Keeping notes private when you share your screen
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The sure way: share one window
In Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and every other meeting app, you can share a single window or app instead of your whole screen. Only that window is sent. Notes and everything else on your screen are never part of it.
What you see
What others see when you share one window
Sharing your whole screen
macOS lets an app mark a window “do not share”. When another app captures the whole screen, macOS leaves those windows out. Stickytray marks every note this way, so notes are hidden from screen sharing in most apps.
It isn't a guarantee, and anyone who promises “invisible everywhere” is overselling:
- The result depends on how the meeting app captures the screen and on your macOS version. Some macOS releases and some apps have shown these windows anyway.
- Zoom has its own setting: Settings › Share Screen › Advanced › Screen capture mode. If notes show up, choose Advanced capture with window filtering.
- Google Meet: sharing “A tab” or “A window” never includes notes; “Your entire screen” relies on macOS.
- Mirroring to a TV or projector, AirPlay, remote desktop tools, capture hardware and a camera pointed at the screen all show what's on the display.
Test it on your Mac
Stickytray has a built-in Privacy Check (Settings › Privacy). It shows two small patches for a second, captures the screen four different ways, and reports whether a note could be seen. Nothing is saved or sent. Run it after every macOS update, and do a test call before one that matters.
When you need to be certain
Hide the notes. In Stickytray, ⌃⌥H takes every note off the screen at once, and brings them back after the call. A hidden note can't be captured by anything.
Use it for the right things
This is for your own notes on calls, demos and presentations. Follow the rules of your workplace, school and any meeting you join, and don't use it where notes aren't allowed.
Questions
Can people see my sticky notes when I share my screen on Zoom?
If you share one window, no. If you share your whole screen, ordinary windows like Stickies are visible. Stickytray notes are marked “do not share” and are hidden in most cases; in Zoom, choose Advanced capture with window filtering if they show up.
Is there an app that is invisible in every screen recording?
No app can promise that. Capture-exclusion depends on macOS and on how the recording app captures the screen, and it never covers mirroring, AirPlay or a camera. Hiding notes before you share is the only sure way.
Does sharing one window really hide everything else?
Yes. When you share a single window or app, only that window is sent, in every meeting app.