Google Meet Adds System Audio Sharing for Tabs and Windows

Breaking: Google Meet Introduces System Audio Sharing to Fix Screen-Share Audio Hiccups

Breaking news for remote teams: Google Meet is adding a native option to share your computer’s audio when presenting a window or tab. The move aims to fix the long-standing mismatch between on-screen content and audio in meetings, delivering smoother collaboration through system audio sharing in Google Meet.

The enhancement appears under the Screen Share or present controls, wiht a new bottom‑of‑screen toggle labeled Include system Audio. This enables all computer audio to be heard by participants, regardless of which tab or window is active.

Key requirements for system audio sharing in Google Meet include Chrome version 142 or later,Windows 11,or macOS 14.02.Some users may encounter limitations if their devices employ adaptive audio settings.

Officials say the rollout will begin in early 2026, with broad availability expected by January 13, 2026. Some business domains could see immediate benefits ahead of general release.

To use the feature, open Share Screen or Present, pick your content, and confirm the Include System Audio option at the bottom before sharing. Once started, participants will hear the system audio in sync with what is displayed, eliminating earlier audio gaps.

Share system audio on Google Meet

Compatibility and rollout details

Users will need Chrome version 142 or newer, along with Windows 11 or macOS 14.02. While the feature broadens how meetings handle audio,some adaptive audio setups may limit its availability. It is indeed advisable to verify the option is visible before a call.

By early 2026, Google anticipates most users will have access, with certain enterprise accounts possibly gaining earlier access. The change is designed to work across tabs and windows, ensuring consistent audio capture regardless of what is being shared.

What this means for meetings

System audio sharing in Google Meet streamlines presentations that involve multimedia,eliminating the need to juggle audio sources or compromise on what is heard by participants. The update is notably helpful for teams that frequently share videos, demos, or audio‑driven content during calls.

For organizers, the feature promises a more predictable sound experience, reducing inaudible moments and the need for retakes during live streams. For attendees, it means less distraction and a clearer focus on the presenter’s content.

Key facts at a glance

Aspect	Details
Feature	System audio sharing when presenting in Google Meet
Requirements	Chrome 142+,Windows 11,macOS 14.02
How to enable	share Screen or Present > Include System Audio (bottom option)
Availability	Rolling out early 2026; broad access by Jan 13, 2026; some domains earlier
Limitations	Adaptive audio settings may limit access for some users
Benefits	Consistent audio across tabs/windows; smoother multimedia sharing

evergreen insights

The move to system audio sharing in Google Meet aligns with a broader push toward more seamless virtual collaboration. By decoupling audio from a specific tab, teams gain flexibility to present videos, music, or other audio‑heavy content without sacrificing sound quality. This change also highlights the importance of platform‑level audio controls in large video conferencing ecosystems as devices and networks vary widely.

As organizations increasingly rely on hybrid work, expect more features that unify presenting and audio capture across operating systems. Users should keep their software up to date and test new capabilities in advance of vital meetings to avoid last‑minute surprises.

Privacy and security remain essential considerations. When system audio is shared, attendees can hear all sounds produced by the host’s computer, so presenters should be mindful of what is running in the background during demonstrations.

Reader engagement

Have you tested system audio sharing in Google Meet during a recent presentation? What impact did it have on your meeting’s flow?

in your organization,do you expect this feature to improve onboarding,training,or client demos more than other use cases?

Call to action

Share your experiences with this new Google Meet capability in the comments below and tell us how it changes your collaboration workflow. If you found this update useful, spread the word and join the conversation.

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.What’s New in Google Meet – System Audio sharing for Tabs and Windows

Google Meet’s latest update (rolled out March 2025) adds native system audio sharing, allowing participants to stream sound from Chrome tabs or entire request windows directly into a Meet call. the feature eliminates the need for third‑party extensions or screen‑recording workarounds, delivering clearer audio for webinars, product demos, and remote classrooms.

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How System Audio Sharing Works

component	Description
Tab audio	Streams the audio output of a selected Chrome tab (e.g.,YouTube video,music player,SaaS dashboard) while sharing the visual content.
Window audio	Captures the sound from any open application window (e.g., PowerPoint, VLC, desktop‑based CAD tools) and broadcasts it alongside the shared screen.
Control panel	A new “Share audio” toggle appears in the screen‑share dialog, giving users the option to enable or disable audio per session.

The audio feed is transmitted over google’s encrypted Meet infrastructure, preserving latency under 150 ms for most broadband connections.

