You cannot remove WebRTC’s entire getDisplayMedia() picker or silently choose a screen, window, or tab. The browser must let the user choose a display surface on every call. You can, however, ask the browser to omit monitor choices with monitorTypeSurfaces: "exclude", express a preferred surface type with video.displaySurface, and inspect what the user selected after sharing starts.
What “without the screen area selector” can and cannot mean
There are two different requests hidden in this phrase:
- Hide entire-monitor choices. This is possible as a browser preference. Set the top-level
monitorTypeSurfacesoption to"exclude". - Remove the browser picker or select a source silently. This is not possible for a normal web page. The user agent must let the end user choose a display surface every time.
The normative rule is in the W3C Screen Capture specification: “The user agent MUST let the end-user choose which display surface to share out of all available choices every time, and MUST NOT use any MediaTrackConstraints in options.video or options.audio to limit that choice.” This protects users from a site recording a screen or window without an explicit selection.
Therefore, an application can influence presentation, not take ownership of source selection. The browser may ignore preference hints, and users retain the final decision.
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Minimal JavaScript implementation
This example asks the browser to exclude monitor surfaces, starts a video-only capture, and reports the type of surface the user actually selected.
async function startScreenShare() {
try {
const stream = await navigator.mediaDevices.getDisplayMedia({
video: true,
audio: false,
monitorTypeSurfaces: "exclude",
});
const [videoTrack] = stream.getVideoTracks();
const selectedSurface = videoTrack.getSettings().displaySurface;
console.log("User selected surface:", selectedSurface);
return stream;
} catch (error) {
console.error("Display capture was not started:", error);
throw error;
}
}getDisplayMedia() resolves only after the user has made a choice. The returned MediaStream can be attached to a preview or added to an RTCPeerConnection for WebRTC transmission.
Show a local preview
async function shareInto(videoElement) {
const stream = await startScreenShare();
videoElement.srcObject = stream;
await videoElement.play();
const [track] = stream.getVideoTracks();
track.addEventListener("ended", () => {
videoElement.srcObject = null;
console.log("The user stopped sharing");
});
return stream;
}Give the stop button an explicit way to end capture:
function stopScreenShare(videoElement) {
const stream = videoElement.srcObject;
if (stream) {
for (const track of stream.getTracks()) track.stop();
videoElement.srcObject = null;
}
}Options that affect the picker
| Option | What it does | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|
monitorTypeSurfaces: "exclude" |
Requests that entire monitors be left out of the available choices. | It does not guarantee removal; the specification allows a browser to ignore the preference. |
video: { displaySurface: "browser" } |
Expresses a preference for a browser-tab surface. | It does not identify a particular tab or remove windows and monitors. |
video: { displaySurface: "window" } |
Expresses a preference for a window surface. | It does not force the user to share a particular window. |
video: { displaySurface: "monitor" } |
Expresses a preference for an entire monitor. | It must not be combined with monitorTypeSurfaces: "exclude". |
selfBrowserSurface: "exclude" |
Asks the browser not to offer the current application tab, which can help avoid recursively sharing your own preview. | It does not remove the picker or all browser tabs. |
preferCurrentTab: true |
Asks supporting browsers to make the current tab prominent. | It is the opposite goal of excluding the current tab and remains only a hint. |
These controls are documented by MDN’s getDisplayMedia reference and browser-specific guidance from Chrome for Developers. Support and presentation can vary by browser and version, so test every browser your product promises to support.
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If your workflow normally needs a window and should avoid the current tab, use separate hints:
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async function shareWindow() {
const stream = await navigator.mediaDevices.getDisplayMedia({
video: { displaySurface: "window" },
audio: false,
monitorTypeSurfaces: "exclude",
selfBrowserSurface: "exclude",
});
const [track] = stream.getVideoTracks();
console.log("Actual selection:", track.getSettings().displaySurface);
return stream;
}This configuration asks for a window, requests that monitors be excluded, and asks to exclude the current tab where supported. It still opens the browser-controlled picker. Do not set displaySurface: "monitor" while also requesting monitorTypeSurfaces: "exclude"; MDN documents that contradiction as a possible TypeError.
