Symptoms
- Others see a black or frozen screen when you share
- Share screen button does nothing
- Only part of the screen shares, or the wrong window
- Prompt about screen recording permission appears
Likely causes
- CommonScreen recording permission not granted to the appModern operating systems require explicit permission for any app to capture the screen.
- CommonHardware acceleration conflictVideo acceleration settings can interfere with screen capture, especially on Mac.
- CommonApp needs a restart after permission was grantedPermission changes often don't take effect until the app fully restarts.
- PossibleSharing the wrong display in a multi-monitor setupIt's easy to select the wrong screen when multiple monitors are connected.
- Less commonOutdated meeting app versionScreen share features can break with OS updates until the app catches up.
What to do
- Check your operating system's privacy settings for Screen Recording and confirm the meeting app is allowed.
- Fully quit and reopen the meeting app after granting permission, not just rejoin the call.
- If sharing shows black, try sharing a specific window instead of the whole screen, or vice versa.
- Confirm you're selecting the correct monitor if you have more than one connected.
- Update the meeting app to its latest version.
- Restart the computer if the issue persists after permission and app updates.
When to call a pro
If screen sharing fails only for one recurring important meeting, test with a different meeting app to isolate the cause.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.