How to Share Your Screen for Free: The Ultimate Guide

Screen sharing is an incredibly useful tool for remote work, online collaboration, technical support, and more. It allows you to display your desktop, app windows, or mobile device screen to others over the internet.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover the top free options for sharing your screen on desktop and mobile platforms.

Benefits of Screen Sharing

Here are some of the main benefits and uses of screen sharing:

• Remote work – Easily collaborate with remote teammates by sharing your screen during video calls.

• Webinars/teaching – Display presentations, documents, or demonstrations to an audience.

• Technical support – Troubleshoot problems by viewing and controlling a user‘s screen.

• Collaboration – Annotate, illustrate ideas together in real-time on a shared screen.

• Gaming – Stream your gameplay while sharing commentary over voice chat.

• Entertainment – Watch videos, listen to music together in sync during video hangouts.

Top Free Screen Sharing Software

There are many great free solutions for sharing your screen both locally and online. Here are some of the best options:

Zoom

Zoom is one of the most popular apps for video conferencing, webinars, and screen sharing.

Key Features:

• Share full screen, app window, or part of your screen.
• HD video and audio quality.
• Annotate on shared screens.
• Record meetings with screen sharing.
• Works across desktop and mobile devices.
• 100 participants free on the basic plan.

Google Meet

Google Meet comes built into Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Workspace apps to enable easy screen sharing during meetings.

Key Features:

• Share your full screen or chrome tab.
• Real-time captions.
• Low-light mode for better visibility.
• Data-saving mode for low bandwidth.
• 100 participants free on personal Google accounts.

Microsoft Teams

As part of Microsoft 365, Teams allows screen sharing as part of video meetings and chats.

Key Features:

• Share entire screen, app window, or file.
• Blur background for privacy.
• Record meetings with shared screens.
• Virtual backgrounds.
• Unlimited group video calls for up to 60 minutes.

Skype

Skype still remains a popular app for consumer and business video calls and screensharing.

Key Features:

• HD screen sharing.
• Draw and annotate on shared screens.
• Call recording with screen share.
• Skype to Skype calls are free.
• Can share screens with up to 10 participants in a group call.

Discord

Discord is geared towards gamers but includes robust screenshare capabilities.

Key Features:

• Go Live to livestream your screen to other users.
• HD screenshare quality at 60fps.
• Low latency for smooth performance.
• Free server creation and unlimited members.

Whereby

Whereby (formerly known as appear.in) provides a browser-based solution for easy screensharing with no downloads or accounts required.

Key Features:

• Group video calls with screen sharing for up to 12 participants per room.
• Customizable room URLs for easy access.
• Collaborative whiteboard, chat, and annotation tools.
• Clickable rooms to join instantly without signing up.
• Unlimited meeting minutes.

How to Share Screen on Common Apps

The exact steps to share your screen may vary depending on the platform, but the general process is quite similar across apps:

Zoom

1. Start or join a Zoom meeting.
2. Click on the "Share Screen" icon in your meeting toolbar.
3. Select the screen you want to share (Entire Screen, Application Window, Chrome Tab).
4. Click on "Share Screen".
5. Your shared screen will appear for other participants. Click "Stop Share" when you are done.

Google Meet

1. Join or start a Google Meet video meeting.
2. At the bottom right of your self view, click "Present now".
3. Choose to present your Entire screen, A window, or A Chrome tab.
4. Select your screen option and click "Share".
5. Your shared screen will display. Click "Stop presenting" to end.

Microsoft Teams

1. Start or join a Teams meeting.
2. Click on the "Share" icon located on the meeting toolbar.
3. Choose between Desktop, Window, or Powerpoint attachment.
4. Your shared screen will show right away. Click "Stop sharing" to end it.

Skype

1. Within a Skype call, click on the "Share" button.
2. Pick between sharing your Full Screen, Program Window, or Powerpoint File.
3. Click the red "Share" button.
4. Your screen will be shared with call participants. Click "Stop Sharing" when done.

Discord

1. Open Discord and join a voice channel.
2. Click on your profile picture and choose "Go Live".
3. Select between your Entire Screen or Application Window to share.
4. Click "Start Streaming". Your screen will now be shared live.

Sharing Full Screen vs. Application Window

Most screen sharing apps give you the option of either sharing your entire display or sharing only a specific app window.

