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.

Slide control  Slide control icon

Select Slide control  Slide control icon to allow other people in the meeting to move through slides for everyone during a presentation. This helps make presenter transitions more seamless during meetings.

To stop sharing slide control, select Slide control Slide control icon> End slide control in the presenter toolbar.  

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.

Chat  Teams Chat Tab icon

Select Chat  Teams Chat Tab icon​​​​​​​ to view and participate in a compact view of the meeting chat while you're presenting content. Your audience won't see the chat window in your shared screen.

To learn more, see Chat in Microsoft Teams meetings.

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.

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.

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.

Give slide control

Transition between presenters during a Teams meeting or event by giving slide control. People with slide control can navigate through the slides for everyone in the meeting.

Compatible presentation formats: PowerPoint

To present and give slide control:

  1. Make sure your presentation is in full screen "Presentation" mode, either in a browser or desktop app.

  2. Select Share  Teams share screen icon in your meeting controls.

  3. Under Window, select the window your presentation is open in. Giving slide control isn't available if you share your screen, or whole desktop.

  4. In your presenter toolbar, select Slide control Slide control icon. You'll only see this option if you started the presentation and if at least one meeting organizer, co-organizer, or presenter is in the call.

  5. Select the people you want to give slide control to.

To stop giving slide control, select Slide control Slide control icon> End slide control in your presenter toolbar.

Notes: 

  • Only meeting organizers, co-organizers, and presenters can be given slide control.

  • Slide control is only available during presentations started from Teams for desktop.

  • Slide control isn't supported in Microsoft Teams Rooms or for presentations shared in mobile.

Turn off screensharing if your screen locks

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

Present content from a Mac

Important: Please be aware of a known issue with the sharing experience affecting sharing indicators and control panels when using DisplayLink or other versions of a docking station on MacOS 14 and higher.

If you're using a Mac with the latest operating system, first give Teams permission to record your computer's screen before you present. Teams will prompt you to allow screen recording the first time you share your screen.

To allow screen recording and start presenting content in Teams:

  1. Select Share  Share screen button in your meeting controls.

  2. If Teams prompts you to allow screen recording, select Allow in the pop-up. 

    1. If you need to change screen recording permissions on your device, select Open System Settings in the pop-up.

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

    3. If you miss the prompt, go to Apple Menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security to access these settings.

    4. Return to your meeting and select Allow on the pop-up.

  3. Select Share  Share screen button again from your meeting controls.

  4. Select a window or file to start sharing it.

Notes: 

  • If you're using Teams on the web, make sure you also grant screen recording permission to your browser.

  • With the release of macOS Sequoia 15.2, you may notice prompts indicating that Teams is accessing the screen. This change is part of Apple's enhanced security measures to inform you when applications request screen recording permissions.

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 buttons 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.

Facebook LinkedIn Email
SUBSCRIBE RSS FEEDS

Need more help?

Want more options?

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

Microsoft 365 training

Microsoft security

Accessibility center