Using Connect apps to share content

You can use the Connect apps to share your screen with other participants.

You can also use the text/chat box in the side panel to share videos and images with other Connect app users — just paste the URL of the content you want to share into the chat box (content may be blocked if you are using a reverse proxy with HTTP Content Security Policy (CSP) enabled).

Webapp2 users can also share images and PDFs. If they are already in a call using another video endpoint, they can join the call using the Connect app just to share content — for example, if they have joined the conference from a meeting room with a dedicated endpoint, and they want to show a presentation from their laptop without worrying about finding and connecting the correct cables.

Note that:

  • An administrator can configure individual Virtual Meeting Rooms and Virtual Auditoriums so that Guest participants are not allowed to present into the conference (they can still receive presentation content from other Host participants). By default, Guests are allowed to present content.
  • When someone is sharing their screen, their content is sent to other participants at 2 fps by default. However, the presenter can change this rate prior to sharing their screen by selecting Settings > Advanced Settings > Screen sharing quality. Note that this setting does not influence the frame rate used when sharing files and images, which are only updated each time the file or image changes.

Sharing your screen

Screen sharing is available when using the Connect desktop app, and the Connect web app on the latest desktop browsers (minimum versions: Chrome v72, Firefox v52, Edge Chromium).

Screen sharing is not supported in Safari on macOS, Safari on iOS/iPadOS, or any other browser on iOS/iPadOS.

macOS permissions

Users of macOS 10.15 and later must explicitly grant permission to individual apps to access the device's screen sharing functionality. This permission must be granted to the Connect desktop app or to any browsers used to access the Connect web app, in order for screen sharing to be enabled. This is done via the device's System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Screen Recording setting:

Frame rate

(Available in Webapp2, Connect desktop app and Connect mobile app.)

You can set the frame rate to use when sharing your screen. A lower frame rate produces sharper images and is best for static presentations, whereas a higher frame rate is less sharp and is best for content where there is more motion. You must set the frame rate to use before you join the conference via Settings > Advanced Settings > Screen sharing quality.

Connect web app via Chrome or Edge

You can choose to share the whole screen, an individual application, or an individual tab. To share your screen:

  1. From the toolbar at the bottom of the screen, select either:

    • Share screen Webapp3:

    • Share my screen (Webapp2):

  2. From the Your Entire Screen, Application Window, or browser Tab options, select what you want to share.

    Any applications that are currently minimized won't appear on the list.

Sharing audio

When you select Share my screen in a conference, there is also an option to Share system audio if you share your entire screen, or Share tab audio if you share a browser tab. On Mac and Linux, you can only share audio from a browser tab. On Windows you can share either system audio or browser tab audio.

You must have joined the conference with audio to be able to share audio. Muting your microphone does not also mute shared audio.

Connect web app via Firefox

You can choose to share the whole screen, or you can select an individual application window to share. To share your screen:

  1. From the toolbar at the bottom of the screen, select either:

    • Share screen Webapp3:

    • Share my screen (Webapp2):

  2. Select the window or screen you want to share (any applications that are currently minimized won't appear in the list):

Connect desktop app

You can choose to share the whole screen, or you can select an individual application window to share. To share your screen:

  1. From the toolbar at the bottom of the screen, select Share my screen:

  2. From the Your Entire Screen or Application Window options, select what you want to share.

    Any applications that are currently minimized won't appear on the list.

Sharing images and PDFs

(Available in Webapp2, Connect desktop app and Connect mobile app.)

When sharing images or PDFs:

  • Supported image formats are JPEG, BMP, PNG and GIF.
  • You can share PDFs directly from the Connect desktop app, Connect web app (except when used on iOS/iPadOS), and Connect mobile app for Android.
  • You can't share PowerPoint presentations directly via the Connect apps. To share a PowerPoint presentation, either save the presentation as a PDF and share that, or open the presentation as a slide show and then share your screen.

Selecting the images or PDFs to share

To share images or PDFs:

  1. From the toolbar at the bottom of the screen, select Present files:

    The Presentation screen appears:

  2. Select +, or drag and drop the file(s) you want to share into the Presentation window. You can add multiple files, and they can be a combination of images (JPEG, BMP, PNG or GIF) and PDFs (if supported by your device). Each image and PDF page is converted into an individual slide.
  3. By default, every slide is selected for presenting, but you can click on individual slides to select and deselect them:

  4. When you have selected all the slides you want to share, select Present. Use the left < and right > on-screen controls, or the arrow keys on your keyboard, to scroll through the slides. You also have the option to View presentation in separate window.
  5. To stop sharing the slides, from the toolbar select Stop presenting:

Any files you share remain yours — they are not available for other participants to download during or after the conference.