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How to Play Music for Everyone on Zoom

  • Writer: Mischa Plouffe
    Mischa Plouffe
  • Jun 23
  • 2 min read

Whether you’re hosting a virtual party, teaching a dance class, running a webinar, or just want to vibe with friends, learning how to play music for everyone on Zoom is a game-changer. Thankfully, Zoom makes it easy to share high-quality audio with all participants, as long as you know which settings to use. Let’s break it down step by step.


Use Zoom’s Share Screen Audio Feature

The easiest and most reliable method to play music for everyone on Zoom is by using the Share Screen option with audio enabled. Here’s how:

  1. Open Zoom and start or join a meeting.

  2. Click the Share Screen button (usually at the bottom of the window).

  3. In the pop-up window, click the Advanced tab at the top.

  4. Select Computer Audio (or "Music or Computer Sound Only").

  5. Hit Share.

Now, any music you play on your computer, whether through Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, or any other app, will be broadcast to everyone in the meeting.

Pro Tip: Adjust your computer’s volume before sharing audio. Whatever volume you set will be what your Zoom attendees hear.

2. Share a Music Video or Streaming Tab

If you want to share both video and audio (for example, a music video or a DJ set):

  1. Click Share Screen again.

  2. Select the browser tab or app window where the video is playing.

  3. Make sure to check the box for Share sound before confirming.

This method is great for virtual events, watch parties, or online classes where visual content matters.

3. Optimize Audio for Best Quality

To improve how music sounds to your participants:

  1. In Zoom’s main settings, go to Audio.

  2. Check Show in-meeting option to enable Original Sound.

  3. During your meeting, click Turn On Original Sound (usually in the top-left corner of the Zoom window).

This bypasses Zoom’s default voice optimization, which can muffle music, and streams the raw audio directly to your audience.

4. Use a Virtual Audio Cable or Audio Mixer (Advanced)

For DJs, podcasters, or those wanting pro-level sound:

  • Use software like VB-Audio’s Virtual Audio Cable or Loopback Audio (Mac).

  • Route your music app’s audio directly into Zoom as a microphone input.

This setup delivers studio-quality sound but requires a bit more technical know-how.

5. Mute Your Mic While Playing Music

Remember to mute your physical mic while streaming music to avoid background noise or feedback disrupting the sound.

Whether you stick to the simple Share Audio method or set up a pro-level virtual mixer, sharing music on Zoom is easy and effective.

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