You may have participated in a virtual meeting if you spend much of your day working in an office or learning in a classroom. Zoom and Microsoft Teams are popular online meeting platforms, but the most common is Google Meet. Google Meet works like other virtual meeting software and includes useful features such as auto-generated captions and Companion mode.
Companion mode allows you to use a second screen so that you can multitask on any device, including one of our favorite Chromebooks, during a meeting. This guide details what Companion mode is and how to use it to supercharge your meetings.
What is Google Meet Companion mode?
Google Meet Companion mode allows each meeting participant to use a second screen during a meeting to improve their user experience. This feature is handy for those who are in a meeting room with others. Using Companion mode, they can use a second screen to raise their hand or send a message in the chat as an individual instead of the group in a meeting room. It also helps those with a single display declutter their screen by splitting content between two devices.
These two use cases make Companion mode a valuable enhancement to Google Meet meetings. Even for those with multiple screens or who participate alone, being able to split meeting controls can be a useful tool. However, there are limits to using Companion mode instead of joining a meeting as a typical participant.
Companion mode vs. Participant mode
There are some differences between what you can do in Participant mode and Companion mode. Here is a breakdown of these differences.
When joining a Google Meet call using Companion mode, you can:
- Chat with other Google Meet participants
- Share your screen
- Access a virtual whiteboard to brainstorm ideas
- Turn on captions to follow what’s being said
Add-ons like hand-raising, conducting polls, and Q&A are available but require a specific Google Workspace edition.
When entering a meeting in Companion mode, your audio and microphone are disabled by default. This prevents audio echoes for you and other participants. Google Meet doesn’t display two names for you in the participant list, one for your normal user and one for your Companion mode user. Instead, the software displays your name followed by a Companion tag in the People menu.
Google Meet hides the participant grid in Companion mode to simplify the interface on your companion device.
To speak or listen to others using a companion device, you must connect to the hardware in the meeting room or use a Nest Hub Max for the call. You can also join the call with Participant mode on your laptop or mobile phone.
How to start Companion mode in Google Meet
There are two ways to connect your companion device to your Google Meet call. The first is by activating Companion mode from a meeting invite link.
- Turn on your secondary device.
- Open the meeting link.
- Wait for the Ready to join screen to load.
- Select the Use Companion Mode link button.
The dedicated Companion mode website is the second way to activate companion mode.
- Start your secondary device.
- Go to g.co/companion.
- Input the meeting code or link in the Enter a code or link box.
- Click the Start Companion button.
You must sign in to the Google account that was invited to the meeting on your secondary device. If not, you need approval from the meeting host to join the call.
How to share your screen using Companion mode
Sharing content on your Companion mode device is a useful way to split up your screens. Let’s look at how to share the screen on your secondary device.
- Join your meeting. You may need to be let into your meeting by another participant.
- Click the Present now button at the bottom of your screen.
- Select the content you’d like to present.
- Check the sharing preview.
- Select the Share system audio box to share your audio.
- Click the Share button so that everyone can see the content you’re sharing.
How to share your camera in Companion mode
Not all devices have a serviceable camera. Companion Mode allows you to use the camera from your secondary device instead of your primary device while in your meeting.
- Enter the meeting. You may need to wait to be let into the meeting.
- Click the Turn on camera button.
- Other meeting participants will see you with the camera from your companion device.
How to raise your hand in Companion mode
A question may come up during a meeting, but it may be rude to interrupt at the moment. Google Meet includes a feature that lets you raise your hand, just like in real life, so that the speaker can get to your question.
- Log in to the meeting. Someone may have to let you into the meeting.
- Click the Raise Hand button.
- Everyone will see that your hand is raised.
How to turn on Closed Captions in Companion mode
You may find Closed Captions helpful if you’re hard of hearing or can’t understand something. Closed Captions generate a real-time text log of what is being said.
- Start the meeting. A current participant may have to allow you to join the meeting.
- Click the Turn on captions button.
- The captions appear at the bottom of your screen.
Google Meet Companion mode FAQ
Let’s answer some common questions about Companion mode.
Is Companion mode available on mobile devices?
Companion mode isn’t available on Android or iOS. It is limited to Google Meet on the web, Nest Hub Max, and other certified Google Meet hardware.
Do Companion mode participants count towards the participant limit?
Yes, Google Meet counts connections using Companion mode against the 100 participants limit.
Should I join a Google Meet meeting with Companion mode only?
Companion mode aims to improve your existing Google Meet video call with a second screen. You shouldn’t use your primary device and join the call with Companion mode only. It disables audio, microphone, and video on your device, so you won’t know what’s happening in the meeting.
A companion for your meeting
Virtual meetings are a fact of life at this point, and Google Meet makes them easier with features like Companion mode. Companion mode helps you multitask and break up information and controls to make your meeting experience easier. Check out these Google Meet tips and tricks to supercharge your Google Meet experience.
