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How to Share Your Screen on Facebook Live (Desktop & Mobile)

Matt
Matt
8 min read

TL;DR - Quick Answer

14 min read

Tips you can use today. What works and what doesn't.

Quick Answer

Desktop (built-in):

  1. Go to your Facebook Page or Profile
  2. Click Live VideoGo Live
  3. In Live Producer, click Share Screen
  4. Select the window, tab, or entire screen you want to share
  5. Click Go Live

Mobile: Facebook's native app doesn't support screen sharing during Live. Use a third-party app like Streamlabs or reStream to screen share from mobile.

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How to Screen Share on Facebook Live (Desktop)

Facebook's built-in Live Producer lets you share your screen directly, no extra software needed.

Step 1: Open Live Producer

From your Profile:

  • Click "What's on your mind?" → Live Video

From your Page:

  • Go to your Page → Create PostLive Video

From a Group:

  • Open the Group → Write somethingLive Video

Direct URL: Go to facebook.com/live/producer in your browser.

Step 2: Configure Your Stream

Before going live, set up your stream:

  • Title, Add a descriptive title (e.g., "Product Demo, New Dashboard Features")
  • Description, Tell viewers what you'll be covering
  • Audience, Choose Public, Friends, or specific Group
  • Thumbnail, Upload a custom image if desired

Step 3: Select Screen Share

In the Live Producer interface:

  1. Look for the Share Screen button (monitor icon)
  2. Your browser will show sharing options:
    • Entire Screen, shares everything on your display
    • Window, shares a specific app window
    • Browser Tab, shares a single Chrome/Edge tab (with audio option)
  3. Select what to share and click Share

Pro Tip: Choose "Browser Tab" if you're presenting slides or a web app, it's cleaner and won't accidentally show notifications or other windows.

Step 4: Check Audio Settings

  • Tab Audio: When sharing a browser tab, check "Share tab audio" to include sounds from that tab
  • Microphone: Your mic stays active by default so viewers hear your narration
  • System Audio: Not available with native screen share, use OBS if you need system sound

Step 5: Go Live

  1. Preview your screen share in the Live Producer
  2. Confirm everything looks right
  3. Click Go Live
  4. Your screen is now streaming to your selected audience

Step 6: End the Stream

  • Click End Live Video when finished
  • The recording is automatically saved to your Page/Profile
  • You can edit the title and description after ending
Quick Knowledge Check
Test your understanding

Which screen sharing option is best for presenting slides on Facebook Live?


How to Screen Share on Facebook Live (Mobile)

Facebook's mobile app doesn't include native screen sharing for Live. Here are your options:

Option 1: Use Streamlabs Mobile

  1. Download Streamlabs (iOS/Android)
  2. Connect your Facebook account
  3. Start a new stream → select Facebook as destination
  4. Enable screen capture in the app settings
  5. Start your broadcast, your phone screen is shared

Option 2: Use Your Phone as a Camera + Desktop for Screen

The simplest mobile setup:

  1. Go live on desktop with screen share
  2. Use your phone on a tripod for a camera feed if needed
  3. This gives you professional screen share + face cam

Option 3: Use a Streaming App with RTMP

  1. Get your Facebook Live Stream Key from Live Producer
  2. Enter it in a mobile streaming app (Prism Live, Larix Broadcaster)
  3. Enable screen capture
  4. Stream directly to Facebook

Best Practices for Facebook Live Screen Sharing

Before Going Live

  • Close unnecessary tabs and apps, viewers see everything on shared screens
  • Disable notifications, turn on Do Not Disturb to prevent popups
  • Check your internet speed, need at least 5 Mbps upload for smooth streaming
  • Increase font sizes, mobile viewers need larger text to read your screen
  • Prepare your content, have slides, demos, or pages ready and loaded

During the Stream

  • Narrate everything, explain what you're showing and where you're clicking
  • Move slowly, quick mouse movements are hard to follow on stream
  • Engage with comments, have a second screen or ask someone to monitor chat
  • Use a quality microphone, built-in laptop mics pick up fan noise and typing

After the Stream

  • Edit the title and description, optimize for search
  • Create timestamps, add key moments in the description
  • Share the replay, post the recorded video to your Page, Group, or Stories
  • Repurpose clips, cut highlights into shorter posts or Reels

Using OBS Studio for Advanced Screen Sharing

For professional streams with overlays, multiple sources, and system audio:

Setup OBS for Facebook Live

  1. Download and install OBS Studio (free)
  2. In OBS, go to SettingsStream
  3. Select Facebook Live as the service
  4. Connect your account or paste your Stream Key
  5. Add sources:
    • Display Capture, shares your whole screen
    • Window Capture, shares a specific app
    • Browser, shares a web page
  6. Click Start Streaming

OBS Advantages Over Native Screen Share

FeatureNative FacebookOBS Studio
Screen shareYesYes
System audioNoYes
Custom overlaysNoYes
Multiple scenesNoYes
Face cam + screenLimitedYes
Branding elementsNoYes
Recording locallyNoYes
Quick Knowledge Check
Test your understanding

When should you use OBS Studio instead of Facebook's native screen sharing?


Troubleshooting Common Issues

Screen Share Not Showing

  • Browser permissions, allow screen sharing when prompted by your browser
  • Try a different browser, Chrome and Edge work best with Facebook Live Producer
  • Disable browser extensions, ad blockers can interfere with Live Producer
  • Clear cache, clear your browser cache and try again

Audio Issues

  • No mic audio, check browser permissions for microphone access
  • No tab audio, when sharing a browser tab, make sure "Share audio" is checked
  • Echo/feedback, wear headphones to prevent your speakers from feeding back into the mic

Poor Video Quality

  • Increase upload speed, use a wired ethernet connection instead of WiFi
  • Lower screen resolution, share at 1080p instead of 4K for smoother streaming
  • Close other apps, free up bandwidth and CPU for the stream

Stream Keeps Dropping

  • Internet stability, switch to a wired connection
  • Reduce bitrate, in OBS, lower the bitrate to 2500-4000 kbps
  • Close background uploads, pause cloud syncing, downloads, and updates

Facebook Live Screen Share Use Cases

Use CaseBest SetupTips
Product demosNative screen shareShare browser tab with your product
WebinarsOBS with slides + face camAdd branded overlays
TutorialsNative or OBSIncrease font size, move slowly
Q&A sessionsNative with second monitorShow questions on screen
GamingOBS with game captureUse game-specific capture source
PresentationsBrowser tab sharePresent in Google Slides/PowerPoint Online

Facebook Live & Video:

Facebook Strategy:

Free Facebook Tools:


Frequently Asked Questions

Can you share your screen on Facebook Live?

Yes. On desktop, use Live Producer's built-in Share Screen button. You can share your entire screen, a specific window, or a browser tab. Mobile requires a third-party app like Streamlabs.

Can you screen share on Facebook Live from a phone?

Not with Facebook's native app. Use a third-party streaming app like Streamlabs to screen share from mobile to Facebook Live.

Do you need special software?

No, Facebook Live Producer on desktop has built-in screen sharing. For advanced features like overlays and system audio, use OBS Studio (free).

Can viewers hear audio during screen share?

They hear your microphone. For browser tab audio, check "Share audio" when selecting a tab. For system-wide audio, use OBS Studio.

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