Sharing Audio on Discord Screen Share: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you want to share your audio along with your screen on Discord? Excellent choice! This is a game-changer for presentations, collaborative work, and even just watching videos with friends. The good news is, it’s entirely possible, and generally quite straightforward.

The short answer: You can share audio on a Discord screen share by selecting the appropriate application or screen while initiating the screen share and ensuring the “Share System Audio” option is enabled. The specifics will depend on the platform (Windows, macOS, Linux) and whether you’re sharing an application window or the entire screen.

Unlocking the Audio-Visual Experience: Step-by-Step

Now, let’s dive into the details of how to make this happen on different platforms. The process will be slightly different depending on whether you are sharing an individual application window or the entire desktop.

Sharing Audio from an Application Window (Windows)

1. Join a Voice Channel: First, connect to the desired voice channel on your Discord server. This is where the audio and video will be streamed.

2. Initiate the Screen Share: Click the “Screen” icon located in the voice channel. This usually resembles a monitor with an arrow.

3. Choose the Application: A window will pop up displaying all your open applications. Select the specific application window whose audio you wish to share (e.g., Chrome for a YouTube video, Spotify, or a game).

4. Enable “Share System Audio”: At the bottom of the screen share window, you’ll see a checkbox labeled “Share System Audio.” Make sure this box is checked. This is the crucial step!

5. Go Live: Click the “Go Live” button. Your selected application window will now be shared, and the audio from that application will be streamed to the voice channel.

Sharing Audio from Your Entire Screen (Windows)

Sharing your entire screen is similar, but with one key difference.

1. Join a Voice Channel: As before, connect to the desired voice channel.

2. Initiate the Screen Share: Click the “Screen” icon.

3. Select Your Screen: Instead of choosing an application, select your entire screen. Usually, there will be representations of each monitor you have connected.

4. Enable “Share System Audio”: This step remains the same. Ensure the “Share System Audio” box is checked.

5. Go Live: Click “Go Live.” Now, everything visible on your screen will be shared, along with any audio playing through your system.

macOS Considerations

The process on macOS is largely the same, but you might need to grant Discord permission to record your screen and audio in your System Preferences.

1. Grant Screen Recording Permission: Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy.

2. Select “Screen Recording” in the left-hand menu.

3. Check the box next to Discord to allow it to record your screen.

4. Repeat for Microphone Access: Also, ensure Discord has microphone access in the “Microphone” section of the same Security & Privacy window.

After granting these permissions, follow the same steps as Windows for sharing either an application window or your entire screen.

Linux Implementations

Linux distributions can vary significantly. The general steps are similar to Windows, but you might need to use PulseAudio Volume Control (pavucontrol) to manage audio routing.

1. Install pavucontrol: If it’s not already installed, use your distribution’s package manager to install pavucontrol.

2. Configure Output: While sharing your screen, open pavucontrol.

3. Go to the “Recording” tab: In the recording tab, you should see an application titled “Discord”.

4. Change the input source: Click the dropdown menu next to your “Discord” app and select the audio source you want to share (e.g., your microphone, or your system’s output).

5. Initiate Screen Share: Back in Discord, select the application window or your entire screen, enabling any relevant audio-sharing options if they are present in your distribution of Discord.

Troubleshooting Common Audio Issues

Sometimes, even when you follow the steps correctly, audio sharing might not work as expected. Here are some common troubleshooting steps:

• Restart Discord: This often resolves minor glitches.

• Update Discord: Ensure you’re using the latest version of Discord.

• Check Audio Devices: Make sure your desired audio output device is selected as the default in your operating system’s sound settings.

• Adjust Volume Levels: Verify that the volume levels for the application you’re sharing, as well as your system volume, are appropriately adjusted.

• Disable Other Audio Devices: Disconnecting or disabling other audio devices can sometimes prevent conflicts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why can’t my friends hear the audio when I screen share?

The most likely reason is that the “Share System Audio” box wasn’t checked when you initiated the screen share. Go back and ensure that option is enabled. Another reason might be related to incorrect audio device selections in your operating system’s sound settings or a muted application from which you’re sharing audio. Lastly, confirm you have given microphone/screen recording permission to discord.

2. How do I stop sharing audio during a screen share?

To stop sharing audio, you need to stop the screen share altogether. You can do this by clicking the “Stop Sharing” button in Discord or within the application you’re sharing (if applicable). Then restart the screen share but uncheck the “Share System Audio” option.

3. Can I share audio from multiple applications simultaneously?

Unfortunately, Discord’s screen share feature typically only allows you to share audio from a single application at a time or your entire system audio. Sharing audio from multiple individual applications simultaneously is not natively supported.

4. Does screen sharing consume a lot of bandwidth?

Yes, screen sharing, especially with audio, can consume a significant amount of bandwidth. The video resolution and frame rate affect bandwidth usage. You may need to lower these settings if you or your viewers are experiencing lag.

5. How do I improve the audio quality during a screen share?

• Ensure a stable internet connection: A strong, stable internet connection is crucial for clear audio.

• Use a good-quality microphone: The quality of your microphone directly impacts the audio quality.

• Reduce background noise: Minimize background noise in your environment for clearer audio.

• Adjust Discord’s audio settings: In Discord’s settings, you can adjust the input sensitivity and noise suppression to optimize audio quality.

6. Can I screen share audio on mobile?

Yes, you can screen share with audio on the Discord mobile app. The process is similar to the desktop version, but the interface is adapted for mobile devices. When starting a screen share, you’ll be prompted to enable audio sharing.

7. What are the minimum system requirements for screen sharing on Discord?

The minimum system requirements depend on the operating system and the intensity of the screen share (resolution, frame rate). Generally, a mid-range computer with a decent processor and sufficient RAM should suffice. Check Discord’s official website for the most up-to-date system requirements.

8. Why is my screen share blurry or laggy?

Blurry or laggy screen shares can result from insufficient bandwidth, high screen resolution settings, or a slow computer. Try lowering the resolution in Discord’s settings or closing unnecessary applications to free up resources. Ensure you have a stable internet connection.

9. Does Discord support screen sharing audio on Linux?

Yes, Discord supports screen sharing audio on Linux, but the configuration might be more complex. You might need to use PulseAudio Volume Control (pavucontrol) to manage audio routing, as described earlier. Make sure your Linux distro is fully updated.

10. Is there a limit to how long I can screen share on Discord?

Discord does not impose a hard time limit on screen sharing. However, prolonged screen shares can strain system resources and bandwidth. Consider breaking up long sessions with short breaks.

11. My microphone audio isn’t working while screen sharing. What should I do?

Ensure that your microphone is selected as the default input device in your operating system’s sound settings and in Discord’s voice settings. Also, verify that your microphone is not muted in Discord or by your operating system. Make sure you have given the Discord app permissions to access the microphone.

12. Can I screen share audio from a virtual machine?

Yes, you can screen share audio from a virtual machine, but the configuration might be more complex. You’ll need to ensure that the virtual machine’s audio output is properly routed to your host operating system and that Discord is configured to capture that audio stream. This often involves configuring the virtual machine’s audio settings to use a “host audio” option or similar.