Google Meet helps you to maintain video conferences together with your co-workers — or household and pals — utilizing your PC’s webcam or the selfie digital camera in your cellphone or pill. It works as an internet app in a desktop internet browser, and it’s additionally out there as a cellular app for Android and iOS.Meet is free to make use of you probably have a Google person account, similar to a Gmail account. And for those who use Google Workspace (previously known as G Suite), Meet is included together with your paid subscription.This information will rapidly stroll you thru the steps of organising and taking part in conferences in Google Meet.Free vs. paid variations of Google MeetIf you’re internet hosting a gathering utilizing a free Google person account (similar to Gmail), then as much as 100 individuals can attend your assembly. Your assembly can run as much as one hour.The Google Workspace Individual plan ($8 per thirty days) additionally limits the quantity of people that can attend a gathering to 100, however the assembly can last as long as 24 hours. The enterprise and enterprise plans (beginning at $6 per person per thirty days) permit a most of 100 to 250 contributors, relying on the plan; conferences can last as long as 24 hours.All Workspace plans embrace further options not within the free model of Meet, similar to breakout rooms, a dial-in choice for individuals who can solely use a standard cellphone name to take part, polls, and digital hand-raising. Some paid plans additionally provide attendance monitoring, background noise cancellation, Q&A classes, a number of co-hosts, assembly recording (with the video file saved to Google Drive), reside streaming, buyer assist, and/or superior safety features.Starting or scheduling a gatheringThere are quite a few methods to arrange a Meet assembly. You can achieve this from the Google Meet web site or cellular app, from Gmail, or from Google Calendar.Set up a gathering in MeetWhen you launch Meet in an internet browser, you’ll see a display like this: IDG
From the Meet house web page, you may create or be a part of a gathering. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Click the “New meeting” button on the left, and a menu opens with three choices:Create a gathering for later: When you click on this, a small panel opens that exhibits a hyperlink to a brand new assembly session. Click the double-page icon to repeat this hyperlink to your PC’s clipboard. You can then share this hyperlink, similar to by pasting it in an e mail or a messaging app.Start an prompt assembly: Clicking this begins a brand new assembly instantly in your present browser window.Schedule in Google Calendar: Scheduling a gathering in Google Meet works at the side of Google Calendar. Thus, clicking this opens the Google Calendar web site in a brand new browser window. (We’ll cowl scheduling a gathering in Calendar later within the story.)Starting a gathering from the Meet cellular app works the identical manner. Tapping the New assembly button on the prime of the house display slides up a panel with choices to get a gathering hyperlink to share, begin a gathering immediately, or schedule a gathering in Calendar. If you select Get a gathering hyperlink to share, a panel seems with the hyperlink to your assembly. IDG
Getting a gathering hyperlink to share within the Android app. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Tap the Share invite button and a sharing panel scrolls up that lists some people who find themselves in your social media apps, in addition to different apps which can be in your cellphone or pill. When you faucet considered one of these apps, a hyperlink to your assembly is forwarded to that app. Tapping Gmail, for instance, launches the Gmail app and opens a brand new e mail in it with a hyperlink to your assembly.Invite contributors if you’re in a gatheringIf you select to start out an prompt assembly from the Meet house web page, you’ll see a display with the assembly hyperlink over the principle assembly window. IDG
When you begin a gathering, you’re prompted to ask different contributors or copy the assembly hyperlink to share. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Clicking the double-page icon copies the hyperlink to your PC’s clipboard so you may share it with others.Clicking Add others opens a panel within the heart of the web page that exhibits an inventory of individuals in your Google contacts. Click the title of an individual or kind of their title or e mail handle; you may enter a couple of individual to ask. When you click on the Send e mail button, these individuals will get an e mail that has a hyperlink they’ll click on to affix your assembly. IDG
Sending an e mail invite to a gathering. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
