How to Use Google Meet for Video Calls

What is Google Meet?

Google Meet is Google's video conferencing platform, built into Google Workspace. It works in your web browser — no software to install — and integrates with Google Calendar for seamless meeting scheduling.

Key features:

• HD video and audio calls
• Screen sharing
• Meeting recording (with eligible plans)
• Live captions
• Works on desktop and mobile

Join a Meeting

From a Calendar Invite

• Open your Google Calendar
• Click on the meeting event
• Click the Join with Google Meet button
• Your browser opens Meet and you join the call

From an Email Link

• Find the meeting link in your email (looks like meet.google.com/xxx-xxxx-xxx)
• Click the link
• Your browser opens Meet
• Click Join now or Ask to join

From meet.google.com

• Go to meet.google.com
• Click Join or start a meeting
• Enter the meeting code (the letters after meet.google.com/)
• Click Join

Start an Instant Meeting

For an unscheduled quick call:

• Go to meet.google.com
• Click New meeting
• Select Start an instant meeting
• You are now in a meeting
• Click Add others or copy the meeting link to share

Before Joining

Preview Screen

Before entering a meeting, you see a preview:

• Camera preview — check how you look
• Microphone — choose your input device
• Camera — turn on/off before joining
• Speaker — test your audio output

Check Your Settings

Click the three dots (more options) to:

• Check audio and video settings
• Enable/disable background blur
• Change virtual background

Meeting Controls

Once in a meeting, you will see controls at the bottom of the screen:

Microphone (Mute/Unmute)

• Click the microphone icon to mute/unmute
• Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + D
• A red line through the icon means you are muted

Camera (On/Off)

• Click the camera icon to turn video on/off
• Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + E
• A red line means your camera is off

Present (Share Screen)

• Click Present now to share your screen
• Choose to share your entire screen, a window, or a browser tab
• Click Stop sharing when done

More Options (Three Dots)

Access additional features:

• Change layout
• Apply visual effects
• Turn on captions
• Open whiteboard
• Record meeting (if available)

People

See who is in the meeting and invite others.

Chat

Send text messages to all participants during the call.

Leave Call

Click the red phone icon to leave the meeting.

Share Your Screen

Start Presenting

• Click Present now at the bottom of the screen
• Choose what to share:

- Your entire screen — shows everything on your display - A window — share only one application - A tab — share a single browser tab (best for sharing videos with audio)

• Select the screen, window, or tab
• Click Share

Stop Presenting

Click Stop sharing at the bottom of the screen, or Stop presenting in the Meet controls.

Tips for Presenting

• Close unnecessary windows before sharing your entire screen
• Use "A tab" option when sharing videos — this includes the audio
• Be aware of notifications that might appear while sharing

Use Virtual Backgrounds

Hide your real background with effects:

• Click the three dots (More options)
• Select Apply visual effects
• Choose from:

- Blur — slightly or strongly blur your background - Backgrounds — use a preset image - Upload — use your own image

• The effect applies immediately

Turn On Captions

Google Meet can show live captions of what is being said:

• Click CC (captions) at the bottom of the screen
• Captions appear at the bottom as people speak
• Click CC again to turn off

Captions are only visible to you — they are not recorded or shared.

Change Your Layout

See participants differently:

• Click the three dots (More options)
• Select Change layout
• Choose:

- Auto — Meet decides the best view - Tiled — see multiple people at once (grid view) - Sidebar — focus on speaker with others on the side - Spotlight — only see the active speaker

Meeting Host Controls

If you organised the meeting, you have extra controls:

Mute Participants

• Click on a participant's name
• Click the microphone icon to mute them

Remove Participants

• Click on a participant's name
• Click Remove from meeting

End Meeting for All

When you leave, you can:

• Just leave (meeting continues)
• End the meeting for everyone

Join on Mobile

Install the App

Download Google Meet from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android).

Join a Meeting

• Open the Meet app
• Tap Join with a code
• Enter the meeting code
• Tap Join

Or tap the meeting link from your calendar or email.

Troubleshooting

Camera or Microphone Not Working

• Check browser permissions — click the camera icon in your browser's address bar
• Select the correct device in Meet settings
• Restart your browser

Poor Video Quality

• Close other applications using bandwidth
• Move closer to your WiFi router
• Turn off your camera if audio is more important

Cannot Hear Others

• Check your speaker selection in Meet settings
• Increase volume on your computer
• Try using headphones

Echo or Feedback

• Use headphones to prevent speaker audio from reaching your microphone
• Mute when not speaking
• Ask others to do the same

Need Help?

For Google Meet support or video conferencing setup, contact helpdesk@netlumait.com.au or call 1300 521 162.