How to Share Files on Zoom

Last Updated: September 1, 2022

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.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Windows or Mac

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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3
Click File. It's in the lower right side of the chat window next to an ear-marked piece of paper icon.
4
Choose your file location. You can choose to use cloud services like OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Box, or you can search your computer.
5
Log in (if you picked a cloud service). 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.
6
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

1
Host or join a Zoom meeting. You can click an invite link to join a meeting or tap New Meeting to host a meeting.
2
Tap Share. It's the green icon centered at the bottom of your screen.
3
Choose your file location. You can choose to use cloud services like OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud Drive, and Box, or you can search your local storage.
4
Log in (if you picked a cloud service). 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.
5
Tap the file you want to share. 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

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?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff 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.