If you need to share a presentation in a client call and you’re using Whereby, you don’t want to be fumbling around with buttons, getting tripped up by browser popups, or wondering if your slides are even visible. This guide is for people who want to look sharp, cut out the awkwardness, and make the tech part invisible so the conversation shines—whether you’re a freelancer, consultant, or just the “presentation person” on your team.
Let’s get right to it. Here’s how to share presentations in Whereby like you’ve done it a hundred times before.
Step 1: Get Set Up Before the Call
Preparation is everything. If you’re scrambling during the call, the client will feel it.
Checklist: - Use a laptop or desktop. Mobile devices work for joining, but screen sharing is a pain. - Have your presentation open and ready. PowerPoint, Google Slides, or a PDF—whatever you’re using, have it as its own window. - Close anything you don’t want people to see (email, Slack, 15 browser tabs with memes...). Screen sharing is literal.
Pro Tip:
If you’re showing animations or videos, test them before the call. Whereby handles slides fine, but it can struggle with embedded video or audio. Expect some lag, especially if your internet isn’t great.
Step 2: Join the Whereby Room
- Click your meeting link and join the room a few minutes early.
- Whereby runs in your browser (Chrome is safest; Edge and Firefox are okay, Safari can be glitchy).
- Allow camera and mic access if your browser asks.
Heads up:
Whereby doesn’t have a downloadable app—everything is browser-based. If you’re on a locked-down work laptop, check you’re allowed to share your screen in your browser.
Step 3: Start the Screen Share
Now for the main event.
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Find the “Share” Button:
In the Whereby meeting window, look for the "Share" (or “Present”) button at the bottom. Click it. -
Pick What to Share:
You’ll get three choices: - Entire Screen – Shows everything. Good if you’ll flip between apps, but risky if notifications pop up.
- Window – Shares only one app (like PowerPoint).
- Tab – Shares a single browser tab. Best for Google Slides or anything web-based.
My advice: Choose “Window” for PowerPoint or PDFs, “Tab” for Google Slides. Keeps things tidy.
- Click “Share” and Wait:
There’s a slight delay. Whereby doesn’t always make it obvious that you’re sharing, but you’ll see a border or message at the top of your screen.
What to ignore:
Don’t bother with the “Share audio” checkbox unless you’re playing a video with sound. Otherwise, it just adds confusion.
Step 4: Run Your Presentation
- Switch to your presentation window or tab.
- Start your slideshow (F5 in PowerPoint, “Present” in Google Slides).
- Advance slides as usual.
Real talk:
Animations and transitions usually work, but can look choppy to viewers. If it’s mission-critical that your slide deck is pixel-perfect, consider sending the client a copy ahead of time as backup.
Pro Tip:
If you’re presenting from Google Slides, sharing the Chrome tab usually streams video and audio better than sharing your whole screen.
Step 5: Check What They’re Seeing
- Ask: “Can you see my slides?” It’s not amateur hour—it saves you from talking to a blank screen.
- If you have a second monitor, drag the Whereby window there so you can see both the slides and your audience. No second monitor? Shrink your presentation window so you can at least see faces and reactions.
If things go sideways:
- If your screen share isn’t working, stop and start again.
- If the browser asks for permission to share, say yes.
- Sometimes, you have to quit and rejoin the meeting if your browser gets stuck. Annoying, but it happens.
Step 6: Wrap Up and Stop Sharing
- When you’re done, click the “Stop Sharing” button in Whereby. It’s usually red, at the bottom, and not hard to spot.
- Double-check that you’re back to your video feed—sometimes you’ll stay on a frozen slide otherwise.
Why this matters:
Leaving your screen shared after you’re done is a classic rookie move. Don’t let clients see your desktop or the next thing you click on.
Troubleshooting: Common Issues (and How to Dodge Them)
1. The client says your slides are blurry or laggy. - This is often bandwidth. If you’re on spotty Wi-Fi, plug in with Ethernet if you can, or move closer to your router. - Avoid animated backgrounds and videos—keep it simple.
2. Screen share won’t start or is greyed out. - Your browser might be blocking it. Try refreshing, or check that you’ve allowed screen sharing in your browser settings. - On macOS, you sometimes have to grant screen recording permission in System Preferences > Security & Privacy. If that’s the case, you’ll need to restart your browser.
3. You accidentally shared the wrong window. - Just click “Stop Sharing” and start again. Don’t apologize ten times—clients don’t care, they just want to see the right thing.
4. Audio isn’t coming through on videos. - Only share tab audio if you’re playing a video. Otherwise, talk through the slides and send the video later if needed.
Advanced Tips (If You Want to Get Fancy)
- Preload resources: If you’re demoing a website, load it before you start sharing—less awkward waiting.
- Have a backup: Send the deck to the client ahead of time, just in case.
- Co-presenter? Whereby lets multiple people share screens, but it can get confusing fast. Agree on who’s presenting and when to avoid chaos.
- Recording: Whereby has built-in recording, but it’s only on paid plans and only if the host starts it. Don’t rely on this if you haven’t tested it yourself.
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Skip
What works: - Sharing slides (PowerPoint, Google Slides, PDFs) is smooth as long as you use a modern browser and don’t overload with animations. - Keeping your desktop clean and focused makes you look pro.
What doesn’t: - Embedded videos or audio are glitchy. If it’s a must, test it—otherwise, skip it. - Switching presenters in the middle is possible, but awkward unless everyone’s practiced.
What to skip: - Don’t try to use Whereby on mobile for presenting. Just don’t. - Don’t expect fancy features like laser pointers or annotation—Whereby keeps it basic.
Keep It Simple, Iterate as Needed
Honestly, the best client calls are the ones where nobody notices the tech. Whereby is simple by design, which is both its strength and its limit. Get your slides ready, keep your screen tidy, and don’t overthink it. If something goes wrong, shrug it off and move on—clients care more about your ideas than your slide transitions.
Every call is a chance to smooth out your process, so tweak what works for you. And if Whereby ever adds a killer feature for presenters, you’ll be the first to know. Until then—keep it simple.