How to share the virtual model on Zoom, Meet, Teams or WhatsApp without it freezing
A video call with the virtual model is the visit for the buyer who is far away, and when it works, it can close like an in-person visit. When it fails, it almost always fails for technical reasons: the tour arrives in jerks, the client cannot hear, the image freezes just as the rep turns toward the balcony. And the project takes the blame.
We explain how to lead the conversation in how to present a project over video call. This article is the technical side: what to set up on each platform so the tour looks smooth.
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Why it freezes
Video call platforms compress what you share based on what they think it is. Zoom, for example, has two modes: normal sharing, optimized for clarity with a lower frame rate, designed for documents; and video sharing, optimized for motion with a higher frame rate. A 3D tour is all motion: if you share it in document mode, it will look sharp when it is still and choppy when it moves.
Two ways to show the model
| Method | How it works | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|
| Screen sharing | The rep drives the model and everyone sees their screen | When the client has a poor connection or prefers the rep to drive |
| Shared link | Everyone opens the tour on their own device and talks over the call | When the image has to look perfect, or the client wants to explore on their own |
The second looks better, because the image does not go through the video call's compression. If the tour is streamed from a server, as we explain in pixel streaming, the client does not need a powerful device: a browser is enough.
Zoom
- When sharing, choose the tour's window, not the whole screen.
- Check Share sound and Optimize for video clip before clicking Share.
- If you want the client to drive, Zoom lets you give them remote control of what you are sharing, as long as the option is enabled in the account settings.
Google Meet
- Open the tour in a Chrome tab and present that tab. Google recommends this option because it has the full feature set, and it shares the tab's audio.
- If you present a window or your entire screen, system audio is only shared on recent versions of Windows and macOS.
Microsoft Teams
- Share the tour's window. If you want the client to explore, use Give control from the presenter toolbar.
- In many companies the administrator blocks that option; test it beforehand with someone outside your organization.
Many buyers prefer WhatsApp because they already have it open. Since 2023, WhatsApp has allowed screen sharing on video calls, on phones and on computers, and group calls take up to 32 people. It works well for showing the tour from the rep's phone. Two precautions: turn the phone to landscape and on do not disturb, so a notification does not cover the balcony, and keep in mind that on a phone the image looks smaller than on a computer.
The connection
Zoom estimates about 3.8 Mbps of upload for 1080p video on a one-on-one call. For whoever shares the model, what matters most is upload, not download, and it is exactly the one people rarely measure. Some recommendations:
- A network cable instead of Wi-Fi on the rep's computer.
- Close whatever uses bandwidth: file sync, updates, other tabs.
- Turn off your camera during the tour if the connection is tight: the client wants to see the apartment, not the rep.
Handing control to the client
The call changes when the client drives: they stop watching and start exploring. There are two ways to do it: the platform's remote control, which Zoom and Teams allow, or sending them the link so they explore on their own device while the rep guides them verbally. The second usually works better with clients on phones. We explain why it matters in how to present an apartment that does not exist yet.
The plan B
- A recorded video of each unit type's tour, ready to share if the model fails.
- The 360° tour link, which is light and opens on any phone.
- A second connection, even if it is your phone as a hotspot.
- A five-minute test with a colleague before each important appointment.
Checklist before each video call
| What to check | How |
|---|---|
| The tour opens | Open it five minutes early, on the client's unit type |
| It looks smooth | Share with a colleague and pan the camera around the living room |
| It can be heard | Check the tour's sound is low or off and your microphone is on |
| The client can join | Send them the call link and the tour link over WhatsApp |
| There is a plan B | Keep the video and the 360° link one click away |
At Inviewd we leave the tour ready to be shared on video calls and opened on a phone without installing anything, with the same model as in the sales room. If the call includes several people in different countries, see video calls with several decision-makers.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a 3D tour freeze when I share it on Zoom?
Because the normal screen-sharing mode is optimized for documents, with a low frame rate. When sharing, choose the tour's window and turn on the options to share sound and optimize for video.
How do you share a 3D tour on Google Meet?
By opening the tour in a Chrome tab and presenting that tab, which is the option Google recommends and the one that shares the tab's audio.
Can you show the virtual model over WhatsApp?
Yes. WhatsApp has allowed screen sharing on video calls since 2023, on phones and computers, and group calls take up to 32 people. It helps to turn the phone to landscape and on do not disturb.
Which is better, sharing your screen or sending the tour link?
Sending the link looks better, because the image does not go through the video call's compression, and it lets the client explore on their own. Screen sharing makes sense when the client has a poor connection or prefers the rep to drive.
Sources
Zoom — Calculating bandwidth usage for Zoom Meetings · Zoom — Optimizing a shared video in full screen · Zoom — Requesting or giving remote control · Google Meet Help — Present during a video meeting · Microsoft — Present content in Teams meetings · TechCrunch — WhatsApp introduces screen sharing during video calls (2023) · WhatsApp Help — How to make a group video call
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