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How to Share PowerPoint Audio During a Zoom Meeting

Elise Williams Oct 10, 2026 872 views

Question details

Users need to share a PowerPoint presentation during a Zoom meeting and ensure all participants can clearly hear the embedded audio or video sound.

How to Share PowerPoint Audio During a Zoom Meeting

Product: Zoom and PowerPoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Presenting a PowerPoint slideshow with embedded multimedia (audio/video) to an audience during a live Zoom meeting.
Observed behavior: Meeting participants cannot hear the PowerPoint audio unless the host manually enables Zoom's computer audio sharing option, a setting that may reset or require manual activation after recent Zoom updates.

Before you start

Ensure your computer's volume is turned up and that the embedded audio in your PowerPoint presentation plays correctly on your own device before joining the Zoom meeting.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable 'Share Sound' When Starting a Screen Share in Zoom

The most effective way to ensure participants hear your presentation's audio is to enable the 'Share Sound' setting exactly when you begin sharing your screen.

By default, Zoom only shares your visual screen to save bandwidth and prevent audio echoes. To broadcast the internal sounds from your computer, such as embedded PowerPoint audio or video, you must explicitly tell Zoom to capture system audio.

Open your presentation

Launch PowerPoint and open the presentation file containing the embedded audio you wish to share.

Start or join your meeting

Open the Zoom desktop client and start your meeting or join an existing one.

Initiate screen sharing

Click the green 'Share Screen' button located on the bottom meeting control toolbar.

Enable audio sharing

In the pop-up share selection window, check the box labeled 'Share Sound' (or 'Share Computer Sound') situated in the bottom-left corner.

Select the presentation and share

Select the thumbnail for your PowerPoint application or your entire screen, then click the blue 'Share' button to begin presenting with audio.

Enable 'Share Sound' When Starting a Screen Share in Zoom

Zoom Update Change: Due to recent Zoom updates, the 'Share Sound' option may no longer be remembered automatically. The host must manually select this option at the beginning of each meeting when sharing audio from PowerPoint.

Solution 2

Enable 'Share Sound' While Already Sharing a Screen

Use this solution if you have already started sharing your PowerPoint slides but forgot to enable audio sharing beforehand.

Professional Presentation Software

Present Audio-Rich Slides Flawlessly with WPS Presentation

WPS Presentation is a powerful, lightweight software for creating and sharing slides with embedded audio and video. It integrates seamlessly with screen sharing applications like Zoom, ensuring your audience enjoys a rich multimedia experience without lagging.

1. Open WPS Presentation: Launch WPS Office and open your slide deck containing the multimedia files.
2. Insert audio if needed: Navigate to the Insert tab, click Audio, and select your sound files to embed them into your slides.
3. Start your Zoom meeting: Join your Zoom call and click the Share Screen button on the main toolbar.
4. Share with sound: Check the 'Share Sound' box in Zoom, select the WPS Presentation window, and click Share.
5. Play the slideshow: Start your slideshow in WPS Presentation. Your Zoom audience will clearly hear the embedded audio.

Fully compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint formats (.ppt, .pptx) ensuring formatting stays intact.Easily embed and control playback of high-quality audio and video directly within your slides.Lightweight architecture ensures smooth screen sharing during Zoom meetings without system lag.Free to download and use, featuring a highly familiar and intuitive user interface.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can I hear my PowerPoint audio but Zoom participants cannot?

This happens because Zoom only captures and broadcasts your microphone audio and your screen visuals by default. It does not broadcast the internal sounds generated by applications on your computer. You must explicitly route your system audio through Zoom by enabling the 'Share Sound' option in the screen sharing menu.

Does embedding audio in PowerPoint increase the file size significantly?

Yes, embedding high-quality audio or video files directly into your presentation will increase the overall file size. If the file becomes too large to email or share easily, you can compress the media files within your presentation software before saving.

Why is the 'Share Sound' option missing in my Zoom interface?

The 'Share Sound' feature may be missing if you are joining the Zoom meeting from a web browser instead of the official Zoom desktop client. It may also be unavailable if your organization's IT administrator has disabled computer audio sharing in your account's administrative settings.

Can I adjust the volume of the PowerPoint audio for Zoom participants?

Yes, the volume participants hear is tied to your computer's system volume and the volume slider within the PowerPoint audio playback controls. Adjusting the volume on your computer or within the slide will directly affect how loud the audio is for your meeting attendees.

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