When you share your screen in Discord, the people watching often hear nothing from your computer. Music, game sounds, and video audio stay silent. This happens because Discord does not transmit system audio by default when you choose a screen or application window. This article explains how to enable audio sharing in Discord screen share on Windows 11 and Windows 10. You will learn the correct settings for both desktop and browser versions.
Key Takeaways: How to Share Audio With Discord Screen Share
- Screen Share audio toggle in the Go Live window: You must select “Sound” or “Audio” in the screen share settings before starting the stream.
- Application-specific vs full-screen sharing: Some apps require sharing the entire screen instead of just the app window to get audio.
- Discord Voice & Video settings: Disable “Use an experimental method to capture audio” if you encounter crackling or no audio.
How Discord Screen Share Audio Works
Discord’s screen share feature captures video from your monitor or a specific window. By default, it does not capture system audio. To share audio, you must enable a separate toggle in the Go Live screen. This toggle is available only when you share a specific application window or your entire screen. The audio feature streams all sounds from that source, including music, game effects, and video playback.
Before you start, make sure you meet these prerequisites:
- You are in a voice channel on a Discord server or a direct call.
- You have the Discord desktop app installed. The browser version does not support audio sharing.
- Your audio source, such as a game or media player, is already running and producing sound.
Steps to Share Audio When Screen Sharing in Discord
Follow these steps precisely to share both video and audio.
- Join a voice channel
Open Discord and join a voice channel in your server. You can also start a direct voice call with a friend. - Open the screen share menu
Click the “Share Your Screen” button, which looks like a monitor icon with an arrow. It is located at the bottom of the voice channel panel, next to the microphone and mute buttons. - Choose your screen or window
A new window appears listing your monitors and open applications. Select the application window you want to share. For games, it is best to select the game window directly. If you select “Entire Screen,” Discord will share everything on that monitor. - Enable the audio toggle
Below the selected screen or window, you will see a toggle labeled “Sound.” In some versions, it says “Share Audio” or has a speaker icon. Click the toggle so it turns green or blue. This is the critical step that enables audio sharing. - Set stream quality (optional)
Click the gear icon next to the Go Live button to adjust resolution, frame rate, and bitrate. Higher settings require a stable upload speed of at least 5 Mbps for 1080p at 60 fps with audio. - Click “Go Live”
Press the “Go Live” button to start the stream. Your viewers in the voice channel will now hear both the video and the audio from the selected source.
Sharing Audio When Using Discord in a Browser
The Discord web app does not support sharing system audio. If you must use a browser, you cannot share audio from games or media players. To share audio, you must use the Discord desktop app for Windows. You can download it from discord.com/download.
Common Audio Sharing Problems and Fixes
No Audio Is Heard by Viewers
The most common cause is forgetting to enable the Sound toggle. Stop the stream and start again, making sure the toggle is active. If the toggle is grayed out, you are likely sharing a browser tab. Discord cannot capture audio from browser tabs. Share the application window instead, or share your entire screen.
Audio Is Crackling or Distorted
This often happens when Discord uses an experimental audio capture method. To fix this:
- Open Discord and click the gear icon (User Settings) at the bottom left.
- Go to Voice & Video in the left sidebar.
- Scroll to the Audio Subsystem section.
- Uncheck “Use an experimental method to capture audio.”
- Restart Discord and try screen sharing again.
Game Audio Works but Not Music Player Audio
Discord captures audio from the application you selected in the screen share menu. If you share a game window, only that game’s audio is transmitted. To share music player audio, share the music player window directly. If you want to share both game and music audio, share your entire screen instead of a single window.
Discord Screen Share Audio: Desktop App vs Browser
| Feature | Discord Desktop App | Discord Browser |
|---|---|---|
| System audio sharing | Supported | Not supported |
| Sound toggle available | Yes | No |
| Share entire screen with audio | Yes | No |
| Share single app window with audio | Yes | No |
| Stream quality settings | Full control (resolution, fps, bitrate) | Limited |
You can now share audio with your Discord screen share streams. Always use the desktop app and enable the Sound toggle before going live. If viewers hear no audio, check that you selected the correct application window and that the toggle is active. For the best experience, share your entire screen when you need to transmit audio from multiple sources at once.