Screen Sharing in Google Duo

Can you share your screen in Google Duo?

Yes. Google added screen sharing to Duo on Android so you could show your phone's display to the other person during a video call. Duo is no longer a separate service, though. In 2022 Google merged Duo into Google Meet, and the Duo app was updated into the Meet app. If you want to share your screen today, use Meet, which took over Duo's calling features.

The basic flow is the same as it was in Duo:
1) Update the app.
2) Start a video call.
3) Open the in-call controls and choose the screen-sharing option.
4) Confirm the system prompt that asks for permission to capture your screen.
Button labels and positions change between app versions, so look for a share or present option rather than a fixed menu path.

How screen sharing works on a phone

When you share your screen, the calling app captures whatever is on your display and sends it to the other person as a video stream, either replacing your camera feed or alongside it. On Android, the operating system controls this. The app has to ask for permission, and the system warns you that the app can see everything shown on the screen while sharing is active. That can include notifications, messages and other personal information that appears during the call.

Some details depend on the app version, device and operating system. These include:
• where the share control appears
• whether you can share a single app instead of the whole screen
• whether sharing works in group calls
• whether sound from your phone is included in the share
The original Duo feature was introduced for Android. Check the current app on your own device rather than assuming any of these behaviours.

When screen sharing helps and how to prepare

Sharing your phone screen is useful whenever describing something takes longer than showing it. Common examples include:
• guiding a relative through a settings change
• reviewing a document or photo together
• showing where a camera or microphone permission is switched off
• showing an error message to someone who is helping you troubleshoot

• Update the calling app before the call so the sharing option is available.
• Turn on Do Not Disturb to keep incoming notifications off the shared screen.
• Close apps and tabs that show private information you do not intend to share.
• If the system offers a choice between sharing one app or the entire screen, pick the narrower option when it is enough.
• Tell the other person when you start and stop sharing so they know what they are seeing.
• When you are done, stop sharing from the app or the system controls, and check that the screen-capture indicator is gone.

Limits and related questions

Using a computer: in a desktop browser, Google Meet lets you present your screen, a window or a tab. This is usually easier than phone sharing for documents and spreadsheets. Which options you see can depend on your browser and operating system.

Using an iPhone or iPad: the original Duo screen-sharing feature was introduced for Android. Whether mobile screen sharing is available on Apple devices depends on the current Meet app version, so check the in-call options on your device.

If the option is missing, the cause may be any of these:
• an outdated app
• an unsupported device or call type
• restrictions set by a meeting host
• restrictions set by the organisation that manages a work or school account
Updating the app and testing in a simple one-to-one call helps narrow down which one applies.

Privacy and quality: anything you share can be seen and potentially recorded by the other participant, and the app cannot prevent that. Statements about encryption and data handling for Duo do not automatically apply to Meet, so verify them in Google's current documentation rather than relying on older descriptions. On a weak connection, shared text may look blurry or lag behind your actions. Pausing for a moment on each screen gives the stream time to catch up.