When working remotely in Microsoft Teams, you can present content by sharing your screen, your entire desktop, a PowerPoint file, and more.

Present content

To present content in a meeting, select Share Share screen button in your meeting controls. Present your entire screen or a window.

Collaborate with others in real-time by live sharing a PowerPoint file, Excel file, or Whiteboard.

Presenter controls

While you present, use the presenter toolbar controls to keep your presentation engaging and running smoothly. The toolbar is only visible to the person presenting.

To bring the presenter toolbar onscreen, move your cursor to the top of your shared screen. This will drop down the toolbar.  Screenshot of presenter toolbar.

The toolbar will stay in place momentarily while you adjust the controls. 

Presenter control

How to use it

Drag handle  Drag handle glyph

Select and hold the toolbar drag handle to move the presenter toolbar. This will keep it from blocking important parts of your screen. Release the drag handle when you've placed it in the right area.

Tip: You can also move the toolbar by clicking and holding any area on the toolbar that isn't interactive (e.g., in between presenter controls) and dragging it.

Camera  Video call button

Select Camera  Video call button to turn your camera on or off.

Mic  Teams microphone icon

Select Mic  Teams microphone icon to mute or unmute yourself.

Give control  Take control button

Select Give control  Take control button to let someone access and interact with your screen. While they have control, they can make selections, edits, and other modifications on your shared screen.

Warning:  Only give control to people you trust. People with control can send commands that could affect your system or other apps. We've taken steps to prevent this but haven't tested every possible system customization.

Take back

If you gave someone control, select Take back when you're ready to take back control.

Share audio  Audio sharing on button

Select Share audio  Audio sharing on button to stream audio from your device to meeting participants through Teams. All sound from your computer, including notifications, will be audible in the meeting. 

Before you start sharing, select Share  Share screen button in your meeting controls and turn on the Include sound toggle. To learn more, see Share sound from your computer in a Teams meeting or live event.

Optimize  Optimize video icon in presenter toolbar.

Select Optimize Optimize video icon in presenter toolbar. to prevent choppiness or lag while sharing video content.

Layout  Active speaker view icon.

Select Layout Active speaker view icon. while your camera is turned on and you're sharing content. Then, choose a layout that helps make your presentation more engaging:

  • Content only: Participants will see your content and video feed.

  • Standout: This blocks your background and helps you stand out in your video feed.

  • Side-by-side: You and another participant will be placed side-by-side in the meeting window.

  • Reporter: This layout isolates you from your video feed and places you in front of the content you're sharing, like a reporter in front of a scene.

Annotate  Annotate pen button

Select Annotate  Annotate pen button to lock what's on your screen while you and other people draw or add notes over the content. 

To learn more, see Use annotation while sharing your screen in Microsoft Teams.

People  People or Show Participants button

While you present, a minimized meeting window will appear next to your shared content. Select People  People or Show Participants button to see other people in your meeting. 

Stop sharing

Select Stop sharing to stop sharing your screen and return to the main meeting window.

Pin  Teams Pin Chat icon

Select Pin  Teams Pin Chat icon to keep the toolbar in the place you've positioned it.

Note: In Teams for web, you can share your screen using Google Chrome or the latest version of Microsoft Edge. Linux isn't currently supported.​​​​​​​

Presenter meeting window

When you share content in a meeting, your meeting window will get smaller. Manage your mic and camera, see raised hands, and view your shared content from the minimized window.

Screenshot of a presenter's view while sharing their screen, with a minimized meeting window next to their shared content.

Switch between views at the top of the meeting window to show more or fewer people, see only the active speaker, or minimize the window completely. To learn more, see Multitask during a Microsoft Teams meeting.

Note: Switching views from the minimized presenter window is available as part of the public preview program and might undergo further changes before being released publicly. To learn more, see Get early access to new features in Microsoft Teams

Take control 

To take control while another person is sharing:

  1. Select Request control. The person sharing can approve or deny your request.

  2. Make selections, edits, and other modifications to the shared screen while you have control.

  3. Select Release control to stop sharing control.

Turn off screensharing if your screen locks

  1. In Teams, select Settings and more Microsoft Teams more options icon> Settings Settings buttonPrivacy  Privacy settings button.

  2. Turn the Turn off my camera and mic when my screen locks toggle on.

  3. Restart Teams to activate this setting.

Share content on a Mac

If you're using a Mac with the latest operating system, you'll need to grant permission to Teams to record your computer's screen before you can share. 

  1. The first time you try to share your screen, you'll see a pop-up. Select Allow For One Month.

  2. If you select Open System Settings from the pop-up, you'll be taken to the preferences pane for screen recording permissions.

    • If you miss the prompt, you can do this anytime by going to Apple Menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security.

  3. Under Screen & System Audio Recording, make sure the Microsoft Teams toggle is turned on.

  4. Go back to your meeting and try sharing your screen again.

Note: If you're using Teams on the web, make sure you've also granted screen recording permission to your browser.

Zoom in to shared content

To get a better look at shared content, press and drag it to see different areas. To zoom in or out of shared content, use the buttonss in the corner of your meeting window: [+] to zoom in and [-] to zoom out. You can also try the following:

Note: Mac trackpads don't support zoom in meetings. If you're on a Mac, use another option. If you're using Linux, you can't share or take control of shared content.

Open shared content in new window

Expand your view by opening shared content in a separate window during your Teams meetings.

To open shared content:

  1. Join your meeting from Teams for desktop.

  2. When another presenter shares content in the meeting window, select Open in new window  Help Pop out button from the meeting toolbar.

  3. To minimize content, select X.

Share content

To share content from your mobile device:

  1. Tap More options More options button> Share Share screen button​​​​​​​ in your meeting controls.A menu in a meeting with options to start recording, place yourself on hold, call yourself, share, get a dialpad,  or turn off incoming video.

  2. Choose the type of content you want to share.

  3. Tap Start presenting when you're ready.

  4. Tap Stop presenting when you're done.

Select...

If you want to...

Share PowerPoint

Present a PowerPoint file others can interact with. When you choose the PowerPoint you want to share, sharing will start automatically.

Share photo

Take a photo to share or choose one from your gallery. 

Share video

Share live video from your camera.

Share screen

Show your entire screen, including notifications and other activity. Turn on the Audio toggle to share audio from the content on your screen.

Share Whiteboard

Share or create a collaborative Whiteboard

If your role changes from presenter to attendee while you're presenting, screensharing will stop. 

Zoom in to shared content 

Pinch in or out to zoom, or tap and drag to see different areas.

Note: Zoom isn't currently supported while sharing photos and videos.

Minimize shared content

Minimize the content someone is sharing to better see the people in the meeting on your mobile device. 

  1. Tap More actions  More options button  next to the name of the person sharing.

  2. Tap Minimize content.

This will give you a better look at more of the people in the meeting. You'll still see the shared content on the lower portion of your screen.

Share content from a companion device

  1. Join a Teams meeting on a second device.

  2. Tap Start presenting at the bottom of the screen. You'll see your shared content on both connected devices.

  3. When you're finished, tap Stop presenting, or simply hang up. Your other device will stay connected to the meeting.

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