Sharing Desktop in Google Hangouts: A Comprehensive Guide
Google Hangouts has become the go-to platform for video conferencing and communication in today’s tech-savvy world. With its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with other Google products, it has become a popular choice for businesses, schools, and individuals alike.
One of the most useful features of Google Hangouts is the ability to share your desktop screen with others. This feature comes in handy during presentations, remote work meetings, and online classes. In this guide, we will take you through a step-by-step process to share your desktop in Google Hangouts and make the most out of this feature.
Before we dive into the technicalities, let’s understand what sharing desktop means. Sharing desktop allows you to broadcast your computer screen to other participants in a Google Hangout video call. This means that others can see what you are doing on your computer, from opening files to navigating through different windows. It is especially useful when you need to collaborate or demonstrate something to the participants in a call.
So, let’s get started!
Step 1: Start a New Video Call
To share your desktop, you need to first start a video call on Google Hangouts. To do so, open the Google Hangouts app on your desktop or go to hangouts.google.com in your web browser. Then, click on the ‘Video Call’ button located at the top right corner of the screen. This will open a new video call window.
Step 2: Invite Participants to the Call
Next, invite the participants you wish to share your desktop with by clicking on the ‘Invite People’ button in the call window. You can either add their email addresses or share a link to the call with them. You can also schedule a call and invite participants beforehand using Google Calendar.
Step 3: Start the Screen Sharing
Once the call has started, hover your cursor over the call window and click on the ‘Screen’ button. You will see a pop-up with two options, ‘Your Entire Screen’ and ‘A Window’. Choose the option that suits your needs. If you want to share your entire screen, click on ‘Your Entire Screen’ and then click ‘Share’. If you want to share a specific window, click on ‘A Window’ and then select the desired window from the list of open windows. Click ‘Share’ to start sharing your screen with others in the call.
Step 4: Interact with Others
Congratulations! You have successfully shared your desktop with others. You can now interact with others in the call, and they can see everything you do on your screen. You can use your cursor to click on different items, open files, and navigate through various windows, and it will be visible to everyone in the call. If you want to switch windows or applications, simply click on the ‘Stop Sharing’ button at the bottom of the screen and choose a different window or application to share.
Step 5: End the Screen Sharing
Once your presentation or demonstration is over, you can end the screen sharing by clicking on the ‘Stop Sharing’ button at the bottom of the screen. This will stop the broadcast of your screen, and others in the call will only see your profile picture or a blank screen, depending on their settings.
Now that you know how to share desktop in Google Hangouts, let’s look at some tips to make the most out of this feature.
Tips for Making the Most Out of Screen Sharing in Google Hangouts
1. Prepare in Advance: Before starting a video call, make sure to close any unnecessary windows or applications and have the required files or websites open for a smooth presentation.
2. Use Annotations: Google Hangouts allows you to annotate your screen while sharing it with others. You can use this feature to emphasize important points or highlight certain areas on your screen.
3. Interact with Participants: Since others can see your screen, it is crucial to communicate and interact with them throughout the presentation. This will help keep them engaged and focused.
4. Share Control: In cases where you need others to control your screen, such as during a remote troubleshooting session, you can use the ‘Give and Take Control’ feature in Google Hangouts. This feature allows others to control your screen with your permission.
5. Practice Makes Perfect: As with any new feature, it is essential to practice sharing your screen in Google Hangouts before a critical meeting or presentation. This will help you get comfortable with the process and make your presentation more effective.
Conclusion
In today’s digital world, having the ability to share your desktop with others can be incredibly useful. Whether you are working remotely, teaching online, or giving a presentation, screen sharing in Google Hangouts can help you make the most out of your virtual communication. With this comprehensive guide, you now have all the information you need to use this feature seamlessly. So, go ahead and share your desktop in your next Google Hangouts call like a pro!