How to Share Your Screen on Facebook Live

Sharing your screen on Facebook Live can transform a simple broadcast into an engaging tutorial, an interactive product demo, or a dynamic presentation. This guide breaks down exactly how to do it using both Facebook's native tools and more advanced streaming software, giving you everything you need to create a professional and polished live video.

Why Share Your Screen on Facebook Live?

Before diving into the "how," it's helpful to understand the "why." Screen sharing isn't just a technical feature, it’s a powerful tool for connection and education. It allows you to move beyond a simple talking-head stream and provide direct, actionable value to your audience.

Here are a few popular ways businesses and creators use screen sharing:

• Live Tutorials &, Workshops: Show your audience how to use software, edit a photo, navigate a website, or work through a complex spreadsheet. Instead of just describing the steps, you can guide them visually.
• Product Demonstrations: If you sell software, an app, or a digital product, a live screen share demo is one of the most effective ways to showcase its features, answer questions in real-time, and guide potential customers toward a purchase.
• Webinar-Style Presentations: Share your slideshow or presentation directly on screen. This lets you deliver a keynote-style presentation with the added benefit of live interaction and Q&,A from your Facebook audience.
• Gameplay Streaming: For gamers, sharing your screen is the entire show. Facebook Live is a great platform for streaming gameplay, building a community, and sharing your passion with followers.
• Live Q&,A with Visual Aids: Answering a question about your website’s pricing? Pull it up on screen. Want to highlight a specific customer review? Show it directly. Screen sharing makes your Q&,A sessions more dynamic and informative.

Method 1: Using Facebook's Built-in Screen Sharing Feature (The Easy Way)

For most users, Facebook’s own Live Producer tool is the quickest and easiest way to start sharing your screen. You don't need any extra software, and the setup just takes a few clicks. This method is ideal for quick tutorials, informal presentations, and anyone just getting started. This only works from a desktop computer, not a mobile device.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Navigate to the Live Producer

Go to the Facebook Page, Group, or personal Profile where you want to go live. Look for the "Live video" button. On a Page, it’s usually right under the "Create Post" box. Clicking this will open the Facebook Live Producer dashboard.

Step 2: Set Up Your Live Broadcast Details

Once you're in the Live Producer, you'll see a panel on the left. This is where you prepare your stream before going live.

• Make sure "Go live" is selected on the top left.
• Under "Post," add a compelling Title for your video. This is what people will see in their feeds.
• Add a Description that tells viewers what the broadcast is about. This is a great place to include relevant links or hashtags.
• A quick tip: Write a clear and CATCHY title. Instead of "Live Stream," try "Live Photoshop Tutorial: How to Create a Double Exposure Effect." It tells people exactly what they'll get.

Step 3: Choose Your Video Source

In the main center panel, you'll see options for your video source. By default, it will be set to "Webcam." To enable screen sharing, you have to initiate the stream setup.

Click the "Start Screen Share" button, usually found under the camera preview window. If it's your first time, your browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.) will ask for permission to access your screen. Click "Allow." Mute or unmute yourself now before starting.

Step 4: Select What You Want to Share

A new window will appear, giving you three choices for what to share. This is an important decision, and the best choice depends on what you’re doing:

• Entire Screen: This shares everything you see on your monitor. It's great for tutorials that involve switching between multiple applications. Warning: Be careful with this option! Any notifications, personal messages, or desktop clutter will be visible to everyone. Make sure to clean up your desktop and turn on 'Do Not Disturb' mode first.
• Application Window: This lets you select a specific, open application to share, a PowerPoint or Figma presentation for example. If you switch to another app, your viewers will still only see the application you selected. This is the safest and most professional option for most use-cases, as it prevents accidental over-sharing of unrelated notifications.
• Browser Tab: This option only shares content from a single tab in your web browser. It’s perfect if you're demonstrating how to use your website or a different online tool.

After you make your choice, click "Share." You'll now see your screen displayed in the preview window of the Live Producer.

Step 5: Go Live!

Everything is set up. Your title is ready, your description is filled out, and your screen is being previewed. Now, just hit the blue "Go Live" button at the bottom of the left-hand panel. You are now live on Facebook, and your audience can see what you're sharing! While you are live, you'll be able to see comments rolling in, allowing you to respond live.

