How to Present on Google Meet

Google Meet is one of the top choices for remote video conferencing software, lets you share your screen, a single window, or a specific browser tab during any meeting. You can also present directly from Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides without switching apps, share audio alongside your content, and control presentations from within the meeting itself.

This guide covers every presentation option available in Google Meet, including how to present while still seeing your participants, how to share a PowerPoint, and how to fix common issues that block screen sharing.

Before You Start: Two Things Worth Knowing

Companion mode warning. If you click the Present button in the pre-join screen (the greenroom before you enter a meeting), you join in Companion mode. In this mode, your microphone and speakers are disabled. To avoid this, join the meeting first and then start presenting from inside the meeting window.

Maximum simultaneous presentations. Google Meet supports up to 10 simultaneous presentations in a single meeting.

How to Present on Google Meet (Computer)

You can share your entire screen, a window, or a particular tab on your computer. The steps for each of them are as follows:

Share entire screen

Step 1. Click on the ‘Present Now’ button from the available controls.

Step 2. Click on ‘Your Entire Screen’ from the options that pop up. When you select this option, everything on your screen will be visible to others. Use with caution.

Step 3. In the second popup, select your window and click on ‘Share.’

Step 4. Click on ‘Stop sharing’ to stop it.

Share a window

We’re pretty sure you don’t want to share the video game you were just playing during the meeting with your co-workers. With the ‘Share A Window’ option, Google Meet will only share one specific app on your computer.

Step 1. Click on the ‘Present Now’ button from the available controls.

Step 2. Select ‘A window’ from the options that pop up.

Step 3. Choose one specific app you want to share from the list of available options.

Step 4. Click on ‘Stop sharing’ to stop it.

Share a tab

You’ll love this option if you don’t want everyone else to see everything else you were doing on your browser. It’s an excellent option for video sharing too.

Step 1. Click on the ‘Present Now’ button from the available controls.

Step 2. Select ‘A tab’ from the options that pop up.

Step 3. Select the tab you want to share from your available options and click on ‘Share.’

Quick tip: If you’re presenting something with sound, you should check the ‘Share Tab Audio’ option.

Step 4. Click on ‘Stop sharing’ to stop it.

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Add to Chrome

Android

Step 1. In a Google Meet meeting, click on the three dots icon.

Step 2. Select ‘Share screen’ from the popup.

Step 3. Meet will ask for a confirmation before sharing your screen. On mobile, Meet can only share your screen. Click ‘Start sharing’ on that confirmation.

Quick Tip: Use Do Not Disturb to prevent any sensitive notifications from being shared.

Step 4. Click on ‘Stop sharing’ to stop it.

iOS

Step 1. In a Google Meet meeting, click on the three dots icon.

Step 2. Tap on ‘Share screen > Start Broadcast.’

Quick Tip: If you’re on one of the newer versions of iOS, you can utilize ‘Focus’ to filter out your home screen, apps, and notifications while you’re working.

Step 3. Click on ‘Stop sharing’ to stop it.

Read more: How to Check Video and Audio Quality before Joining Google Meet

How to share/present to Google Meet from Google Docs, Sheets, Slides

If you’re an avid Google Workspace user, there’s an easier way to share your work on call. Docs, Slides, Sheets, etc., integrate nicely with Meet. Here’s how you can take advantage of that integration:

Step 1. Click on the button with the Google Meet icon in the top right of whatever Google service you’re using. We’ll be using Docs for this example.

Step 2. You’ll see two options: ‘Bring the call here’ or ‘Just present this tab.’ We’ll go over both of them. Click on the former for now.

Step 3. Your whole Meet will shift to Docs. You’ll be able to see the participants and access the controls right from Google Docs. You can either share this tab or share the link.

Step 4. Click on the ‘Pop out’ button in the top right to return to the regular meeting.

OR

Step 3. If you click on ‘Just present this tab,’ Meet will share the tab of the particular document.

Quick Tip: If you want to convert your meeting to text for easy note-taking or to reference something, use Notta

Read next: how to take notes in Google Meet meetings

How to share PowerPoint slides in Google Meet

PowerPoint is the most popular presentation software ever made. You can easily share your PPT with the steps below:

Step 1. Open the PowerPoint presentation on your computer. Go to Slide Show > Play from Start. Now, your PPT will go into presenter mode. Click on Alt + Tab (Windows) or Cmd + Tab (Mac), and return to Google Meet.

Step 2. In Google Meet, Click on the ‘Present Now’ button from the available controls.

Step 3. Select ‘A window’ from the options that pop up.

Step 4. Choose PowerPoint Slide Show from the available options. Now, the presentation will start sharing.

Step 5. Click on ‘Stop sharing’ to stop it.

How to Use Annotations While Presenting

Google Meet supports annotation tools that let presenters and designated co-annotators highlight, draw, and mark up content in real time during a presentation. To use annotations, start presenting and look for the annotation tools in the presentation controls. Participants with co-annotator permissions can add their own marks alongside yours.

Presenter Mode: What It Means in Google Meet

"Presenter mode" in Google Meet refers to the experience of controlling a Google Slides presentation from within the meeting window. When you share a Slides tab, Meet recognises the presentation and gives you slide navigation controls inside the meeting interface — so you can advance slides without switching between tabs.

This is different from the "Present now" screen sharing function, which is the general tool for sharing any content. Presenter mode specifically applies to the Google Slides integration.

Troubleshooting: Can't Share Screen on Google Meet

Present Now is greyed out. The meeting host has disabled screen sharing for participants. Ask the host to enable screen sharing in their host controls.

Screen recording permission denied on Mac. Your browser needs permission to access your screen. Go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS) and navigate to Privacy and Security > Screen Recording. Make sure your browser is listed and enabled.

macOS Sequoia permission prompt. If you recently updated to macOS Sequoia, you'll see a new cautionary prompt the first time you try to share your screen or record a meeting. Click Allow in the dialogue to grant Chrome access. If you missed the initial prompt, go to your Mac's system settings and add Chrome to the screen and system audio recording permissions list.

Someone else started presenting and your screen stopped showing. If another participant begins presenting while you are, their content takes over. Click Resume Presenting in the meeting controls to restore your own presentation.

Echo when sharing audio. When sharing system audio, make sure your system's default audio output is correctly set. Using headphones rather than speakers while sharing audio helps prevent feedback loops.

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FAQs

How do I share my screen on Google Meet and still see participants?

Use picture-in-picture mode. After you start presenting, click Unpin in the presentation controls to show your content as a tile alongside the participant grid. Alternatively, share just a tab or window rather than your entire screen — this lets you switch back to the Meet window to see participants without stopping your presentation.

Can I see myself while presenting in Google Meet?

If your camera is turned on, your video remains active while you're presenting. You'll appear as a tile in the meeting view. Participants can see you alongside the shared content.

Can I share audio while presenting on Google Meet?

Yes. When sharing a browser tab, audio from that tab is shared by default. When sharing a window or your entire screen, you need to enable the Also share system audio toggle in the sharing dialog before clicking Share.

How do I present a PowerPoint in Google Meet?

Open PowerPoint, start the slideshow (Slide Show > Play from Start), switch to Google Meet, click Present now, select A window, choose PowerPoint Slide Show from the list, and click Share.

Why does clicking Present before joining a meeting disable my mic?

Clicking Present in the pre-join screen puts you into Companion mode, which disables your microphone and speakers. To avoid this, join the meeting first and then start your presentation from inside the meeting window.

Can participants present in Google Meet?

Yes, as long as the host hasn't disabled screen sharing in the meeting controls. Any participant can click Present now to share their screen. Up to 10 participants can present simultaneously.