- What you need before your first call
- Start a meeting straight away
- Create a link for later
- Schedule it in Google Calendar
- Start a call from Gmail
- Joining someone else's meeting
- The buttons you'll use during a call
- Using Meet on your phone
- Know the time limit before a big call
- Tips to look and sound better
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To use Google Meet, go to meet.google.com, click New meeting and either start an instant meeting or copy the link to share. To join someone else's call, click their link or enter the meeting code and click Join. All you need is a Google account, a browser or the Meet app, and permission for Meet to use your camera and microphone.
Google Meet is the video call tool I suggest to anyone who wants something simple that just works. There's nothing to install on a computer, guests can join from a link, and if you already use Gmail or Google Calendar, it's built right in. This guide takes you from your very first call to the features that make you look like a pro, such as sharing your screen, using the chat and running polls.
What you need before your first call
- A Google account. Google says you need one to use Meet.
- A supported web browser on your computer, or the Meet app (or Gmail app) on your phone.
- A webcam and microphone, built in or plugged in.
- Permission for Meet to use them. The first time you click New meeting, your browser asks, and you click Allow.
Start a meeting straight away
- Go to meet.google.com.
- Click New meeting.
- Choose Start an instant meeting.
- Share the link that appears with the people you want to join, or use Add people.
Create a link for later
If the meeting is next week, click New meeting and choose Create a meeting for later. Copy the link and send it. When it's time, paste the link into your browser, or into the box marked Enter a code or link, and click Join. It's the cleanest option when you're booking calls by email.
Schedule it in Google Calendar
For anything with a date and time, I'd always schedule through Calendar. Click New meeting, then Schedule in Google Calendar, add the details and save. Google's cheat sheet notes that the event then includes the link to the video meeting, so your guests get the time and the link in one invitation.
Start a call from Gmail
- Open Gmail on your computer.
- On the left sidebar, click Meet, then New meeting.
- Click Send invite to copy the meeting details or share them by email.
- Click Join now.
If you can't see Meet in Gmail, check your Gmail settings under Chat and Meet, where you can switch the Meet section back on.
Joining someone else's meeting
Click the link in the invitation or the calendar event and choose Join now. On the Calendar app on your phone, open the event and tap Join with Google Meet. Before you go in, use the preview screen to check your camera, your microphone and what's behind you. It takes ten seconds and saves a lot of awkwardness.
The buttons you'll use during a call
| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| Present now | Shares your screen, a window or a tab |
| Show everyone | Shows the participant list and lets you add people |
| Chat | Opens the text chat for links and questions |
| Raise hand | Lets you ask a question without interrupting |
| More | Changes your background and other settings |
| Activities | Breakout rooms, polls, Q&A and recording, where available |
| Leave | Ends the call for you |
Some of the Activities tools depend on the account type. Google says breakout rooms, for example, can only be created by certain Workspace editions, though anyone can join one.
Using Meet on your phone
Download the Google Meet app from your app store, sign in, and tap New to create or start a meeting, or enter a code to join. You can also join straight from the Gmail app or the Google Calendar app. If your browser on a computer won't run Meet, Google says you can dial in by phone using the number and PIN, if the organiser included them in the invite.
Know the time limit before a big call
On a personal Google account, Google says calls with 3 or more people can last up to 60 minutes, while one-on-one calls can run up to 24 hours. Up to 100 people can join. If you're running a longer workshop, plan around that or ask someone with a business plan to host. I've written a separate guide to the Google Meet time limit with workarounds.
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Tips to look and sound better
- Sit facing a window rather than with your back to it.
- Raise your laptop so the camera is at eye level.
- Mute when you're not talking in a group call.
- Close other tabs that use your camera or a lot of internet.
- Use Present now with a single tab rather than your whole screen, so notifications stay private.
If you take a lot of client calls, my thoughts on the AI meeting notetaker problem are worth a read before you let a bot record everything. And for slide decks to present on your calls, see my roundup of Google Slides alternatives.
My verdict
New meeting to start, a link to invite, Join now to get in. Schedule through Calendar so the link travels with the invite, allow your camera and mic the first time, and learn the handful of buttons in the table above. For group calls on a personal account, plan for under an hour.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a Google account to use Google Meet?
Google says you need a Google account to use Meet. Guests usually join from the link you send.
How do I start a Google Meet call?
Go to meet.google.com, click New meeting and choose Start an instant meeting, then share the link.
How do I share my screen on Google Meet?
During the call, click Present now and choose your whole screen, a window or a tab.
Can I use Google Meet on my phone?
Yes. Use the Google Meet app, or join from the Gmail or Google Calendar apps on Android or iPhone.
How long can a Google Meet call last?
On a personal account, group calls last up to 60 minutes and one-on-one calls up to 24 hours.
