Google Workspace announced new updates to Google Meet on Wednesday, which include up to 25 co-hosts in a meeting, expanded safety features, and “Quick access” settings to easily control who needs to request permission to join a meeting.
Google adds new updates to Google Meet
The company says that these controls will now be available for all Google Meet users on the desktop and mobile. A gradual rollout on iOS is anticipated to start on 30 August 2021. The updates rollout pretty early on web and Android — starting from 15 August 2021.
“We hope these expanded controls make it easier for you to keep meetings productive, safe, and help prevent potential disruptions,” Google says.
The delegated co-hosts will now be able to launch polls, mute participants, and manage Questions and Answers. This means that there will be more people leading and guiding the conversations, therefore making it easier to manage the meetings.
New controls for meeting hosts
In the coming weeks, the company says it will introduce a new setting in the admin console that will control Host Management. Also, it will provide an update on the Workspace Updates Blog when the setting becomes available.
The hosts will be able to toggle the settings in the Google Meet setting, under the “Host controls”. To be able to change anything the “Host management” button must be ON. Once the button has been turned on, a host can do the following:
- Limit who can share their screen
- Limit who can send chat messages
- Mute all with one click
- End the meeting for all
- Control who can join the meeting and how they can join with the “Quick access” setting
Google says that the “Quick access” feature is, however, available to certain editions of Google Workspace. Meeting hosts can also share the hosting privileges with other meeting participants, up to 25 per meeting, by granting them host controls in the People panel.