Cross-Platform LAN Screen Sharing: Stream Windows to Mac, Linux & Chromebooks
Overcome OS barriers and stream your Windows PC screen to macOS Safari, Linux Firefox, and ChromeOS browsers offline without client software.
In modern collaborative environments—software development agencies, university labs, and open-plan coworking spaces—operating system fragmentation is the norm. A presenter may be running Windows 11, while colleagues in the room are on MacBook Pros (macOS), development laptops (Ubuntu/Fedora Linux), or lightweight school Chromebooks.
Traditional wireless casting protocols fail to bridge this divide:
- Apple AirPlay only connects Apple devices.
- Miracast is supported on Windows and Android, but notoriously unsupported on macOS and Linux.
- Google Cast requires active Google services, proprietary receivers, and an internet connection.
ScreenTask breaks the operating system barrier completely. Because ScreenTask functions as a standards-compliant HTTP web server serving standard HTML5 image streams, any device equipped with a web browser can join the presentation immediately—with zero client software to download.
Viewing from Any Operating System
1. Apple macOS (Safari & Google Chrome)
Colleagues on MacBooks or iMacs do not need third-party utilities or AirPlay receivers:
- Ensure the Mac is connected to the same local Wi-Fi network as the Windows host PC.
- Open Safari or Google Chrome.
- In the address bar, type:
http://<WINDOWS-HOST-IP>:7070 - Press Enter. The Windows display renders immediately in the browser.
- Press
Control + Command + Fto view the stream in full-screen mode on macOS.
2. Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch Linux)
Linux workstations running Firefox, Chromium, or Brave have full out-of-the-box compatibility:
- Open your preferred Linux web browser.
- Navigate to
http://<WINDOWS-HOST-IP>:7070. - Press F11 to toggle borderless fullscreen viewing.
- Because ScreenTask relies on pure HTML5 DOM rendering, no proprietary codecs, VA-API hardware drivers, or Flash plugins are required.
3. Google ChromeOS (Chromebooks in Classrooms)
Chromebooks are ubiquitous in K-12 education, but school network policies often prevent students from installing Chrome extensions, Android APKs, or Linux containers:
- Open the native Chrome browser on the Chromebook.
- Enter the teacher’s ScreenTask URL (e.g.
http://192.168.1.100:7070). - Press the Fullscreen key (top row, above the 4 key) on the Chromebook keyboard for full-display visibility.
Hosting from Mac or Linux: The ScreenTask Java Port
What if your presenter is running macOS or Linux and wants to broadcast their screen to other computers?
While the official ScreenTask client is built in C# for Windows, open-source contributor Ahmad Omar created an official Java cross-platform port of ScreenTask:
- Repository: ScreenTask Java Port on GitHub
- Requirements: Any system with Java Runtime Environment (JRE 8 or newer) installed.
- Supported Hosts: macOS, Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, Fedora, FreeBSD.
To run the Java version on Linux or Mac:
# Verify Java installation
java -version
# Launch the cross-platform JAR
java -jar ScreenTask.jarThe Java edition presents a matching interface allowing you to pick your local network interface, specify port 7070, and broadcast your Mac or Linux desktop to any web browser on your LAN.
Summary Comparison Across Operating Systems
| Client OS | Browser Tested | App Install Needed? | Fullscreen Shortcut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | Edge, Chrome, Firefox | No | F11 |
| macOS | Safari, Chrome, Brave | No | Ctrl + Cmd + F |
| Linux | Firefox, Chromium | No | F11 |
| ChromeOS | Google Chrome | No | Fullscreen Key |
| iOS / iPadOS | Safari | No | “Add to Home Screen” |
| Android | Chrome, Samsung Internet | No | Browser Menu $\rightarrow$ Fullscreen |
Related Guides & Resources
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