Google Meet basics
How to start and join video calls using Google Meet — the video conferencing tool included with Google Workspace.
Google Meet is the video calling and conferencing tool built into Google Workspace. You can start a meeting instantly, join from a calendar invite, or schedule a call in advance — all without downloading any extra software.
Quick summary
Start a meeting at meet.google.com or from Google Calendar. Share the meeting link with participants. They can join in a browser — no app required. Meet works on phones, tablets, and computers. Recordings (on supported plans) save to Drive automatically.
Starting a meeting
Go to meet.google.com and click New meeting. Choose "Start an instant meeting" to jump straight in, or "Create a meeting for later" to get a link you can share in advance.
When creating or editing a Calendar event, click Add Google Meet video conferencing. A Meet link is generated automatically and included in the invitation sent to all guests.
In Gmail, look for the Meet section in the left sidebar. Click New meeting to start a call, or Join a meeting and enter the meeting code.
Joining a meeting
Click the meeting link from your calendar invite, email, or wherever it was shared.
Check your camera and microphone in the preview screen. Make sure you look and sound good before joining.
Click Join now. You're in the meeting.
You can join without a Google account — just open the link in your browser. If the host requires sign-in (common in organizations with security settings), you'll need to sign in with your Workspace account.
Controls during a meeting
| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| Microphone icon | Mute / unmute your microphone |
| Camera icon | Turn your camera on or off |
| Present now | Share your screen or a specific window |
| People icon | See who's in the meeting, mute others (if you're the host) |
| Chat icon | Open the in-meeting chat to send messages |
| Three-dot menu | More options: settings, captions, recording |
| Red phone icon | Leave the meeting |
Sharing your screen
Click Present now in the meeting controls.
Choose what to share:
- Your entire screen — shows everything on your monitor
- A window — shows only one specific app or browser window
- A tab — shows only one browser tab (best for presentations)
Click Share. Others can now see what you're showing.
To stop sharing, click Stop sharing in the bar at the bottom of your screen.
Recording a meeting
Business Standard and higherIf your plan supports it, you can record a meeting for people who can't attend.
Click the three-dot menu (Activities) in the meeting controls.
Choose Recording → Start recording. A notification appears on screen so everyone knows they're being recorded.
When the meeting ends, the recording saves automatically to the meeting organizer's Google Drive, in a folder called "Meet recordings."
Recording laws vary by location
In many places, you must inform all participants before recording. Google Meet shows an on-screen notice when recording starts, but it's good practice to mention it verbally too.
Live captions
Meet offers automatic live captions. Click the three-dot menu → Turn on captions. Captions appear at the bottom of the screen in real time. This is helpful for people with hearing differences or who are in a noisy environment.
Maximum participants
- Business Starter: up to 100 participants
- Business Standard: up to 150 participants
- Business Plus and Enterprise: up to 500 participants
Common questions
Related guides
Need a hand?
Learn more
Sharing a calendar
How to share your Google Calendar with colleagues, clients, or your whole organization — and how to control what they can see.
Google Workspace on your phone
How to set up and use Google Workspace on an iPhone or Android phone — installing apps, signing in, and using Gmail, Drive, Calendar, and Meet on the go.