Google Meet Basics: How to Join and Behave in a Meeting

Google Meet runs in your browser, which makes it easy to join from any laptop without installing software. This guide shows you how to join, set up your audio and video, and use Meet features politely in a corporate setting.

How to join a Google Meet call

1. Open the invitation in your email or calendar and click the Meet link, or go to meet.google.com and enter the meeting code.
2. Sign in with your work or personal Google account if asked.
3. Check your camera and microphone in the preview screen.
4. Click Join now, or Ask to join if the host has to admit you.

Set up audio and video before you join

Choose the right microphone and speakers from the settings menu on the preview screen. Turn on the blur or background effect if your space is not tidy. Mute your microphone before you join if others are already talking.

Meeting manners in Meet

• Join a few minutes early and wait quietly until the host starts.
• Keep yourself on mute unless you are speaking.
• Use Raise hand rather than interrupting.
• Use the chat for links and short questions, not long discussions.
• Keep your camera on when the culture of the meeting expects it, especially with clients.

Useful features

Live captions

Turn on captions to follow along in noisy places or when you are working with people who speak a different first language.

Presenting your screen

Choose Present now, then pick a single tab or window. Presenting a tab also lets you share sound, which is useful for videos. Close private tabs first.

Sharing the meeting link

Share the link only with people who should attend. For sensitive meetings, ask the host to enable admission controls.

Troubleshooting common problems

• No one can hear you: check that you are not muted and that the correct microphone is selected.
• Video is choppy: close other tabs and apps, and move closer to your router.
• Echo: use headphones.

Ready for the next platform? Read our guide to Microsoft Teams meeting etiquette.