Google Meet is introducing a new waiting room feature that gives hosts more control over who can enter a meeting and when it officially begins. The feature creates a virtual holding area for attendees, allowing hosts to manage access, send updates, and maintain privacy before letting participants in — a long-awaited addition that brings Google Meet in line with Zoom’s “waiting room” and Microsoft Teams’ “lobby” functions.
The update allows hosts and co-hosts to enable the waiting room before a meeting starts, either directly in Meet or while scheduling through Google Calendar. Once active, participants will see a waiting screen until the host admits them. Hosts can admit or deny entry on a case-by-case basis and even send one-way announcements to waiting attendees — useful for sharing quick notes such as “We’ll begin shortly” or “Please check your microphone settings.”
In addition, existing participants can be moved back into the waiting room if necessary, a feature that could help moderators manage private discussions or address disruptions mid-meeting. The rollout began this week and will gradually become available to Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, Teaching and Learning add-on, and Workspace Individual accounts over the next few weeks.
For administrators, the waiting room setting is off by default but can be activated at the domain, group, or organizational level. Once enabled, meeting hosts can decide when to use it, offering flexibility across different environments — from schools to corporate workspaces.
The new control feature is particularly useful for situations that require preparation or discretion, such as job interviews, board meetings, and classroom sessions. It ensures that hosts can finalize materials or discuss details privately before opening the meeting to attendees. It also helps prevent accidental interruptions and limits access to only authorized participants, improving both professionalism and security.
This rollout follows a series of recent upgrades to Google Meet, including tools that use AI to enhance video quality and even simulate makeup touch-ups before joining calls. Together, these updates reflect Google’s broader push to make Meet more adaptable and competitive in the hybrid work and education space.