At any time throughout a gathering, you may click on the Meeting particulars icon (an “i” in a circle) within the backside proper nook, then click on Copy becoming a member of information on the prime of the sidebar that seems to repeat the assembly hyperlink. Or click on the Show everybody icon (with silhouettes of two individuals), then click on Add individuals on the prime of the sidebar that opens to ship an e mail invite.The cellular app provides the identical choices. After you begin a brand new assembly, faucet the double-page icon to repeat a hyperlink to your assembly or faucet the Share invite button to see the identical sharing panel described earlier.At any time in the course of the assembly, you may convey up this sharing panel by tapping the three-dot icon within the decrease proper nook of the cellular app, tapping Add others, and choosing Share becoming a member of information.Set up a gathering in GmailCreating a brand new assembly in Gmail is simply as simple. In the lower-left nook of your Gmail house web page, click on the arrow to the left of the “Meet” heading. Clicking New assembly beneath will open a panel within the heart of your Gmail house web page the place you may click on the double-page icon to repeat a hyperlink for a brand new assembly session, click on Send invite after which Share through e mail to e mail an invitation to individuals to affix this new assembly, or click on Start now to start out the brand new assembly instantly in a brand new browser web page. IDG
From Gmail you can begin a Meet assembly immediately, copy the assembly information, or ship an e mail invitation for the assembly. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Note: If you don’t see the “Meet” heading within the lower-left nook of your Gmail house web page, click on the gear icon on the upper-right nook. Then click on the See all settings button and, on the following web page, click on the Chat and Meet tab heading. Toward the underside of this tab web page, you’ll discover the setting to activate Google Meet.As for the Gmail cellular app, Google Meet is constructed proper into it. Just faucet the Google Meet icon on the backside of the Gmail house display, and your cellphone or pill will swap to the Google Meet house display, the place you may arrange a gathering as described above.Schedule a gathering in Google CalendarAs famous earlier within the story, scheduling a gathering is completed at the side of Google Calendar. On the Meet house web page, click on the New assembly > Schedule in Google Calendar. The Google Calendar web site will open in a brand new browser window with a brand new occasion displaying. IDG
Scheduling a Meet assembly in Google Calendar. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Fill within the numerous entry traces to create your occasion (similar to choosing a date and time for the assembly, including the names or e mail addresses of people that you wish to invite to the assembly within the “Add guests” field, and so forth).Notice the “Join with Google Meet” button. Clicking it launches a gathering session inside a brand new browser tab. This button will seem within the e mail that’s despatched to individuals you invite, and they’ll click on it on the acceptable time to affix the assembly. (If you click on the X to the appropriate of this button, this may take away Google Meet because the platform to your scheduled occasion.)When you might be completed filling out the small print for the occasion, click on the Save button on the prime of the web page. On the panel that then opens, you may click on Send to have Google Calendar ship an invitation e mail to the individuals you added as company to this occasion.In the Meet cellular app, faucet New assembly within the upper-left nook. On the panel that slides up, faucet Schedule in Google Calendar. The Google Calendar app will launch with a brand new occasion displaying. IDG
Scheduling a gathering is simply as simple within the Calendar cellular app as on the Calendar web site. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Filling out an occasion within the Calendar app is identical as with the Google Calendar web site. Also notice “Google Meet” on this checklist of entries. (Tapping the X to the appropriate of this may take away Google Meet because the platform to your scheduled occasion.)Joining a gatheringAs with organising a gathering, there are a number of methods to affix a Meet assembly that you simply’ve been invited to.If Google Meet, Gmail, or any app that’s a part of Google Workspace (similar to Docs) is open in your PC internet browser, and also you get invited to affix a gathering in Google Meet, you’ll get a notification. Just click on Join assembly and the assembly display will open in your browser. The identical factor occurs you probably have the Google Meet app put in in your cellphone or pill. IDG
