Digital communication has taken giant leaps forward, transforming tools originally designed for personal use into powerful allies for work and everyday life. In this context, WhatsApp has introduced a feature that redefines video calls from your computer: screen sharing directly from WhatsApp Web and the desktop application. This innovation is not just a technical update, but a true bridge that combines ease of use with professional features, responding to a growing need in the European market and, particularly, in Italy.

The habit of using WhatsApp for all kinds of communication is deeply rooted in Mediterranean culture. Its immediacy has made it the preferred tool for staying in touch with family and friends. Now, with the ability to show your screen during a video call, the application breaks down another barrier, entering a territory previously dominated by more complex software like Zoom or Google Meet. Whether it’s helping a parent set up an app or presenting a project to a client, this feature marries the tradition of direct communication with technological innovation.

What Screen Sharing Is and How It Works

Screen sharing is a feature that allows you to broadcast the content of your desktop in real time to one or more participants in a video call. Instead of describing a document or a procedure in words, you can show it directly. During a video call on WhatsApp Web or the app for Windows and Mac, a dedicated icon lets you start sharing. The user can choose whether to show the entire screen, a single application window, or a specific browser tab. This flexibility is crucial for protecting your privacy, preventing you from accidentally showing notifications or other personal information.

Once activated, the other participants will see what the user is showing, while their video tiles will move to a side or bottom section of the screen. Stopping the share is just as simple: a single click on the dedicated button ends the broadcast and returns to the normal video call view. It’s important to note that this feature is only available during video calls and not during audio-only calls. The entire process is protected by end-to-end encryption, ensuring that no one outside the call, not even WhatsApp itself, can view the shared content.

A Revolution for Work and Family

The introduction of screen sharing on such a widespread platform is a small revolution with a big impact. For Italian professionals and small businesses, it represents an opportunity to simplify collaboration. You can show presentations, discuss document drafts, or provide technical support to customers without having to install additional software. This makes communication smoother and more immediate, leveraging an app that almost all customers already have installed and use daily. It’s a perfect tool for customer service and project management in an increasingly common remote work environment.

In the family and social context, typical of Mediterranean culture, the feature takes on a different but equally important value. It becomes a way to bridge the digital divide between generations. A child can guide an elderly parent through using an online service, showing them what to do step-by-step. You can plan vacations by showing maps and reservations, or simply browse a digital photo album together, recreating a sense of closeness despite the physical distance. In this way, WhatsApp is no longer just a means of hearing from each other, but also of “seeing” and “doing things together.”

Step-by-Step Guide to Sharing Your Screen

Starting to use screen sharing on WhatsApp from a computer is an intuitive process. The feature is integrated directly into the video call interface, both on the desktop application for Windows and macOS and on WhatsApp Web via supported browsers. Make sure you have the latest version of the app or browser for an optimal experience.

1. Start a video call: Open WhatsApp on your computer and start a video call with a contact or group.
2. Find the share icon: During the call, in the bottom control bar, look for the icon shaped like a screen with an arrow. Clicking it will open the sharing menu.
3. Choose what to share: The system will ask you to choose whether you want to share your entire screen, a specific application window (e.g., a Word document or photo editing software), or a single tab from your browser. This choice is crucial for privacy.
4. Start sharing: After selecting the desired option, click the confirmation button. The other participants will receive a notification and start seeing your screen.
5. Stop sharing: To end, click the “Stop sharing” button, which will be clearly visible throughout the session. The video call will continue normally.

This tool transforms a simple chat into an interactive session, ideal for explanations, presentations, or quick technical support. You can find more details on the general use of WhatsApp on your computer in our complete guide to WhatsApp Web.

Pros and Cons: An Honest Analysis

Like any technological tool, WhatsApp’s screen sharing has its strengths and some limitations. It’s important to know them to use the feature consciously and effectively.

Main Advantages

• Simplicity and accessibility: The biggest advantage is its integration into an app used by billions of people. There’s no need to create new accounts or install complex software, lowering the barrier to adoption.
• Zero cost: Unlike many professional video conferencing platforms, the feature is completely free for personal and business use.
• Immediate collaboration: It’s ideal for quick clarifications, on-the-fly technical support, and informal presentations, both in a work and private context.
• Security: End-to-end encryption also extends to screen sharing, offering a high level of protection.

Disadvantages and Limitations

• Basic features: It lacks advanced options found in dedicated software, such as remote screen control, a virtual whiteboard, or session recording.
• Transmission quality: The smoothness of the stream can depend on the internet connection quality of all participants.
• Limited audio sharing: In many cases, system audio (like from a video or game) is not transmitted along with the screen, limiting its use for shared viewing of multimedia content.
• Privacy risks: If you’re not careful, you risk showing notifications, saved passwords, or other sensitive information.

Security and Privacy: Practical Tips

Screen sharing is a powerful tool, but it potentially exposes you to privacy risks if not used with caution. WhatsApp itself warns that all information visible on the screen, including passwords or payment details, will be visible to the other participants. For this reason, it’s essential to adopt some best practices to protect your data. Before starting a share, it’s wise to close all windows and browser tabs not relevant to the conversation. Temporarily disabling notifications from the operating system or applications can prevent private messages or alerts from appearing unexpectedly.

Taking advantage of the ability to share only a specific window or tab, instead of the entire screen, is the safest choice in most cases. This limits exposure to a single application, preventing others from seeing your desktop, files, or other open apps. Finally, it’s crucial to share your screen only with people you trust. Even if the connection is secure, control over who sees the information is in the user’s hands. For 360-degree protection, it’s helpful to consult a guide to securing your WhatsApp Web chats.

Conclusions

The screen sharing feature on WhatsApp Web and desktop represents a significant evolution, consolidating the application’s role as an all-around communication tool. It bridges an important gap, offering features typical of professional video conferencing platforms with the simplicity and immediacy that have made WhatsApp so successful. For the Italian and European markets, this innovation fits perfectly into a cultural context that favors direct and familiar communication, extending its potential to the world of work, support, and remote collaboration.

Despite some limitations compared to specialized solutions, its integration into such a vast ecosystem makes it an invaluable resource for millions of users. Whether it’s showing a document to a colleague, helping a family member with a technical procedure, or simply sharing a moment, WhatsApp’s screen sharing demonstrates how innovation can serve to strengthen human connections, making technology increasingly accessible and useful in everyday life.

Frequently Asked Questions