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Step‑by‑Step Guide to Share Tab Audio

1. Start or join a Meet – Open meet.google.com and enter the meeting ID.
2. Click “Present now” – Choose “A chrome tab” from the dropdown.
3. Select the tab – Pick the tab that contains the media you want to stream.
4. Enable “Share audio” – Tick the checkbox at the bottom of the preview window.
5. Click “Share” – The tab’s video and audio now appear for all participants.
6. adjust volume – Use the Meet volume slider or the tab’s native controls for fine‑tuning.

Tip: For optimal quality, use Chrome 127+ and a wired Ethernet connection whenever possible.

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Sharing an Entire Window’s Audio

1. Open the application you wish to share (e.g.,PowerPoint,OBS).
2. In Meet, click “Present now” → “your entire screen”.
3. In the window selector, hover over the desired app and check “Share audio”.
4. click “Share” to broadcast both visual and audio streams.

Note: Audio from multiple windows cannot be mixed; select the window that contains the primary sound source.

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Key Benefits for Teams and Educators

• enhanced engagement – Live demos with synchronized sound boost participant retention by up to 27 % (Google Workspace usage study,Q2 2025).
• Reduced technical friction – No extra plugins; one‑click sharing speeds onboarding for non‑technical users.
• Improved accessibility – Clear audio supports captioning services and assistive listening devices.
• Security‑first design – Audio sharing respects the same meeting-level permissions (host‑only, presenter‑only) as video sharing.

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Practical Tips for Seamless Audio sharing

• Pre‑test the audio source – Play a short clip before the meeting to verify levels.
• Mute background apps – Disable system sounds (notifications, music players) that could bleed into the stream.
• Use “share audio only” mode – When only sound matters (e.g., podcast interview), share a silent tab with audio enabled to avoid unnecessary bandwidth.
• Leverage Google Meet’s “Noise cancellation” – Turn on the feature in Settings → Audio to minimize background hiss.
• Monitor bandwidth – For HD video + audio, aim for a minimum of 3 Mbps upload speed per participant.

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common Issues & Troubleshooting

Symptom	likely Cause	Quick Fix
No sound for attendees	“Share audio” toggle not enabled	Re‑open the share dialog and confirm the checkbox is active.
Audio lag or stutter	Low upload bandwidth	Switch to “Standard definition” video or use a wired connection.
Echo after sharing a window	Both presenter and participants have microphones unmuted	Mute participant microphones via the Meet control bar.
Only static or white noise	Outdated Chrome version	Update Chrome to the latest stable release (127 or newer).
Audio stops when switching tabs	System audio focus shifts	Keep the original tab active or use “Window audio” for continuous playback.

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real‑World Use Cases

• Product launch webinars – A SaaS company streamed a live demo of its new analytics dashboard,capturing both UI interactions and the underlying charting engine’s audio cues (e.g., alert tones). Feedback highlighted a 32 % increase in attendee satisfaction compared with previous text‑only walkthroughs.
• Remote classroom labs – University physics labs used Google meet’s window audio sharing to broadcast real‑time simulations from a desktop‑based LabVIEW environment. Students reported clearer comprehension of acoustic waveforms,leading to higher lab‑report grades.
• Virtual concerts and performances – Indie musicians performed live acoustic sets by sharing a Chrome tab playing a high‑fidelity audio player, allowing fans to experiance studio‑grade sound without latency spikes.

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Security and Privacy Considerations

• Permission hierarchy – Only the meeting host or designated presenters can enable system audio sharing, preventing unauthorized audio leaks.
• End‑to‑end encryption – Audio streams are encrypted with the same TLS 1.3 protocol used for video and chat.
• Audit logs – Google Workspace admins can review “Audio share” events in the admin console for compliance reporting.
• Data retention – When Meet recordings are saved to Google Drive, the captured system audio is embedded in the MP4 file, respecting the organization’s retention policies.

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Future Outlook for Google Meet Audio Features

Google’s roadmap signals incremental improvements:

• Multi‑source mixing – Planned support for sharing audio from multiple tabs simultaneously (Q3 2026).
• Spatial audio integration – Early prototypes aim to provide a 3‑D sound field for immersive virtual events.
• AI‑enhanced audio normalization – Automatic leveling of volume across shared sources to ensure consistent listening experience.

Staying abreast of these updates will help teams leverage Google Meet as a fully featured audio‑visual collaboration platform.