Click Join assembly to launch the assembly in a browser window. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Otherwise, you’ll obtain an e mail that incorporates a hyperlink to the assembly in addition to a code for the assembly. Or the one who began the assembly can share the hyperlink or assembly code with you thru one other app, similar to an prompt messenger.If you’re on a PC and click on the invite hyperlink, Google Meet will launch within the internet browser and also you’ll be a part of the assembly. If you’re utilizing a smartphone or pill, if you faucet the invite hyperlink, the Google Meet app will launch and also you’ll be a part of the assembly.You also can be a part of a gathering by going to the Meet web site in your browser, pasting the assembly code or hyperlink that was shared with you into the Enter a code or hyperlink subject, and clicking Join. Or launch the cellular app, faucet Join with a code, paste within the code, and faucet Join to launch the assembly.If the meet is a scheduled occasion, it should seem in an inventory on the house web page of the Meet web site or cellular app. Click the occasion in your browser to affix the assembly. In the cellular app, faucet the occasion, then faucet Join.To be a part of from Gmail, discover the “Meet” header within the decrease left nook, click on the arrow to the left of it, and click on Join a gathering. You’ll see a display that permits you to kind or paste in a code or hyperlink to a gathering that was shared with you.In Google Calendar, click on the occasion for the assembly you wish to be a part of, click on Join with Google Meet, and on the display that opens, click on Join now.Note: The first time you be a part of a gathering on any machine, you’ll want to permit Meet permission to entry your microphone and digital camera.In-meeting choicesOnce you’re in a gathering, you’ll see a toolbar throughout the middle backside of the display, plus a couple of extra icons within the decrease proper nook. Here are the important thing features to find out about. IDG
The major assembly controls are in a toolbar alongside the underside of the display. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
In the principle toolbar (from left to proper):Microphone: Click this to mute or un-mute your PC’s microphone.Camera: Turn your webcam off or on.CC: Turn this on and all spoken phrases shall be transcribed in actual time as on-screen captions.Present now (up arrow in field): This helps you to present a display out of your PC, similar to an utility window, a tab in your browser, or your whole desktop, to everybody within the assembly. For instance, you may present others a spreadsheet utility that you’ve operating in your PC.More choices (three vertical dots): Click this to see a number of extra in-meeting choices, together with the next.Whiteboard: This opens a pane to the appropriate from the place you can begin a brand new whiteboard (or open one saved in Google Drive) you could collaborate on with different individuals within the assembly. This whiteboard is, primarily, a fundamental sketching instrument.
Change format: You can choose from 4 layouts for a way the webcam feeds of the individuals within the assembly shall be organized in your display, and the dimensions of them.
Apply visible results: You can have Meet blur the background behind you, choose from a set of digital backgrounds that shall be set behind you, or add your individual picture to make use of as a digital background. Note that digital backgrounds work finest if you find yourself well-lit from the entrance, and the precise background behind you is apparent or easy trying — similar to a wall with nothing on it.
Leave name (cellphone handset): Click this to depart the assembly. You’ll be taken to a web page the place you may rejoin the assembly or return to the Google Meet house display.And, shifting over to the lower-right nook:Meeting particulars: As talked about earlier on this information, clicking this opens a pane from which you’ll be able to copy the assembly’s internet hyperlink to your pc’s clipboard.Show everybody: Also as talked about earlier on this information, this feature opens a pane from which you’ll be able to invite individuals to your assembly by emailing them. The pane additionally lists the people who find themselves presently within the assembly.Chat with everybody: This opens a chat window in a pane. You and everybody within the assembly can use this pane to speak amongst yourselves by typing messages.Activities: This choice lists different instruments that could be out there to you within the assembly, notably if you’re subscribed to a Google Workspace plan, similar to embrace breakout rooms, polls, and the power to document the assembly.Host controls: Meeting hosts will moreover see this icon, which helps you to management whether or not assembly contributors can share their scren, ship chat messages, activate their microphone, and activate their digital camera.Most of the features described above are accessed within the cellular app alongside the underside of your cellphone or pill display and if you faucet the three-dot icon, which opens a panel itemizing extra features. IDG
Tap the three-dot icon on the backside of the Meet app to open a panel with choices together with sharing your display and displaying reside captions. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Tapping on the assembly code (the 9 random letters) on the prime of the display takes you to a display the place you may copy the net hyperlink to your assembly to your cellular machine’s clipboard, and you’ll see an inventory of all of the people who find themselves within the assembly. And in Android, you may faucet on the picture of your individual webcam feed to go to a display the place you may change your digital background.
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