Veil
Screen-sharing privacy · Mac
The “blur background” button in Zoom or Meet changes the webcam image behind your face. It does not conceal an email window, private chat, or browser tab on the Mac screen you share. For those windows, choose a deliberate blur you switch on before presenting, or a tool that can activate a privacy curtain when sharing starts.
“Automatic” describes when protection starts, not a guarantee that every app, notification, or sharing mode is covered. Test the actual view in a private meeting before relying on any option.
| Decision point | Veil (manual) | Hush (optional auto) | Curtainly Pro (auto curtain) |
|---|---|---|---|
| When it starts | You switch blur on from the menu bar before sharing. | Menu bar or hotkey; optional activation when macOS screen sharing is detected. | Can show its curtain automatically for supported meeting-app sharing. |
| What stays visible | Cover App keeps one chosen app clear, or Frontmost Window follows focus. | Focus Mode can keep the active window or selected apps visible. | A presentation curtain covers desktop clutter while selected content stays in view. |
| Desktop cleanup | Blurs background application windows; does not hide wallpaper or desktop icons. | Separate Desktop Mode can handle wallpaper, icons, and widgets. | Curtain workflow focuses on the shared desktop and presentation cleanup. |
| Best fit | You rehearse a share and want to decide exactly when blur begins. | You want window focus controls plus an optional sharing trigger. | You want a curtain to appear as a supported screen share begins. |
| Check before a call | Remember to toggle on and confirm the chosen app stays clear. | Enable the automatic option and test the sharing mode you will use. | Verify that the meeting app and share mode trigger the curtain. |
Product behavior described by Hush's developer and Curtainly's product site; confirm current behavior in your own meeting setup.
Veil softens inactive application windows on your Mac while one selected app or the frontmost window remains readable. That is useful when a demo needs to move across the desktop without exposing the contents of windows behind it.
FAQ
No. Turn Veil on from the Mac menu bar before sharing, then check what a viewer can see. Veil does not detect a Zoom, Teams, or Meet share.
No. Webcam background blur changes the camera image behind your face. A screen-sharing privacy tool changes how windows or desktop content appear when you present your Mac screen.
Test the exact meeting app and share mode before a sensitive call. Close confidential windows first and use macOS Focus for notifications; do not rely on an activation trigger as your only safeguard.
No. Veil softens background application windows while the selected app or frontmost window remains clear. It does not hide macOS notification banners or redact content inside the clear app.