How to Use a Teleprompter on Zoom Calls Without Anyone Noticing

Zoom has no built-in teleprompter, despite the feature being requested across its forums for years. The workaround is straightforward: run a free browser teleprompter in a window positioned right next to your Zoom camera preview. Your eyes read the scrolling text but appear to be looking at the camera. The teleprompter tool takes about 30 seconds to set up for a Zoom call.

Zoom's Missing Teleprompter Feature

No. Zoom has features for background blur, filters, lighting adjustments, and touch-up appearance, but no native teleprompter. Users have been asking for it on Zoom's community forums since 2021 with no response. Third-party Zoom plugins exist, but most are paid ($5-15/month) and require installing an add-in that IT departments often block.

The alternative is external: run a teleprompter app or browser tab alongside Zoom. This works because Zoom does not know (or care) what is on the rest of your screen — only your camera feed and what you share. The teleprompter stays invisible to everyone else in the meeting.

The Three-Window Zoom Teleprompter Setup

Window 1: Zoom camera preview. Keep the small self-view in Zoom showing your face. Position it near your webcam so your eyes land close to the camera lens.

Window 2: Teleprompter. Open the teleprompter in a browser window. Resize it so the scrolling text appears right below or above your Zoom self-view, as close to the webcam as possible.

Window 3: Your presentation. Whatever slides, docs, or data you are sharing goes in a third window that you can switch to or screen-share from.

The key positioning rule: the teleprompter text needs to be near your camera lens. If your webcam is at the top of your monitor, put the teleprompter window high on the screen. If you use an external webcam clipped to a separate monitor, put the teleprompter on that monitor.

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When to Use a Teleprompter on Zoom

• Sales demos where you need to hit specific talking points. Prospect asks a technical question, you glance down and read your response. Much smoother than fumbling through notes.
• Executive all-hands and quarterly updates. Your CEO has prepared remarks. Scrolling teleprompter keeps pacing consistent.
• Webinars. Keynote-style presentations benefit from scripted intros and closings, even with improvised Q&A in between.
• Interviews where you are the interviewer. Your prepared questions scroll; you read them while maintaining eye contact with the interviewee.
• Legal or compliance statements. Required disclosures that must be read verbatim.

For casual team standups or 1:1 meetings, a teleprompter is overkill. This is for moments where your words matter and need to sound prepared but not robotic.

Can Other People See Your Teleprompter?

No. Zoom only transmits:

• Your webcam feed (your face)
• Your microphone audio
• Whatever you actively screen-share

Anything else on your screen — including the teleprompter window — stays on your side. Even if you are screen-sharing, you can share just one specific window or application, not your whole screen. Select "Share a specific window" and pick only your presentation. The teleprompter remains invisible.

Warning: If you accidentally share your whole screen, the teleprompter becomes visible to everyone. Always use "Share specific application window" for this workflow.

Same Trick Works on Teams, Google Meet, and Webex

The same positioning approach works for any video conferencing platform:

• Microsoft Teams: Same setup — Teams window for camera, browser for teleprompter. See our Teams teleprompter guide.
• Google Meet: Meet in Chrome, teleprompter in a second Chrome window.
• Cisco Webex: Webex app, browser teleprompter.
• GoToMeeting: Same principle.
• Slack Huddles: Huddle in Slack, teleprompter in browser window next to it.

All of these platforms only transmit what you explicitly share. The teleprompter stays in your private view.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a teleprompter on Zoom for free?

Yes — open a free browser teleprompter in a window next to your Zoom self-view. No Zoom plugin needed.

Will other meeting attendees see the teleprompter?

No. Zoom only transmits your camera and shared screen content. The teleprompter stays on your side.

Does Zoom have a teleprompter feature?

No. Zoom has never added a native teleprompter. Users have requested it for years. The workaround is an external teleprompter in a browser window.

Can I read from a teleprompter without looking like I am reading?

Yes, if you position the text near your webcam lens. Your eyes land on the text but appear to be looking at the camera. A medium-sized font and a moderate speed help maintain a natural cadence.