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How to Stream Games and Applications to Discord from Desktop or Mobile (opens in new tab)

discordandroidioslinuxmacoswindowsvideo-streamingscreen-sharing

Discord lets users stream games, applications, or entire screens from desktop and mobile while in a voice call. Desktop users can choose between sharing a specific application or their whole screen, while mobile users can only share everything displayed on their device. Stream quality, audio support, and available features vary by platform, with Nitro offering higher-resolution streaming options.

Streaming from Desktop

  • Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Join a voice call in a server channel or DM.
  • Select the screen-sharing button, then choose:
    • A specific application or game
    • The entire screen
    • A capture device
  • Adjust stream quality and select Go Live.

Streaming from Mobile

  • Available on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.
  • Open a voice call and expand the bottom options menu.
  • Tap Share Your Screen and confirm using the device’s streaming controls.
  • Mobile streaming shares the entire screen, including notifications and device audio.
  • Users should mute notifications to avoid exposing private information.

Sharing an Application vs. the Entire Screen

  • Share Application
    • Shows only the selected game or application.
    • Can include audio from that application without sharing sounds from other apps.
    • Helps keep unrelated content and notifications private.
  • Share Entire Screen
    • Shows everything visible on the display.
    • Can share system audio from all applications.
    • Viewers may see notifications, messages, or other sensitive content.
  • Mobile devices only support full-screen sharing.

Audio Support by Platform

  • Windows, the mobile app, and Chrome support application audio sharing without additional setup.
  • macOS supports audio streaming on macOS Ventura or later.
  • Audio sharing is unavailable through non-Chrome browsers and on Linux at the time of publication.

Choosing Stream Quality

  • Smoother Video prioritizes frame rate by reducing resolution, making it better for fast-moving games.
  • Better Text Readability preserves the application’s resolution while lowering frame rate, which is useful for documents, artwork, or homework.
  • Discord Nitro provides HD streaming at higher resolutions and up to 60 frames per second.

Choose application sharing when privacy and focused audio matter; use full-screen sharing when viewers need to see everything. On mobile, review notifications and other visible content before starting because the entire device screen will be broadcast.