In the post-pandemic era, virtual meetings have become the norm, with platforms like Slack, Teams, and Google Meet taking centre stage. As professionals gear up for interviews, office meetings, and grant proposals, the importance of a seamless virtual experience cannot be overstated. Google Meet, a popular choice for many, offers a versatile platform, but like any technology, it comes with its share of glitches. To ensure you always put your best foot forward, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to address the most common Google Meet problems and enhance your virtual presence.
Can’t join or start a meeting? Here’s what to do:
If you find yourself struggling to join or initiate a Google Meet, the first step is to ensure you are signed in with a Google or Google Workspace account. Verify this by visiting the Google website and clicking the blue “Sign In” button. For workplace accounts, coordinate with your administrator to confirm that Google Meet’s video calling is enabled for your organization.
Dial-in number not provided for your meeting?
Meetings set up by Google Workspace users are the only ones equipped with a dial-in number at present. It’s essential to note that not all countries support this feature, and international dial-ins might require a subscription to Google’s Meet Global Dialing service.
Education users facing domain-related issues:
Google Workspace for Education users might encounter a bug preventing external participants from joining if the meeting creator is absent. Until resolved, it’s advisable to keep the meeting creator present until all external participants have joined.
Meeting shows as being full? Know your subscription limits:
Subscription plans dictate the participant limits for Google Meet. Personal and G Suite Basic accounts support up to 100 participants, while Education Fundamentals accounts and G Suite Business, Business Standard, and Essentials accounts allow up to 150 participants. For Business Plus and Enterprise customers, the cap is 250 participants, and Education Plus accounts also support a maximum of 250 participants.
Camera or microphone denied access? Here’s how to fix it:
If you accidentally deny camera or microphone access, follow these steps:
- Visit the Google Meet website, preferably using Google Chrome.
- Click the “New Meeting” button and select “Start an Instant Meeting.”
- In the address bar, click the Camera and Microphone Blocked icon.
- Click “Always Allow” for https://meet.google.com to access your camera and microphone.
- Click “Done” and dismiss any pop-up messages. Turn on your camera and microphone icons in the meeting window.
People can’t see your camera on MacOS? Follow these steps:
For MacOS users, particularly on Mojave and later versions, granting permissions to Chrome or Firefox to use your webcam is essential. Navigate to System Preferences, select Security & Privacy, and under Privacy, choose Camera. Ensure that either Google Chrome or Firefox has a check next to it.
Drop-down menus won’t show during screen sharing?
Currently, Google acknowledges that drop-down menus won’t display when sharing a window within Google Meet. The workaround is to share your entire screen instead of a specific window.
Unable to present on MacOS? Allow screen recording:
With MacOS Catalina or later, enabling screen recording is crucial for presentations. Access this option through System Preferences, under Security & Privacy, then Screen Recording. Ensure Google Chrome or Firefox has a check next to it.
Experiencing poor video quality? Consider these factors:
Multiple factors influence video call quality, including using a high-definition webcam, ensuring a high-speed network, closing unnecessary tabs and applications, and disconnecting from VPN if in use.
Google Meet completely inaccessible? Check the status:
If Google Meet is inaccessible, consult the Google Workspace Status Dashboard for updates. A green icon indicates normal operation, while orange or red icons signal potential issues.
Unable to open Google Meet on mobile devices? Update your app:
Ensure your Google Meet app is up to date by visiting the App Store on iOS or the Play Store on Android. Google supports mobile Meet versions for six months, and outdated versions may not function correctly.
Issues scheduling all-day meetings? Adjust the scheduling manually:
Google has noted a bug affecting all-day meetings, scheduling them in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). To resolve, manually schedule the event for 24 hours instead of selecting the All Day option.
Miscellaneous fixes for persistent problems:
For unresolved issues, these general fixes might help:
- Fixing Google Chrome: Close all tabs and restart Chrome to free up memory. Clear your Chrome cache by selecting the three dots symbol, typing “clear” in the search bar, and choosing “Clear browsing data.”
- Check Google server status: Use IsItDown to confirm if Google is operational. In case of issues, consider switching to an alternative platform temporarily.
- Verify your router and ISP: Poor internet connection and slow speeds could be the culprits. Check your ISP’s website for slowdown notifications, review your router’s status, and troubleshoot common Wi-Fi problems.
In conclusion, mastering the art of virtual meetings requires overcoming technical hurdles. Armed with these solutions, you can confidently navigate Google Meet, ensuring a smooth and professional virtual experience every time.
