How to use Google Meet on your phone or computer
Google Meet is one of the most popular video conferencing services, with a user-friendly UI and a range of features. The video calling tool integrates seamlessly with other Google products like Gmail and Google Calendar and simplifies the process of scheduling and joining meetings. The app works on smartphones, tablets, laptops, andbudget Chromebooks.
Knowing how to join calls and create new meetings is vital, especially if you’re new to Google Meet. Here’s a step-by-step guide to set up your first meeting.
Do you need to set up Google Meet?
Like other Google apps, Meet lives on the web. All you need is a Google account to use Meet through its website. You don’t have to download and install an app on your computer. But you need apps for smartphones and tablets. You don’t have to follow extra steps to set it up. Google Meet lets you create a new meeting straightaway.
How to start a new meeting on Google Meet
Google integrated Meet into many of its apps and platforms, giving you several ways to start a meeting.
Start a Google Meet meeting on the web
Depending on how you invite guests, Google Meet may ask you to permit each invitee into the video chat. Watch for notifications requesting access to your meeting.
Start a Google Meet meeting through Gmail for the web
With Gmail open in a browser tab, you don’t need to go to Meet’s web page. Google makes it easy to start meetings from Gmail.
With Meet built into the service many of us use regularly, you can create new meetings without going to another web page. Plus, Gmail makes it easier to track your scheduled meetings in Google Calendar.
Start a Google Meet meeting from Google productivity apps
The company integrated Google Meet into all the productivity apps like Docs, Sheets, and Slides. it’s possible to compose a new Google Meet call with a single click when reviewing a document, presentation, or financial sheet. Let’s check it in action on Google Docs.
Start a Google Meet meeting on mobile
Now that Google has merged Duo and Meet, your personal and work calls sit in a single app. You can create meetings and share them with your friends or colleagues from your phone using the new Meet app.
Schedule in Google Calendarlets you create a calendar entry for your meeting, give it a title, and add people so that the scheduled call shows up in their calendars. TapSave.
Using Meet with your personal Google account gives you extra features like calling Google Home speakers at home and creating groups for family and friends. You can also scroll down to see the list of your contacts who use Google Meet, allowing you to place a direct call using their phone number.
Start a Google Meet meeting on a tablet
The Google Meet app is available on tablets. If you’re traveling or away from your laptop or desktop, your tablet may come in handy to join or compose a quick call. A bigger screen is always beneficial for glancing over the participants' list and having a productive call. We use Google Meet on an iPad as an example here.
How to join a meeting on Google Meet
While creating a new meeting in Google Meet is easy, joining one is easier.
Join a meeting via a meeting link
The simplest way to join a Google Meet session is to use the meeting link shared with you over chat or in an email.
you may follow the same steps to join a call on your mobile phone. The only difference is that the link takes you to the Google Meet app instead of the browser and asks you to select the correct Gmail account if you have multiple Google accounts on your phone.
If the Google Meet app isn’t installed on your phone, clicking the link takes you to the Play Store, where you can download the app.
Join a meeting via Meet on the web
There are several ways to join a meeting with Meet on the web.
TheUse Companion modeoption appears when joining a Google Meet call on the web. This Google add-on is for hybrid meetings. Read our dedicated post to learn more aboutGoogle Meet companion mode.
Joining a meeting during your commute? Turn on this feature for the best experience
Join a meeting via Google Calendar
If the organizer schedules a one-off or a recurring meeting on Google Calendar and adds you to the guest list, the meeting appears in your Google Calendar.
Google Meet in-meeting options
You can change Google Meet’s default settings after joining or creating a meeting. The toolbar at the bottom displays options to tweak the screen layout, add reactions, and turn on closed captions.
How to view closed captions in Google Meet
We use a desktop PC for the steps below, but the method is the same for Android, iPhone, and iPad. Here’s how to turn on closed captions:
How to use reactions in Google Meet on the web
Here’s how to send reactions during a meeting:
How to use reactions in Google Meet on mobile
Follow these steps to send reactions from your phone:
How to change the layout in Google Meet
You can choose a new layout to change how Google Meet displays participants. This works on the web version only.
Is Google Meet free to use?
Early on, Google allowed you to host long calls with tens of participants, even with a free account. But Google Meet has become limited since then, following in the footsteps of Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
For one-to-one calls, Meet remains free with a 24-hour upper limit, which is practically unlimited. However, if you add more guests, your calls have a 60-minute limit on a free account. It’s still better than Zoom’s 40-minute cap and should be enough for most small businesses and individuals.
You need a Google Workspace subscription to host longer group calls. All paid Workspace tiers increase the call limit on Google Meet to 24 hours. You can start for as low as $6 a month, which gets you several other business features, including an email address with your custom domain. If you’re new to Google’s paid business plans, check ourguide on Google Workspace.
Enhance your Google Meet experience
Meetings via video calls are unavoidable, but they don’t have to be boring. Whether you use Google Meet for daily standups or to call family and friends, there are many ways to enhance your experience. Make the most of your meetings with theseGoogle Meet tips and tricks.
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