Method 2: Using Streaming Software like OBS Studio (Advanced Control)

If you want more control, higher quality, and professional features like custom graphics, overlays, or a picture-in-picture effect (where your webcam appears in the corner of your screen share), then third-party streaming software is the way to achieve a polished video. The premier free option is software called OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software).

There's a slight learning curve, but this option offers a professional touch that Facebook's native tools can't match. Here’s a basic walkthrough for any ambitious creator:

Step 1: Download &, Open OBS Studio

OBS Studio is an entirely free and open-source tool available for Mac, Windows, &, Linux. Download it from the official website and install it.

Step 2: Connect OBS to Facebook Live

Now you have to tell both programs how to communicate with each other. This is done with what's called a stream key.

1. In the Facebook Live Producer, select "Streaming Software" instead of "Webcam" under "Select a Video Source".
2. You'll see the option for a "Stream Key." Below that section, you will see a series of characters. Copy this key.
3. In OBS, go to "File" >, "Settings" >, "Stream".
4. From the "Service" dropdown menu, choose "Facebook Live."
5. Paste your Stream Key in the corresponding field and click "Apply."

Step 3: Setting Up "Scenes" and "Sources" in OBS

OBS is built around the idea of "Scenes" and "Sources." A "Scene" is like a stage set, while "Sources" are the actors, cameras, microphones, or specific elements on that stage.

• In OBS, you'll already have an empty scene preloaded in the "Scenes" box. You can rename it. Let's call it "Screen Share."
• Now click the plus icon at the bottom of the "Sources" section to add your screen share. Choose either "Display Capture" to share your entire monitor or "Window Capture" to select a particular application.
• Add your camera by hitting the plus icon again and choosing "Video Capture Device." Select your webcam from the list.
• You can now click and drag the webcam window around, resizing and positioning it to create the classic picture-in-picture effect.

Step 4: Start Streaming in OBS and Go Live on Facebook

Back in OBS, click the "Start Streaming" button. This sends your signal to Facebook. The Live Producer will now show you a preview of your stream as it appears from OBS.

When you're ready, hit the blue "Go Live" button on Facebook like you normally would. You've done it!

Best Practices for Screen Share Streams

Whether you're using the native tool or OBS, polishing the details can make a huge difference. Here are some best practices for your next screen share live stream.

1. Prepare Your Desktop and Close Everything

Nothing looks less professional than a random system notification popping up in the middle of a presentation. Before you go live, close all unnecessary tabs and applications. Turn on "Do Not Disturb" mode on both macOS and Windows. Clean up your desktop by hiding extraneous files so your viewers aren't distracted.

2. Audio is Everything

People will forgive blurry video but not bad audio. Bad audio is an instant deal-breaker. Even a moderately-priced USB microphone is a massive step-up from your computer’s built-in microphone. Check your audio yourself using headphones to hear what it sounds like before you go live.

3. Engage with Your Audience

Don't forget that live video is a conversation. Have a second monitor or your phone open to the Facebook stream so you can see the comments and questions as they come in. Acknowledge new viewers by name, answer questions live, and be open to taking small detours based on what your audience is saying. This makes them feel like an involved part of the experience.

4. Have an Outline

You don't need a full script, but having a few bullet points will structure your stream so you don't lose your place mid-stream. Knowing what you plan to say and the points you want to make will make your broadcast feel much more confident and professional.

Final Thoughts

Whether you use Facebook's built-in tool for a quick demo or delve into OBS for pro-level control, screen sharing is a powerful way to engage an audience and deliver valuable content. Having these basics down puts you in the driver's seat.

Going live is just one part of a great social media strategy. After your broadcast ends, you still have to plan, schedule, and analyze the rest of your content. To keep all your platforms organized and avoid becoming overwhelmed by managing multiple content streams, a tool like Postbase can make a difference. Our visual content calendar helps you see what's going live, schedule posts across all your accounts from one place, and track what's working so you can create more of the content your audience loves. This gives you more time to focus on creating an engaging video.