Sharing not working when you try to present from Google Meet in Chrome on macOS? There’s an easy fix, and Andy Wolber will show you how.

I was in a Google Meet session with clients. “OK, go ahead and present your screen,” I said. I waited. Nothing. No screen sharing happened. They saw a prompt (Figure A) to change permissions, but weren’t sure what to do. So we moved on to other issues without screen sharing.

A week or so later, it happened again. I was in another Google Meet session with different people and they, too, struggled to present.

In both cases, the person who wanted to present from Google Meet on a Mac needed to change a single macOS security setting. However, the setting wasn’t easy for the person to find and change quickly, especially in the middle of a meeting.

How to enable screen recording permission for Chrome on macOS
How to enable camera and microphone Permissions for Chrome on macOS
What’s your experience?

Figure A

So, if you ever plan to present or share your screen while in Google Meet in Chrome on a Mac, follow the steps below. For these steps to work, make sure you:

• Have Chrome installed on your macOS system,
• Are signed in to Meet with your Google account in Chrome, and
• Know your macOS administrator password.

The changes below ensure that Google Meet has the macOS security permissions necessary to allow you to present your screen.

(Note: If you forget your macOS administrator password, you may reset it a few different ways. Try to reset the password from Recovery Mode first. Alternatively, in some cases you might try other methods, such as resetting it with your Apple ID.)

SEE: Get this portable 4K monitor for over $400 off (TechRepublic Academy)

How to enable screen recording permission for Chrome on macOS

How to enable screen recording permission for Chrome on macOS

1. Select the Apple menu (in the upper left corner of the screen).

2. Choose System Preferences (Figure B).

Figure B

3. Select Security & Privacy (Figure C).

Figure C

4. You may need to unlock before you change settings. Select the lock (Figure D, in the lower left corner), then a message and a prompt will display. Sign in, either with TouchID or with your system administrator account name and password.

Figure D

5. Make sure the Privacy button is selected (from the tab across the top of the options), then scroll down and select Screen Recording (from the left menu).

6. In the box to the right, scroll until Chrome is displayed, then select the box to allow screen sharing (Figure E).

Figure E

7. If Chrome is open, you may be notified that the setting will be applied only after Chrome quits (Figure F). Choose either Later or Quit & Reopen. I recommend Quit & Reopen.

Figure F

8. Select the lock (in the lower left corner) to secure your settings.

After you’ve made the above changes, you may present from Google Meet in Chrome on your Mac. While in a meeting, select the Present Now icon (displays like a box with an arrow pointing up in it) at the bottom of your screen, then choose one of three options: Your Entire Screen, A Window, or A Tab.

SEE: 9 tips for audio conferencing with Google Meet (TechRepublic)

How to enable camera and microphone permissions for Chrome on macOS

Additionally, Chrome needs access to camera and microphone permissions to share video and audio with Google Meet. In most cases, you’ll have already allowed this access when you started a Google Meet session. If you ever want to check the settings or change them, the process is similar to the steps covered above.

SEE: How to use the Google Meet quality tool to solve conferencing problems (TechRepublic)

To enable Chrome camera permissions: Apple menu | System Preferences | Security & Privacy | scroll to Camera | unlock if needed (as above) | Check the box next to Chrome (Figure G).

Figure G

To allow Chrome microphone permissions: Apple menu | System Preferences | Security & Privacy | scroll to Microphone | unlock if needed (as above) | Check the box next to Chrome (Figure H).

Figure H

What’s your experience?

If you use a Mac—or use Google Meet with people who use macOS—have you noticed people encounter problems when they attempt to present? How do you help people past the above one-time changes to screen recording, camera or microphone security settings? What other methods have you used to share your Mac’s display during a web meeting? If you use Google Meet on macOS, let me know what your experience has been, either in the comments below or on Twitter (@awolber).

If you are using Google Docs during your next Google Meet, learn expert tips by downloading TechRepublic Premium’s Google Docs Tips for Advanced Users.