Over the last two years of the pandemic, Google Meet has quickly become the most widely used video conferencing service for people, organizations, and educational institutions. It’s easy to use, available on a wide range of devices, and you don’t have to spend a dime to get it up and running on your computer or smartphone.

As the world slowly moves towards a hybrid work environment, Google Meet helps both office and remote workers collaborate and get things done in harmony, so that workflow isn’t disrupted by communication or lack thereof. Enter Companion Mode, a tool that both remote workers and their in-office teammates can use to communicate with each other, share materials, and brainstorm ideas right within Google Meet.

In this post, we'll explain what Companion Mode is, how it differs from a regular Google Meet meeting, and how/where you can use it for your workflow.

Companion Mode is designed to minimize distractions in your workflow, so you only see what’s important on this screen. The feature gives users the ability to join a meeting from a second device, such as another desktop or Google Meet hardware, in a way that essentially allows you to use that device to present in meetings, send chat messages, conduct or participate in polls and Q&As, and use Breakout Rooms.