How do I share my screen on Discord with sound on my computer?

To share your screen on Discord with sound, first join a voice channel, then click the "Share your screen" icon, select the desired application or screen, and ensure the "Sound" toggle is activated before you start your stream.

Discord's screen sharing feature allows you to broadcast your desktop or specific application windows to others in a voice channel, complete with the accompanying audio from your computer. This is ideal for collaborative work, showing off gameplay, or watching videos together with friends.

Step-by-Step Guide to Sharing Your Screen with Sound

Follow these detailed steps to successfully share your screen and computer audio on Discord:

Join a Discord Server and Voice Channel:
- Begin by accepting an invitation to a Discord server if you haven't already joined one.
- Once in the server, navigate to the left sidebar and click on any voice channel to enter it. You'll see your profile picture appear in the list of participants.
Initiate Screen Share:
- In the voice status panel, typically located at the bottom-left of your Discord window (next to your username and microphone/headset icons), you will find a "Share your screen" icon. This icon often looks like a monitor with an arrow pointing out of it. Click this icon to begin the setup process.
Select Your Sharing Content:
- A new window will pop up, giving you control over what you want to share. You have two primary options:
  - Applications: This allows you to select a specific open application window (e.g., a game, a web browser, a media player). Sharing an application is often more private and can lead to better performance.
  - Screens: If you have multiple monitors, you can choose to share an entire monitor. This will display everything on that particular screen.
Configure Sound and Stream Quality:
- Before you go live, it's crucial to enable audio. Within the screen sharing pop-up window, look for a "Sound" toggle or checkbox. Ensure this option is enabled to include your computer's audio in the stream.
- You can also adjust the streaming quality settings, such as:
  - Resolution: (e.g., 720p, 1080p, or higher depending on your subscription/server boosts).
  - Framerate (FPS): (e.g., 30 FPS, 60 FPS).
- Note: Higher resolution and framerate require more internet bandwidth and processing power.
Go Live:
- Once you've selected your content and confirmed that the "Sound" option is enabled, click the "Go Live" button to start broadcasting your screen and audio to the voice channel.

Understanding Discord's Audio Sharing

When the "Sound" toggle is enabled, Discord captures audio from your computer based on what you are sharing:

Application Audio: If you share a specific application, Discord will primarily capture audio originating from that application.
System Audio (Full Screen Share): If you share your entire screen, Discord will capture all audio playing through your computer's default output device.

Important: Your microphone audio is separate from the screen share audio. It's controlled by your voice channel settings and isn't part of the shared screen's sound.

Optimizing Your Screen Sharing Experience

For the best streaming quality and reliability, consider these tips:

Stable Internet Connection: A strong and consistent internet connection is paramount for smooth, high-quality streams.
Close Unnecessary Programs: Free up system resources by closing any applications or background processes that are not actively in use.
Update Discord: Always keep your Discord client updated to the latest version to benefit from performance improvements and bug fixes. You can often find update options in your user settings or by restarting the application.
Check Audio Drivers: Ensure your computer's audio drivers are up to date. Outdated drivers can sometimes cause audio capture issues.
Server Boosts: If you are streaming in a Discord server that has active Server Boosts, you may have access to higher quality streaming options (e.g., 1080p at 60 FPS) without needing a personal Nitro subscription.
Operating System Permissions: On certain operating systems like macOS, you might need to grant Discord explicit permissions for "Screen Recording" in your system's Privacy & Security settings for screen and audio capture to work correctly.

Troubleshooting Common Audio Issues

If your viewers can't hear your screen's audio, try these troubleshooting steps:

Verify Sound Toggle: Double-check that the "Sound" toggle was definitely enabled when you started the screen share.
Discord Volume Mixer: On Windows, right-click the speaker icon in your taskbar, select "Open Sound settings," and then "App volume and device preferences" (or similar) to ensure Discord's volume isn't muted or set too low.
Application Volume: Make sure the application you are sharing is not muted or set to a very low volume within its own internal settings.
Default Output Device: Go to Discord's User Settings > Voice & Video and confirm that your "Output Device" is set to the correct speaker or headset through which you expect audio to play.
Restart Discord: A quick restart of the Discord application can often resolve temporary glitches.
Run as Administrator: Sometimes, running Discord as an administrator (right-click the Discord icon and select "Run as administrator") can grant it the necessary permissions to capture audio effectively.
Check for Conflicts: Temporarily disable any other audio-related software, virtual audio cables, or advanced sound settings that might be interfering with Discord's audio capture.

Quick Reference for Screen Sharing Options

Feature	Description	Best For	Audio Inclusion
Application Share	Shares a specific window of an open program (e.g., a game, browser, video player).	Gaming, focused presentations, watching specific videos.	Captures audio directly from the chosen application (if enabled).
Screen Share	Shares your entire monitor/desktop.	Demonstrations, showing multi-application workflows, full desktop view.	Captures all system audio playing through your default output device (if enabled).