How to share screen on fedora?

Sharing your screen on Fedora is a straightforward process, primarily done through its intuitive built-in GNOME desktop environment settings. This allows you to present your desktop to others over a local network or securely via a remote connection.

Enabling Screen Sharing on Fedora

The default Fedora Workstation utilizes the GNOME desktop environment, which includes a user-friendly screen sharing utility. Follow these steps to activate and configure it:

1. Open Settings:

   • Click on the "Activities" overview (usually located in the top-left corner or accessed by pressing the Super key).
   • Search for "Settings" and launch the application.
   • Practical Insight: You can also right-click on an empty space on your desktop and select "Settings" from the context menu.

2. Navigate to Sharing:

   • In the left sidebar of the Settings window, locate and click on "Sharing".

3. Toggle Sharing On:

   • At the top of the Sharing pane, you will find a master toggle switch. Click it to turn "Sharing" to the "On" position.
   • Important: Your system may prompt you to set a recognizable network name if one isn't already configured.

4. Configure Screen Sharing:

   • Once the main sharing toggle is enabled, click on "Screen Sharing" from the options that appear below the master toggle. This will open the specific configuration panel for screen sharing.

Screen Sharing Options

Within the "Screen Sharing" configuration, you'll find important options to customize how your screen is shared:

• Allow connections to control the screen: When enabled, this option grants remote users not only the ability to view your desktop but also to interact with it using their mouse and keyboard.
• New connections can request access: If this option is active, you will receive a notification and must explicitly approve each new connection request before a remote user can view or control your screen. This feature enhances security by preventing unauthorized access.
• Require a password: For significantly improved security, it is highly recommended to enable this option and set a strong, unique password. Remote users will need this password to successfully connect to your screen.
• Networks: This setting allows you to specify which active network connections (e.g., Wi-Fi, wired Ethernet) are permitted to participate in the screen sharing session.

Quick Steps Summary

Here's a concise overview of the essential steps for enabling screen sharing:

Step	Action	Details
1	Open	Settings application on your Fedora system
2	Click	Sharing option in the left sidebar
3	Toggle	Main Sharing switch to the On position
4	Select	Screen Sharing to access specific settings

Before You Share: Important Considerations

To ensure a smooth and secure screen sharing experience, keep the following points in mind:

• Network Connectivity: Both your Fedora system and the client device attempting to connect must be on the same local network, or appropriate network routing and port forwarding must be configured for remote connections.
• Firewall Settings: Fedora utilizes firewalld as its default firewall. Screen sharing typically relies on the VNC (Virtual Network Computing) protocol. You might need to ensure that the VNC service is allowed through your firewall.
  • To allow VNC service permanently: sudo firewall-cmd --add-service=vnc-server --permanent
  • To reload firewall rules: sudo firewall-cmd --reload
• VNC Client: The remote user will require a VNC client application (such as Remmina, Vinagre, TightVNC Viewer, or RealVNC Viewer) to establish a connection to your Fedora system. They will need your system's IP address and the password you set (if "Require a password" is enabled).
• Privacy: Always be mindful of the content displayed on your screen. Close any sensitive applications or minimize windows you do not wish to share with others.

For more comprehensive details on network sharing features in Fedora, you can refer to the official Fedora Documentation.