Google Meet Companion Mode lets you join a video meeting on a second screen while using another device for meeting audio and video. It is especially useful for people attending meetings in conference rooms, classrooms, and other shared spaces. You can use your laptop to read chat messages, share your screen, respond to polls, and access supported meeting controls without creating audio feedback.
For example, if your team is attending a Google Meet call through a conference room system, you can open the same meeting on your laptop in Companion Mode. The room system handles the conversation, while your laptop gives you access to additional meeting features. You can also use Companion Mode as a second screen when viewing a presentation.
What Is Companion Mode in Google Meet?
Companion Mode in Google Meet is a way to join a meeting from a secondary screen without using that device’s microphone or meeting audio. It was designed to help people participate in hybrid meetings, where some attendees are together in a physical room and others join remotely.
In a typical meeting room, everyone may hear the call through a shared speaker and see remote participants on a large display. However, the room’s meeting hardware may not provide easy access to individual chat messages, polls, Q&A, or personal screen sharing. Companion Mode gives each attendee a separate interface for these activities.
When you join in Companion Mode, your device’s microphone and meeting audio are turned off to help prevent echoes. Your camera is also off by default. You can still use supported features such as chat, hand raising, screen sharing, and meeting activities, depending on the meeting and your Google Workspace edition.
How Does Google Meet Companion Mode Work?
Companion Mode works alongside a regular Google Meet connection. One device can handle the main conversation, including speaking and listening, while another device provides additional controls and collaboration tools.
Suppose you attend a meeting in your office’s conference room. The room’s Google Meet system connects you to the call, allowing you to hear remote colleagues and speak to them. You can open the same meeting on your laptop using Companion Mode to share a presentation, send a message, or respond to a poll.
The secondary device does not act like a normal audio and video participant. Its microphone and meeting audio remain disabled, reducing the chance of feedback when multiple devices are in the same room. If you need to speak or listen through your laptop, you should leave Companion Mode and join with regular audio and video instead.
Companion Mode can also help remote users who want to view a presentation on one screen while keeping participant video feeds visible on another.
How to Join Google Meet in Companion Mode
Joining Google Meet Companion Mode is straightforward when you use a supported computer. You can start from a meeting invitation or use Google’s direct Companion Mode link.
Method 1: Join from a Google Meet invitation
- Open the Google Meet invitation in Google Calendar or your email.
- Click the meeting’s Join option.
- On the meeting’s joining page, look for Use Companion Mode under the other joining options.
- Select Companion Mode to enter the meeting.
- If prompted, check in to the conference room connected to the meeting.
Room check-in is optional and only appears when the meeting and room setup support it. It can help identify you as an attendee in a particular conference room.
Method 2: Join using the Companion Mode link
- Open a web browser on your computer.
- Visit g.co/companion.
- Select the meeting or enter the meeting code.
- Choose the Companion Mode joining option when prompted.
- Follow any access or approval instructions to enter the meeting.
If the meeting host requires approval, wait until the host admits you. If you cannot find the Companion Mode option, check that you are using the correct meeting link and a supported device.
What Can You Do in Google Meet Companion Mode?
Companion Mode provides access to several meeting tools without requiring your secondary device to handle the main conversation.
Use meeting chat: You can send messages to other participants from your laptop. Joining at the beginning of the meeting is helpful because messages sent before you connect may not appear in your chat stream.
Raise your hand and use reactions: Supported meeting controls let you signal that you want to speak or respond without interrupting the current speaker. Availability can depend on the account and meeting settings.
Share your screen: You can present a document, slide deck, browser window, or other content from your laptop. This is useful when the main conference room system is handling the meeting’s audio and video.
Participate in polls and Q&A: When these activities are available, Companion Mode can let attendees submit responses or interact with questions individually rather than relying on shared room hardware.
Use supported host controls: Meeting hosts and authorized co-hosts can access certain moderation features, such as managing participants and meeting activities. The controls available depend on the account and meeting configuration.
The exact feature set can vary, so check the controls displayed in your meeting rather than assuming every option will be available.
Is Google Meet Companion Mode Available on Mobile Devices?
Google’s Companion Mode documentation describes different joining experiences across devices and has included mobile-specific instructions. However, availability and behavior can vary by platform and app version. For the most predictable experience with the traditional Companion Mode workflow, use a supported computer and check the current Google Meet instructions for your device.
On a computer, Companion Mode is particularly useful when you want to join through a conference room system while using your laptop for chat, presentations, or meeting controls. If you join a meeting normally on a phone or tablet, your device may use the regular audio and video meeting interface instead.
If you want to use a second screen on a mobile device, check the options displayed in the Google Meet app and your meeting invitation. Do not assume that the regular mobile joining process automatically activates Companion Mode.
You can also consult Google Meet’s official Companion Mode guide for the latest device-specific instructions.
Google Meet Companion Mode vs. Regular Mode
The main difference between Companion Mode and regular joining is how your device participates in the meeting.
In regular mode, your device can use its microphone, speakers, and camera to let you speak with and see other participants. This is the right choice when you are joining from home, working remotely, or using a device as your primary connection to the meeting.
In Companion Mode, your secondary device is intended for collaboration rather than the main audio connection. Its microphone and meeting audio are disabled to avoid echoes, and its camera is off by default. You can use supported features such as chat, screen sharing, polls, Q&A, and hand raising.
