A window layout for video calls and screen sharing on a Mac

Share one window, keep your notes beside it, and keep the call out of the way. How to lay out a Mac for meetings without showing more than you meant to.

Guide · Updated 13 October 2026

Calls go wrong in small ways: you share the whole screen and a private message pops up, or the shared window is so narrow nobody can read it.

Share a window, not the screen

Zoom, Meet, Teams and the macOS share sheet all let you share one window. Do that by default. Notifications and other windows stay private.

A layout for calls

  • The window you share, wide, so people can read it.
  • Your notes beside it, which nobody else sees.
  • The call itself at the edge, or on a second display.

With ClutterFreeMac, give the shared window two thirds (⌃ ⌥ R) and keep notes in the next column. The shared window keeps a steady size while you move around, so the picture on the other end does not jump. If you must share the whole screen, pause arranging with ⌃ ⌥ P so nothing slides while people watch, and press it again after.

Questions

How do I share only one window on a Mac?

Choose window or app sharing instead of the whole screen in your meeting app, or in the macOS screen sharing picker.

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