Tips for Better Video Meetings

A few small habits make video meetings noticeably better for everyone. Here are the ones that matter most.

Audio is more important than video

People forgive a fuzzy picture; they will not forgive audio they cannot understand.

• Use a headset. Even a basic one beats your laptop speakers and microphone — it cuts echo and picks up your voice cleanly.
• Mute when you are not speaking. This removes typing, background chatter, and room noise. Turn on Mute on Join in your settings so it happens automatically.
• Turn on noise cancellation in your video settings to quiet fans, traffic, and background hum.

Give yourself a strong connection

• Use a wired internet connection if you can. Wi-Fi works, but a cable is steadier.
• Close bandwidth-heavy apps — large downloads or other streaming can make your video stutter.
• Lower your video quality to 720p if things look choppy. Smooth 720p beats stuttering 1080p.

Look and sound your best

• Face a window or light, not away from it, so your camera can see you.
• Raise your camera to eye level so you are not looking down at people.
• Check the background — or turn on Virtual Background in your settings.

Run the meeting well

• Use the waiting room for meetings with outside guests, and admit people as they arrive.
• Share the agenda in the meeting description when you schedule it.
• Share your screen to keep everyone on the same page during a walkthrough — but close anything private first.
• Start and end on time. Set a realistic duration when you schedule.

Recording etiquette

• Tell people before you record. It is courteous, and in many places it is expected.
• Find recordings later under the Recordings tab on the Video Meetings page, then share the link with anyone who missed the call.

Quick pre-meeting checklist

1. Camera and microphone selected and working.
2. Headset on, notifications silenced.
3. Wired connection or strong Wi-Fi.
4. Agenda and any screen-share materials ready.
5. Guest link and PIN sent to anyone joining from outside.

For where these settings live, see "Video Meeting Settings and Devices".