Sharing Full Screen shows everything on your desktop to the participants. This is better for demonstrations, presentations, or collaboration where you want to share everything.

Sharing Application Window only shows a single app window. This is useful for sharing documents, browsing specific websites together without distracting from your other desktop windows.

Built-in Screen Sharing on Mobile

Mobile devices like smartphones and tablets also offer some built-in ways to share your screen using wireless connectivity.

iOS Screen Mirroring

You can wirelessly mirror your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch screen to Apple TV and supported smart TVs using AirPlay:

1. Connect your iOS device and television to the same wireless network.
2. Swipe down from the top right of your iOS screen and tap Screen Mirroring.
3. Select your Apple TV or smart TV from the list.
4. Your iOS device screen will now be mirrored on the TV.

Samsung Smart View

Smart View allows you to wirelessly mirror your Samsung Galaxy smartphone or tablet to compatible smart TVs:

1. Connect your Samsung device and TV to the same WiFi network.
2. Open the Notification Panel and tap on Smart View.
3. Choose your TV from the list.
4. Your phone screen will be mirrored to the TV.

Android Screen Mirroring

You can mirror your Android screen to Roku, Fire TV, smart TVs and more with native Screen Mirroring over WiFi Direct:

1. Go to Settings > Connected Devices on your Android device.
2. Select Connection Preferences > Wireless Display.
3. Choose the device to mirror your screen to.

Mirror Mobile Devices to PC

You can also share mobile screens to a Windows or Mac computer using free apps:

• SideSync (Samsung only) mirrors Android screen to PC over WiFi.
• Scrcpy is an open source app to display and control Android on PC via USB.
• LonelyScreen is a Mac and Windows app to mirror iPhone/iPad over WiFi or USB.

These tools don‘t require any special hardware and offer the lowest latency mirroring compared to wireless streaming.

Remote Screen Sharing Access

The above options allow screen sharing when you‘re on the same local network. For remote screen sharing access over the internet, you‘ll need specific tools like:

• TeamViewer – Popular remote control and screen sharing software. Free for personal use.
• AnyDesk – Similar to TeamViewer. Free for individuals.
• Chrome Remote Desktop – Built into Chrome browser. Free with Google account.
• VNC Connect – Open source screen sharing solution for Windows and Mac.

These tools create secure connections for 1:1 desktop access and screen sharing between computers across networks.

Screen Sharing from PC to TV

There are a few ways to display or "cast" your PC screen to a TV wirelessly:

• Chromecast – Plug this into your TV‘s HDMI and cast from Chrome browser.
• Roku Media Player – Share screen from PC to Roku TVs or streaming sticks.
• Miracast – Built-in wireless standard supported on many Windows laptops and smart TVs.
• Steam Link app – Mirror PC games and media to TV through Steam Link hardware or app.

For the highest quality and lowest latency, use a wired connection like HDMI between your Windows/Mac computer and TV display.

Security Tips for Screen Sharing

Here are some quick security tips while sharing your screen:

• Set a meeting password in apps like Zoom, Skype to prevent unwanted attendees.

• Disable remote control so nobody can access your shared screen.

• Hide sensitive information in desktop windows you‘re sharing.

• Use built-in waiting rooms and restrict who can share screens.

• Limit screen sharing access to only trusted individuals.

• Share application windows instead of your full desktop when possible.

Smooth Screen Sharing Best Practices

To ensure your shared screen looks and performs well for others:

• Close unused apps to free up bandwidth.

• Disable notifications and popups that can distract viewers.

• Have proper lighting so viewers can see you and your screen clearly.

• Position webcam at eye level and avoid backlight for better video.

• Use wired internet connection or 5Ghz WiFi band for higher bandwidth.

• Plug devices into power source to prevent battery drain while sharing lengthy sessions.

• Limit movement and multi-tasking so viewers can focus on your shared screen.

Screen Sharing Platform Comparison

Here is a comparison table summarizing some of the top free screen sharing apps and platforms:

Conclusion

Screen sharing is built into most video chat apps and meeting platforms, making it easy to share your screen for free with co-workers, friends, and family.

Whether you want to collaborate across devices or access a remote computer, there are a variety of reliable tools to share and mirror screens over the internet and local networks at no cost.

With the proper setup and security precautions, screen sharing can be a secure method to showcase ideas and work together for better productivity and engagement.