How To Share Files in a Zoom Meeting: Windows, Mac, and Mobile

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Learn how to share files easily while in a Zoom call

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: December 16, 2023

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Using Windows or Mac

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Using the Mobile App

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Q&A

You're in a Zoom meeting online and want other participants to see the document you're looking at. This wikiHow will teach you how to share files on Zoom using the Zoom computer client for Windows and Mac computers. However, if you're on mobile you cannot share a file, though you can share your screen.

Things You Should Know

While in a Zoom meeting on your computer, select the "File" button and send the file you want to share.
Other users in the call will be able to download the file from the Zoom client.
On mobile, you can use the "Share" button to show a file to the other callers, but they cannot download the file.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Windows or Mac

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1
Host or join a Zoom meeting. If you need help to join a meeting that's already in progress, refer to How to Join a Zoom Meeting on PC or Mac.
- To host a meeting, open the client, log in, and click New Meeting.
2
Click Chat. You'll see this centered at the bottom of the screen with an icon of a chat bubble.
- A chat window will open to the right.
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It's in the lower right side of the chat window next to an ear-marked piece of paper icon.
You can choose to use cloud services like OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Box, or you can search your computer.
Before you can share your file, you'll need to log into the Cloud service you chose. If you didn't pick a cloud service, you don't need to login and can skip this step.
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Navigate to and double-click your file. The file will send in the chat and send a notification to all the meeting's participants that they can download it.
- If you are unable to share the file, you can either let the administrator know that they have the setting disabled in the Account Settings of the Zoom web portal. You can also check your user settings under Account Settings in your Zoom web portal.^{[1]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using the Mobile App

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You can click an invite link to join a meeting or tap New Meeting to host a meeting.
It's the green icon centered at the bottom of your screen.
You can choose to use cloud services like OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud Drive, and Box, or you can search your local storage.
Before you can share your file, you'll need to log into the Cloud service you chose. If you didn't pick a cloud service, you don't need to login and can skip this step.
That file will project on all screens in the meeting so everyone can look at the same document at the same time. However, they cannot download that file.

Community Q&A

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Question

The host granted me permission for screen share. I tried to share my file on the screen but failed several times. The file size was 22 MB and PPT. Is the file too large? Is this the reason?

Darlene Antonelli

Community Answer

There don't appear to be limits - though, the host can also restrict the file type and size that can be shared. Giving you permission to screen share does not also give you permissions to send files.

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