For instance, an employee sitting in a conference room may use the room’s video system for speaking and listening, then use a laptop in Companion Mode to share a report. A remote employee joining from home would generally use regular mode because the computer needs to handle the entire conversation.
Choose the mode that matches your situation. Use regular mode when you need your device’s microphone and meeting audio. Use Companion Mode when you need extra meeting tools on a second screen.
Benefits of Google Meet Companion Mode for Work and Learning
Companion Mode is helpful in workplaces where employees attend meetings together but still need individual access to digital tools. A participant can send a private or group chat message, respond to a poll, or share a file without asking the room’s meeting system to handle each task.
Teachers and students may also benefit from it during hybrid lessons. A classroom can use a shared display for remote speakers while students or teachers use their computers for supported activities. This can make it easier to follow a presentation and participate in questions or polls.
For remote workers with two screens, Companion Mode can separate the presentation from the participant view. For example, you can view the presentation on your secondary screen and keep more participant video feeds on your primary screen.
The feature is most useful when you understand its limits. Companion Mode is not a replacement for a regular audio connection, and some meeting features depend on the organizer’s Workspace edition or settings.
Common Google Meet Companion Mode Problems and Fixes
Companion Mode option is missing
Check that you have opened the correct meeting invitation or entered the correct meeting code. On a computer, look under the other joining options on the meeting page. You can also try Google’s direct link at g.co/companion.
If the option still does not appear, review Google’s current instructions for your device and check whether your organization restricts particular features.
You cannot hear other participants
This is expected when you join in Companion Mode. The secondary device’s meeting audio is disabled to prevent echoes. Use the conference room’s audio system or leave Companion Mode and rejoin with regular audio and video.
You cannot speak during the meeting
Companion Mode does not use the secondary device’s microphone for the meeting. If you need to speak, use the main meeting device or rejoin through the regular joining option on your computer.
Chat, polls, or Q&A are unavailable
Not every activity is available in every meeting. Check whether the organizer has enabled the feature and whether your Google Workspace edition supports it. Joining Companion Mode earlier may also help you receive chat messages sent during the meeting.
You cannot check in to a conference room
Room check-in requires a supported conference room device to be connected to the meeting. The feature may also be unavailable because of organization settings or account restrictions. If no room is connected, you may not see the check-in option at all.
You cannot see a presentation
Check whether the presenter is actively sharing their screen. When multiple people present, Companion Mode displays the active presentation. If the active presenter stops, another presenter may need to resume sharing for their presentation to appear.
Is Google Meet Companion Mode Free?
Google’s official documentation states that Companion Mode is available to Google Meet participants. However, the availability of individual features can depend on the Google Workspace edition and meeting configuration.
Basic participation through Companion Mode does not necessarily require a paid Workspace subscription. Some advanced features, such as particular polling, moderation, or attendance options, may require an eligible account or organizational setup.
Remember that a Companion Mode connection counts toward the meeting’s participant limit. Presentations can also count toward that limit, so adding a second device may affect how many connections the meeting can accommodate.
For current feature and account details, consult the official Google Meet Companion Mode help page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Google Meet Companion Mode
What is Companion Mode in Google Meet used for?
Companion Mode lets you join a Google Meet call on a second screen to access supported tools such as chat, screen sharing, polls, Q&A, and meeting controls. It is especially useful when a conference room device handles the main audio and video.
How do I turn on Companion Mode in Google Meet?
Open your meeting invitation on a supported computer, click Join, and select Use Companion Mode under the other joining options. You can also visit g.co/companion and select your meeting or enter its code.
Can I talk in Google Meet Companion Mode?
No. Companion Mode disables the secondary device’s microphone and meeting audio. Use the main meeting-room system to speak and listen, or leave Companion Mode and rejoin the meeting with regular audio and video.
Can I use Companion Mode on my phone?
Check the latest Google Meet documentation and the options in your app, because device support and joining behavior can change. The traditional Companion Mode workflow is most clearly documented for computers, particularly for second-screen use in conference rooms.
Does Companion Mode turn on my camera?
Your camera is off by default in Companion Mode. On supported setups, you may be able to turn on Self-View to show a personal video tile, but audio remains disabled in Companion Mode.
Can I share my screen in Companion Mode?
Yes. You can share your laptop screen while using Companion Mode. This is useful when the conference room’s main device handles audio and video but you need to present a document, browser window, or slide deck.
Does Companion Mode count as another participant?
Yes. Companion Mode connections count toward the meeting participant limit. If you join on a main device and a second device, the additional connection can affect the number of participants allowed in the meeting.
Why can’t I see Companion Mode in Google Meet?
The option may be missing because you are using an unsupported joining method, have opened the wrong meeting link, or are using a device or app version with different support. Try joining through the meeting invitation on a computer or visit Google’s official Companion Mode link.
Conclusion
Google Meet Companion Mode gives meeting participants a second screen for collaboration without using that device’s microphone or meeting audio. It is useful for hybrid meetings, conference rooms, presentations, and other situations where one device handles the conversation while another provides access to chat and meeting controls.
To use it, open your meeting invitation on a supported computer and select Use Companion Mode. If you need to speak or hear other participants through that device, join in regular mode instead. Checking device support and meeting settings before the call can help you choose the right option.