Read the user’s final choice
displaySurface is useful in two different places. In the request, it is a preference. In the returned track’s settings, it reports the result after the user chooses:
const stream = await navigator.mediaDevices.getDisplayMedia({
video: true,
audio: false,
monitorTypeSurfaces: "exclude",
});
const track = stream.getVideoTracks()[0];
const settings = track.getSettings();
switch (settings.displaySurface) {
case "browser":
console.log("A browser tab was shared");
break;
case "window":
console.log("An application window was shared");
break;
case "monitor":
console.log("A monitor was shared");
break;
default:
console.log("The browser did not report a surface type");
}Do not use this value to pretend that your application selected the source. It is a report of the user’s decision and may be unavailable in a particular implementation.
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Why a web app cannot preselect a specific tab or window
A browser knows which tabs, windows, and displays are available, but exposing a direct source selector to page script would let a site capture sensitive content without a deliberate user choice. Chrome’s screen-sharing guidance explicitly explains that a web app cannot preselect a particular window or screen because that would give the application too much power over the user’s choice.
Media-track constraints are therefore not a workaround. The specification specifically prevents options.video and options.audio constraints from limiting the set of surfaces presented to the user.
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Production error handling and recovery
The promise rejects with a TypeError
- Check for contradictory settings, especially
displaySurface: "monitor"together withmonitorTypeSurfaces: "exclude". - Validate option spelling and value casing. Use
"browser","window", or"monitor"exactly. - Retry with a minimal request such as
{ video: true, audio: false }to isolate browser-specific hint handling.
The user closes or cancels the picker
Treat cancellation as a normal branch, not an application failure. Keep the share button available and explain that a display surface must be selected. Do not repeatedly invoke the picker without another user action.
async function requestShare() {
try {
return await navigator.mediaDevices.getDisplayMedia({
video: true,
audio: false,
monitorTypeSurfaces: "exclude",
});
} catch (error) {
if (error && (error.name === "AbortError" || error.name === "NotAllowedError")) {
showMessage("Sharing was cancelled or not allowed. Choose a surface to continue.");
return null;
}
showMessage("This browser could not start display capture.");
throw error;
}
}Monitor choices still appear
monitorTypeSurfaces is a preference, not an enforceable restriction. The browser may ignore it. Record the browser and version during compatibility testing and design the UI so it remains safe if a monitor is offered.
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Add selfBrowserSurface: "exclude" when supported. If your product instead needs the current tab to be easy to select, use preferCurrentTab: true; do not combine those opposing goals.
The stream ends unexpectedly
Users can stop sharing from browser chrome. Listen for the video track’s ended event, remove the preview, stop any peer-connection sender that depends on the track, and update your UI to offer a new share action.
Compatibility and testing checklist
- Test the exact browser versions and operating systems you support; optional hints can be ignored or presented differently.
- Verify tab, window, and monitor choices separately.
- Verify the behavior when the current tab is excluded and when it is preferred.
- Test cancellation, permission denial, repeated starts, and the browser’s stop-sharing control.
- Log
track.getSettings().displaySurfaceafter selection so support reports distinguish the requested preference from the actual result. - Confirm your WebRTC sender handles track replacement or an ended track without leaving a stale video element.
Or skip the browser setup
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently asked questions
Can JavaScript hide the entire screen-area selector?
No. The browser must present a user-controlled surface choice for every getDisplayMedia() call.
Does monitorTypeSurfaces: "exclude" guarantee that no monitor is offered?
No. It is a preference that a user agent may ignore, so verify behavior in the browser versions you support.
How do I know whether the user picked a tab or a window?
Read getSettings().displaySurface on the returned video track after the picker completes.
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Can ScreenshotNeo capture a user’s live desktop?
No. ScreenshotNeo captures web pages from URLs. Use getDisplayMedia() when the user must choose and share a live tab, window, or monitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can JavaScript hide the entire screen-area selector?
No. The browser must present a user-controlled surface choice for every getDisplayMedia() call.
Does monitorTypeSurfaces: “exclude” guarantee that no monitor is offered?
No. It is a preference that a user agent may ignore, so verify behavior in the browser versions you support.
How do I know whether the user picked a tab or a window?
Read getSettings().displaySurface on the returned video track after the picker completes.
Can ScreenshotNeo capture a user’s live desktop?
No. ScreenshotNeo captures web pages from URLs. Use getDisplayMedia() when the user must choose and share a live tab, window, or monitor.
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