Sharing multiple screens simultaneously

Hosts can allow multiple participants to share their screens simultaneously during a meeting. This can be useful for a real-time comparison of documents or other materials by participants. To make full use of this feature, enable the dual monitors option in the Zoom client settings. The host and panelists can also share multiple screens simultaneously in Zoom Webinars.

Note: This feature can either be enabled in the Zoom web portal prior to a meeting or webinar (on version 5.11.0 or higher), or enabled during a meeting by the host. 

This article covers:

• Limitations of multiple screen sharing
• How to enable simultaneous screen sharing prior to a meeting or webinar
  • Account
  • Group
  • User
• How to enable simultaneous screen sharing during a meeting or webinar
  • Desktop or web client 
  • Zoom Rooms
• How to share screens at the same time

Prerequisites for simultaneous sharing 

In Zoom Meetings

• Zoom desktop client for Windows, macOS, or Linux: Global minimum version or higher
• Zoom web client
• Zoom Rooms Global minimum version or higher
• Remote Support must be disabled

In Zoom Webinars

• Zoom desktop client for Windows, macOS, or Linux: Global minimum version or higher
• Webinar Backstage must be disabled

Limitations of multiple screen sharing

Sharing multiple screens simultaneously has the following limitations:

• For use in Zoom Meetings:
  • When you enable the option to share multiple screens simultaneously, the Optimize for full-screen video clip option is not available. Share computer audio is still available, but a participant must be viewing that shared screen to hear the computer audio. 
  • There are no limitation on how many participants can share simultaneously. 
• For use in Zoom Webinars: 
  • When you enable the option to share multiple screens simultaneously, the Optimize for full-screen video clip and Share computer audio options are not available.
  • There is a maximum of 4 simultaneous participants that can be sharing. 
• Participants using the mobile app cannot share when anyone else is sharing.
• To view multiple shared screens in a Zoom Room, multiple content sharing must be enabled in that Zoom Room's settings. 
• Recording multiple screens during a meeting or webinar is not possible. Only screens that are currently displayed will be recorded.

How to enable simultaneous screen sharing prior to a meeting or webinar

By enabling this setting in the Zoom web portal, hosts can pre-set this option before their meeting or webinar starts. 

Account

To enable Multiple participants can share simultaneously for all users in the account:

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal as an admin with the privilege to edit account settings.
2. In the navigation menu, click Account Management then Account Settings.
3. Click the Meeting tab.
4. Under In Meeting (Basic), locate the Screen sharing setting and verify that it's enabled.
5. Under How many participants can share at the same time?, choose Multiple participants can share simultaneously (dual monitors recommended).
6. (Optional) To prevent all users in your account from changing this setting, click the lock icon , and then click Lock to confirm the setting.

Group

To enable Multiple participants can share simultaneously for a group of users:

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal as an admin with the privilege to edit groups.
2. In the navigation menu, click User Management then Groups.
3. Click the applicable group name from the list.
4. Click the Meeting tab.
5. Under In Meeting (Basic), locate the Screen sharing setting and verify that it's enabled.
   Note: If the option is grayed out, it has been locked at the account level and needs to be changed at that level.
6. Under How many participants can share at the same time?, choose Multiple participants can share simultaneously (dual monitors recommended).
7. (Optional) To prevent all users in the group from changing this setting, click the lock icon , and then click Lock to confirm the setting.

User

To enable Multiple participants can share simultaneously for your own use:

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
2. In the navigation menu, click Settings.
3. Click the Meeting tab.
4. Under In Meeting (Basic), locate the Screen sharing setting and verify that it's enabled.
   Note: If the option is grayed out, it has been locked at either the group or account level. You need to contact your Zoom admin.
5. Under How many participants can share at the same time?, choose Multiple participants can share simultaneously (dual monitors recommended).

How to enable simultaneous screen sharing during a meeting or webinar

Desktop or web client 

1. Start a Zoom meeting or webinar as the host.
2. In the meeting controls toolbar, to the right of Share Screen , click the upward arrow and then select Multiple participants can share simultaneously.
   This allows multiple participants to share their screen at the same time.
   

Notes:

• Participants using the Zoom mobile app can only share if no one else is sharing.
• This can also be pre-enabled through web settings, instead of enabled during each meeting or webinar. 

Zoom Rooms

1. Start a Zoom meeting as the host.
2. On the Zoom Rooms controller, Tap Share Content , then tap the settings icon.
3. Tap the toggle next to Multiple participants can share simultaneously. 
   This allows multiple participants to share their screen at the same time.

How to share screens at the same time

The host, any meeting participants, or webinar panelists using the Zoom desktop client can click Share Screen  to begin sharing. Even if a someone is already sharing a screen, another participant can begin sharing. Learn more about sharing your screen.

Depending on their setup, participants will see the following:

• Participants using dual monitors can see the two most recently shared screens on each monitor.
• Participants using a single monitor see the first shared screen. Participants can select View Options to change the screen they are viewing.

As the host, you can choose to switch to the option One participant can share at a time for any portion of the meeting. See how to share a screen when only one participant can share at a time.