Google Workspace Changes

Google Meet hosts can now lock participants' audio and video feeds.

Meeting hosts in Google Meet can now use Audio and Video Lock to turn off the microphones and/or cameras of other participants in both main and breakout rooms, preventing them from turning them back on until the host unlocks them. This feature provides hosts with more control to manage disruptive participants and decide levels of participation.

Expanded device support and default availability for continuous framing on Google Meet hardware.

Google is expanding continuous framing support to more Meet-certified cameras, including the Logitech PTZ Pro 2, Logitech MeetUp, and Logitech Rally. Additionally, the continuous framing toggle will now be available by default for eligible devices in the meeting room settings, provided it hasn't been explicitly disabled in the Admin console.

Hand raising is now available on Google Meet hardware devices.

Google is extending the hand raising feature to all Google Meet hardware to improve the hybrid working experience. Users on touch controllers can tap 'Raise Hand' at the top, while those using room kits with remote controls can access the feature via the participant list. Moderators and participants will see a list of raised hands in the order they were raised, along with notifications and badges on video tiles.

The Class Meet link is now accessible on the side of the class stream and students will be directed to a waiting room.

We’ve added several new features to Google Meet in Classroom, making it easier and more secure: The Class Meet link is now accessible on the side of the class stream, so students can easily join and teachers can manage the link from the stream. Students will be directed to a waiting room until a teacher has officially joined the class Meet link.

The Class Meet link is now accessible on the side of the class stream and students will be directed to a waiting room.

We’ve added several new features to Google Meet in Classroom, making it easier and more secure: The Class Meet link is now accessible on the side of the class stream, so students can easily join and teachers can manage the link from the stream. Students will be directed to a waiting room until a teacher has officially joined the class Meet link.

Video backgrounds are now available in Google Meet on Android.

Google Meet users on Android can now replace their backgrounds with video instead of just static images. Initially, six Google-made video backgrounds, including scenes like a classroom, a party, and a beach, are available to help users express their personality or maintain privacy during video calls.

Live translated captions are now available in beta for Google Meet.

Google Meet has introduced live translated captions in beta, which allow video call participants to translate spoken language into captions in another language. Initially, the feature supports English meetings translated into Spanish, French, Portuguese, and German. It is available for meetings organized by users with Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and Teaching & Learning Upgrade licenses.

Live translated captions in Google Meet available in beta

Live translated captions help video call participants communicate better by translating a spoken language to captions in another language. Live translated captions will initially be available in beta and will support English meetings translated to Spanish, French, Portuguese and German.

Ability to mute all Google Meet participants at once is rolling out to mobile platforms.

Meeting hosts and co-hosts can now mute all participants at once in Google Meet on mobile platforms to prevent or stop disruptions. This feature is rolling out on iOS immediately, with Android availability expected later in 2021. While hosts can mute everyone, they cannot unmute them; participants must unmute themselves. Note that users joining via Pexip devices will not be muted.

New detailed metrics over time added to the Meet Quality Tool for admins.

Google has introduced detailed metrics over time for endpoints within the Meet Quality Tool to help admins perform more advanced troubleshooting. Admins can now view charts for average CPU usage, connection delay, microphone audio level, received audio level, and both sent and received video packet loss. For meetings currently in progress, these metrics can be refreshed to provide near-real-time values.

Google Meet on the web now automatically enhances brightness for underexposed users.

Google Meet on the web now automatically detects when a user appears underexposed, such as when there is too much light behind them, and enhances the brightness to improve their visibility.

Admins can now control the default state for Quick access in Google Meet.

Google is adding a new Admin control to configure whether the Quick access feature is enabled or disabled by default for their domain. If the feature is set to OFF by default, meeting hosts can manually enable Quick access from inside the meeting.

Admins can now control the default state for Host Management in Google Meet.

Google has introduced a new Admin setting that allows administrators to configure whether the Host Management feature is on or off by default for their domain. If the feature is set to OFF by default, meeting hosts can still manually enable Host Management from within the meeting.

Admins can now end meetings for all participants using the security investigation tool.

Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, and Education Plus admins can now use the security investigation tool to end selected meetings for all users, including those in breakout rooms. This feature allows admins to end multiple meetings simultaneously, terminate old meetings being used inappropriately, or set up automated rules to end meetings based on specific user actions, such as the submission of an abuse report.

New effects settings panel in Google Meet for quick access to background blur, images, and styles.

Google Meet is introducing a new settings panel that provides quick access to visual effects, including background blur, background images, and styles. This panel is available both during active calls and in the green room self-check, allowing users to preview and apply effects before joining a meeting.