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.
   
3. Click on Privacy and 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.
3. Click on Privacy and 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 if 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 and 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 iPhone or iPad

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 or Apps & notifications.
   
3. Find and tap on Zoom, then tap Permissions.
   
4. Toggle the Microphone and Camera permissions on 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 Apps or Apps & notifications.
   
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.