What is Google Meet Companion mode?
Thanks to its user-friendly interface and a generous free tier, Google Meet has become one of the best and most popular video conferencing tools. Being a Google product, its tight integration with Google Calendar, Gmail, Android smartphones, andChromebooksensures you can easily create and join meetings. The service also regularly releases new features that improve the video conferencing experience for everyone.
One of the newest additions to its feature set is the Google Meet Companion mode which allows users to join a meeting using two devices. The feature is primarily aimed at hybrid workspaces, where multiple people join a meeting from a conference room. They can use a secondary device to join the meeting in Companion mode to access features like chat, screen sharing, and more.
This guide details what Companion mode is and how to use it to supercharge your meetings.
Google Meet Companion mode is an excellent feature that solves one of the issues plaguing video conferencing meetings. Before Companion mode, if multiple people joined a video meeting from a conference room with in-room hardware, individuals could not fully participate in the meeting, as they could not use meeting chat, polls, Q&A, and other Google Meet features.
Google Meet Companion mode solves this issue by allowing individual participants to join meetings in Companion mode. When someone joins a meeting in Companion mode, their device’s audio is disabled by default to prevent feedback. Users can use their companion devices to access all the Google Meet features, including raising hands and screen sharing. While the video is turned off by default in Companion mode, users can turn it on to draw attention to themselves when speaking.
Google Meet Companion mode is also great for users who use multiple devices to join a meeting. For example, you can join the meeting via your Android smartphone for better video and audio quality but use your laptop as a companion device to take notes, chat with other meeting participants, and more.
Companion mode vs. Participant mode
There are differences between what you could do in Participant mode and Companion mode. Here is a breakdown of these differences.
When joining a Google Meet call using Companion mode, you could:
Add-ons like hand-raising, conducting polls, and Q&A are available but require a specificGoogle Workspace edition.
When entering a meeting in Companion mode, your audio and microphone are disabled by default. This prevents audio echoes for you and other participants. Google Meet displays two names for you in the participant list, one for your normal user and one for your Companion mode user.
Google Meet hides the participant grid in Companion mode to simplify the interface on your companion device.
To speak or listen to others using a companion device, connect to the hardware in the meeting room or use a Nest Hub Max for the call. it’s possible to also join the call with Participant mode on your laptop or mobile phone.
How to start Companion mode in Google Meet
There are two ways to connect your companion device to your Google Meet call. The first is by activating Companion mode from a meeting invite link.
The dedicated Companion mode website is the second way to activate Companion mode.
You must sign in to the Google account that was invited to the meeting on your secondary device. If not, you need approval from the meeting host to join the call.
How to share your screen using Companion mode
Sharing content on your Companion mode device is a useful way to split up your screens. Let’s look at how to share the screen on your secondary device.
How to share your camera in Companion mode
Not all devices have a serviceable camera. Companion Mode allows you to use the camera from your secondary device instead of your primary device while in your meeting.
How to raise your hand in Companion mode
A question may come up during a meeting, but it may be rude to interrupt. Google Meet includes a feature that lets you raise your hand, like in real life, so that the speaker can get to your question.
How to turn on Closed Captions in Companion mode
Closed Captions may be helpful if you’re hard of hearing or can’t understand something. Closed Captions generate a real-time text log of what is said.
Google Meet Companion mode FAQ
Let’s answer some common questions about Companion mode.
Is Companion mode available on mobile devices?
Companion mode isn’t available on Android or iOS. It is limited to Google Meet on the web, Nest Hub Max, and othercertified Google Meet hardware.
Do Companion mode participants count toward the participant limit?
Yes, Google Meet counts connections using Companion mode against the 100 participants limit.
Should I join a Google Meet meeting with Companion mode only?
Companion mode aims to improve your Google Meet video call with a second screen. You shouldn’t use your primary device and join the call with Companion mode only. It disables audio, microphone, and video on your device, so you won’t know what’s happening in the meeting.
A companion for your meeting
Virtual meetings are a fact of life, and Google Meet makes them easier with features like Companion mode. Companion mode helps you multitask and break up information and controls to make your meeting experience easier. Check out theseGoogle Meet tips and tricksto supercharge your Google Meet experience.
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