How to Use Google Companion for Meetings

Have you ever attended a meeting in a conference room and found communicating with other meeting participants online difficult? Then, you will love Google Companion mode! This guide will show you how to maximize the Google Meet Companion mode to improve your hybrid meetings for your teams.

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What is Google Companion?

Imagine joining a Google Meet meeting in a conference room with dedicated audio and video equipment. Yet, you still want to use Google Meet features like chat, polls, screen sharing, or raise your hand. That's where Google Companion comes in!

Google Companion mode lets you join a video meeting on a secondary device (like your mobile phone) with the microphone and video muted by default to avoid feedback. With a second screen, you can enhance your meeting experience and have quality meeting audio for you and other participants in the meeting room.

The Google Companion mode is perfect for attending hybrid meetings, so other Google Meet participants can hear you well, providing straightforward collaboration during discussions. You can also work with colleagues on files and documents from other Google Workspace apps.

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How to Enter Google Companion Mode?

If you are attending hybrid meetings and using Google Meet, there are two ways to activate Companion mode:

• From the Meeting Invite. Click Join on the invite, then under Other joining options, click Use Companion mode.

• Use a link. Enter g.co/companion in your browser and choose the meeting or enter the meeting code.

Here's how you can use Companion mode on Android and Ios devices:

1. Locate the meeting you want to join by tapping on a scheduled meeting from the list of your upcoming meetings. If you're joining with a meeting code or nickname, tap Join with code instead.
2. Look underneath your video preview and click the option that says Use Companion mode.
3. After joining the meeting with Companion mode, you might see a pop-up asking you to confirm or choose the conference room you're joining from if there are multiple options.
4. Tap Check in or Choose your room as appropriate.

Room check-in with Companion mode in Google Meet is like signing your attendance for a meeting you're attending from a conference room. Typically, only the room name shows up, making it unclear who's there.

Checking in solves this by showing your name alongside the room name, letting everyone know you're a participant. Companion mode enables you to turn on your camera to be more involved in the discussion.

If you want to share your screen and present while in Companion mode, here's how:

• From the Meeting Invite. Click Join, tap Present on the meeting landing page, and choose the screen, window, file, or tab you want to share.

• Use a Short Link. Enter g.co/present in your browser, select the meeting on the Google Meet home screen, and choose what to share.

When you're in meeting rooms and using Companion mode, you can conveniently turn on Self-View with your laptop camera to share your video tile with others on the call.

Here's a quick guide:

• To turn on Self-View, click Turn on Camera at the bottom of the Companion mode screen.
• If you want to turn off Self-View, choose Turn off camera. Note that Self-View is always automatically off and minimized.

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Why Use Google Companion?

Handling global teams worldwide can be challenging, primarily if you conduct hybrid meetings. Here are some of the reasons why you should use Google Companion mode during your Google Meet meetings:

Encourages participation of meeting attendees

Using Google Companion mode allows remote participants to actively engage during hybrid meetings with chat, conducting polls, hand raising, and Q&A, making them feel included as those in the conference room. It will also allow participants to raise their hands virtually when they want to speak.

Seamless collaboration in real-time

Companion mode lets you easily work on Google Calendar, Docs, Sheets, and Slides directly within the meeting, even with remote participants. For a more efficient meeting experience, you can use Tactiq to automatically capture highlights, notes, and even real-time transcriptions, keeping your focus on the conversation.

Improves technical and audio quality during meetings

Companion mode lets you seamlessly manage multiple devices during meetings. Need to reference notes on your laptop in the conference room? Mute the microphone and video on your computer with Companion mode, keeping access to the document without disrupting the in-room audio. Plus, Companion mode mutes your secondary device by default, eliminating echo and ensuring crystal-clear audio for everyone.

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Limitations to Consider

Although Companion mode in Google Meet calls benefits hybrid meetings, it's also essential to consider its limitations.

Not compatible with other meeting platforms

Notably, it's exclusive to Google Meet, and you cannot use it on alternative platforms such as Zoom and MS Teams. Access to premium features is also exclusive to specific Google Workspace plans.

Cannot be fully maximized in meeting breakout rooms

Companion mode users can't participate within their assigned breakout rooms, meaning they won't be able to hear or speak with others in that group. Additionally, meeting room hardware and Nest Hub Max devices become unavailable with Companion mode active during breakout sessions.

To navigate this in hybrid meetings, you can keep everyone in the main room and use features like chat or raising hands to facilitate communication within breakout groups. Alternatively, Companion mode users can join their breakout room on a separate device like a phone or tablet for full participation.

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How to Turn Off Google Companion?

While Companion mode isn't currently removable by the meeting host or admin through the Google Admin console, individual users can utilize it within meetings. Here's how you can control its use:

• Skip the option. There's no need for admin intervention! If you don't want to use Companion mode, bypass the Use Companion mode option when joining a Google Meet meeting.
• Leave the meeting. The most straightforward way to turn off Google Companion mode is simply leaving the meeting on your secondary device.
  

These options will empower you to manage Companion mode based on your needs for each meeting, fostering active participation and maximizing your meeting experience.

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Use Google Companion Mode for More Effective Hybrid Meetings

Leverage the power of Google Meet Companion mode to foster efficiency and collaboration in your hybrid meetings. Remember to explore additional tools like Tactiq for automatic meeting transcriptions and summaries compatible with Google Meet calls.