Quick answer: in Google Meet, click Present now and choose A tab, then pick the tab with your slides. Google optimizes a presented tab for high frame rate and shares the tab's audio automatically; window and screen sharing are the fallback for content outside the browser.

Why a tab is the default

The three present options are not equivalent. A presented Chrome tab is streamed at a high frame rate with the tab's audio routed directly, which is the smoothest path for Google Slides, a web-based deck, or a video. Sharing a window or the entire screen captures the desktop at a lower frame rate and historically could not carry system audio.

If the slides live in Google Slides, open them in a tab, present the tab, and run the slideshow in that tab. The audience sees the full slide, not the editor.

The sharing options

Option Quality Audio Best for
A tab High frame rate Tab audio, automatic Slides, video, web demos
A window Standard System audio on newer systems Apps outside the browser
Entire screen Standard System audio on newer systems Multi-window workflows

System audio for window and screen sharing rolled out in late 2025 and early 2026, and it requires macOS 14.2 or newer or Windows 11. If you need sound from a desktop app and the toggle is missing, update the OS and the browser.

Before the meeting

  • Open the slides and the demo pages in separate tabs in advance.
  • Close media-heavy tabs and extensions that touch video; tab sharing competes for CPU.
  • If the talk includes a video, confirm the "Share tab audio" checkbox in the sharing dialog.
  • Use a second monitor or a separate window for notes; presenting the tab keeps the rest of the screen private.

During the talk

Keep the audience gallery visible in the Meet window and switch tabs only when the agenda calls for it; each tab change is visible to the audience. A clean pattern is slides in one tab, the live product in another, and a short video in a third.

Recording and follow-up

Meet records the presented tab and the audio into the meeting's Drive folder. Afterward, share the deck link and a short follow-up; the deck sharing guide covers the formats.

The finished workflow

A polished Meet talk is a prepared deck, tab sharing with audio, and a recording afterward. Neatico builds the deck and the announcement graphics for the talk from one outline, so the meeting and the follow-up post stay consistent.

Frequently asked questions

How do I present slides in Google Meet? Click Present now, choose A tab, and select the tab with the slides. The tab streams at high frame rate and shares its audio automatically.

How do I share audio in Google Meet? A presented tab shares audio by default. For window or screen sharing, use the Also share system audio toggle on macOS 14.2+ or Windows 11.

Why is my video choppy when presenting? Usually CPU load or network. Close heavy tabs, share a single tab rather than the screen, and use a wired connection.

Can I present Google Slides without showing the editor? Start the slideshow in the tab and present that tab. The Teams presentation guide covers the other platform.