Sharing computer sound in a screen share

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Zoom screen sharing allows you to share the desktop, window, application, or audio/video. If audio is an important part of your shared content, you can also send the computer's audio (in mono or stereo) to the remote attendees when sharing, providing a more professional and immersive sharing experience. 

This article covers: 

Prerequisites for sharing computer sound as shared content

How to share audio with shared visuals

  1. Start or join a Zoom meeting. 
  2. Click on Share Screen on the meeting toolbar.
  3. Select the program or desktop you wish to share. 
  4. Select Share Sound in the bottom-left corner of the share selection window. 
  5. (Optional) Select the down arrow  just to the right of the Share Sound option to view audio options and switch between Mono and Stereo (high fidelity) audio options. 
  6. Click on Share in the bottom-right corner to begin sharing with your device's audio included. 

Notes:

  • Sharing device audio can also be enabled after you have begun sharing by locating the share toolbar, clicking More, and then selecting Share Sound.
  • To switch between mono and stereo sound while sharing, locate the share toolbar, click More, then select between Mono and Stereo (high fidelity) options under Select sharing sound mode. 
  • For users who join the meeting via both phone and computer, in order to receive audio via the phone and video/screen sharing via computer, if Share Computer Sound is enabled, this will trigger the audio to channel through both their phone and their computer speakers. To avoid the audio feedback, mute the speaker of your phone or the speaker of your computer.    

How to play audio or music without sharing your screen

While in a meeting you can play any sound your computer makes, which means if you play a local or online music track on your computer, that track will be played in your meeting as well. To share audio or music without sharing your screen while in a meeting do the following.

  1. Start or join a Zoom meeting. 
  2. Click on Share Screen on the meeting toolbar.
  3. Click the Advanced tab of the sharing window. 
  4. Click the Computer Audio option. 
  5. (Optional) Select the down arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Computer Audio option to view additional audio options to switch between Mono and Stereo (high fidelity) for the audio shared in the meeting. 
  6. Click on Share in the bottom-right corner to begin sharing your device's audio.

How to control the volume of a shared sound while in a meeting

To control the sound you are sharing directly into the Zoom meeting through share, you must adjust the volume from the application playing the sound or the overall device volume directly. For example, if you play YouTube and share that audio into the meeting, you should adjust the volume on YouTube directly. You can also adjust the overall volume on your device settings, but this will also affect the audio coming out of Zoom.

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