” and “Allow apps to access your camera.”
4. Navigate to “Allow desktop apps to access your camera” and ensure “Zoom” is listed.
   
5. Repeat the steps for your “Microphone.”

3. Disable Other Apps Accessing Your Camera

For Zoom to access your camera for screen sharing, you’ll need to disable other apps access. To do this:

1. Go to “Settings,” “Privacy,” then from the left pane, “Camera.”
   
2. From the right pane, scroll down to the “Choose which apps can access your camera” section.
   
3. Here you can stop any app from accessing your camera by toggling the app’s switch to “OFF.”
   

4. Try Deleting Then Re-Installing the Zoom App

Try deleting the Zoom app to remove all associated data. Then reinstall it to have the latest version on your desktop. To remove the Zoom app:

1. Click “Start” and find “Zoom” in the list.
   
2. Long-press or right-click it, then select “Uninstall.”
   

To reinstall Zoom:

1. Click on “Start” then choose “Microsoft Store.”
2. Go to the “Apps” tab.
3. Select “Show” at the end of a category row to see more apps.
4. Find the Zoom app then select “Get” to download it.

Screen Sharing Not Working in Zoom on an iPad

Try the following via your iPad to get the screen sharing feature to work. After each solution, check to see whether the problem has been resolved.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

The Zoom screen sharing feature takes up a lot of bandwidth. Therefore, check the strength of your internet connection. If it’s weak, try restarting your router to refresh the connection.

2. Check You’ve Allowed Access to Your Mic and Camera

Allow mic and camera access to Zoom via your iPad to fix the problem with screen sharing:

1. Launch the “Settings” app.
2. Select “Privacy.”
3. Select “Microphone,” and enable the toggle witch beside Zoom.
4. Go back to “Privacy” to select “Camera.”
5. Enable the toggle the switch next to Zoom.

3. Disable Other Apps Accessing Your Camera

Ensure the other apps installed on your iPad aren’t restricting access to your camera or else Zoom will have problems accessing it. To disable other app’s camera access:

1. Launch the “Settings” app.
2. Select “Privacy.”
3. Choose “Camera.”
4. Disable the toggle switch beside other apps where it’s enabled.

4. Try Deleting Then Re-Installing the Zoom App

Start afresh by deleting the Zoom app and removing all its associated data. Then reinstall the app to have the latest version installed. To remove Zoom from your iPad:

1. Long press the Zoom app.
2. Tap “Remove App” from the pop-up menu.
3. Tap “Delete App” then “Delete” to confirm.

To reinstall Zoom:

1. Launch the “App Store.”
2. Find the Zoom app.
3. Tap on the cloud and down arrow icon to install it.

Screen Sharing Not Working in Zoom on an iPhone

Try the following tips via your iPhone to resolve its screen sharing issues. Check after each tip to see whether the problem is fixed.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

Screen sharing in Zoom requires a lot of bandwidth; therefore, ensure your Wi-Fi connection is solid. If not, try to make your signal stronger by rebooting your router or modem to refresh the connection.

2. Check You’ve Allowed Access to Your Mic and Camera

For the screen sharing feature to work, Zoom requires access to your mic and camera. To allow access via your iPhone:

1. Open the “Settings” app.
   
2. Tap “Privacy.”
   
3. Tap “Microphone,” then enable the toggle switch next to Zoom.
   
4. Tap “Privacy” at the top left to go back.
   
5. Choose “Camera.”
   
6. Enable the toggle switch next to Zoom.
   

3. Disable Other Apps Accessing Your Camera

Ensure the other apps installed on your iPhone don’t have access to your camera. They could be causing Zoom to have issues accessing it. To disable other app’s camera access:

1. Open “Settings.”
   
2. Tap “Privacy.”
   
3. Choose “Camera.”
   
4. Disable the toggle switch beside other apps where it’s enabled.
   

4. Try Deleting Then Re-Installing the Zoom App

Delete the Zoom app to remove all associated data. Then reinstall it to have the latest version on your iPhone. To remove Zoom from your iPhone:

1. Long press the Zoom app.
   
2. From the pop-up menu, tap “Remove App.”
   
3. Now tap “Delete App” then “Delete” to confirm.
   

To reinstall Zoom:

1. Open the “App Store.”
   
2. Locate the Zoom app.
   
3. Tap on the cloud and down arrow icon to install it.
   

Screen Sharing Not Working in Zoom on an Android Device

To resolve your Zoom screen sharing problem, try the following via your Android device. Test again after each fix to see whether the problem is resolved.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

The screen sharing feature works well with a strong internet connection as it requires lots of bandwidth. Ensure your Android Wi-Fi connection is solid. If it’s weak, try restarting your router or modem to re-establish a connection.

2. Check You’ve Allowed Access to Your Mic and Camera

Zoom also requires access to your mic and camera to screen share. To allow access via your Android device:

1. Open the “Settings” app.
   
2. Choose “Apps & notifications.”
   
3. Find and tap on “Zoom,” then tap “Permissions.”
   
4. Choose the “Microphone and “Camera” permissions to allow Zoom access.
   

3. Disable Other Apps Accessing Your Camera

If other apps installed on your Android device have access to your camera, Zoom will have problems accessing the camera. To disable camera access for the other apps:

1. Open “Settings,” and tap “App.”
   
2. Select an app, then from the “App info” screen, tap “Permissions.”
   
3. Ensure the camera permission is toggled off.
   
4. Check the permissions for your other apps.

4. Try Deleting Then Re-Installing the Zoom App

You could try removing the app and all associated data by deleting it. Then by reinstalling it, you’ll have the latest version of the app. To remove the app via your Android device:

1. Long press the Zoom app.
   
2. You should feel your phone vibrate once. You’ll now have access to move the app around the screen.
3. Move the app to “Uninstall” at the top of the screen.
   
4. When it turns red, release the app to delete it.
   

To reinstall Zoom:

1. Tap the Google Play app for the Zoom app.
   
2. Tap “Install” to install Zoom on your device.
   

Sharing Screen on Zoom – Solved!

Videoconferencing apps like Zoom are growing in popularity as more of us use them to work from different locations or to keep in touch with loved ones.

Zoom’s screen sharing feature is great for presentations or providing technical support. However, sometimes screen sharing is unsuccessful.

Luckily, troubleshooting tips like deleting, and reinstalling the app, or ensuring only Zoom has access to the camera can fix the problem.

What do you think about Zoom in general? Do you use other videoconferencing tools? If so, how do they compare to Zoom? Share your opinions in the comments section below.