Important:
- Legacy calls are being upgraded to Meet calls, which contain expanded features like live captions, in-call chat, stackable effects, cloud encryption, screen sharing, and more.
- As users move to Meet calling, some legacy calling features are upgraded. However, some features like Family mode, Moments, and Knock Knock will no longer be available.
- The legacy messages feature is no longer available.
To use the new calling experience, update your Meet app to the latest version. When all parties in the call are using the latest version of Meet with the update, they’ll see an in-app prompt explaining that they are now using the new calling experience. Otherwise, the call will default to the legacy calling experience. Once all users are using the updated Meet app, legacy calling will no longer be accessible.
The new Meet calling experience
Quick links
- Comparison at a glance
- FAQs: Transition from legacy calls to the new Meet call experience
- Troubleshoot if your device doesn’t ring
Comparison at a glance
- In-call features
- Pre-call screen features
- Encryption differences
- Group calls
- Messages
- Find settings
- Contacts
- Call history
- Check who's calling with Knock Knock
- Admin controls for Workspace users
In-call features
| Family Mode, Moments, and Knock Knock are only available in legacy calls. Available in legacy calls for all users:
Tip:These legacy calling features will no longer be available in the new Meet calling experience but many will have alternatives. |
You can use in-call chat, live captions, screen sharing, and other Enterprise-compliant Meet features. Features available in the new Meet call experience:
Alternatives to legacy features:
These legacy features aren’t available in the new Meet calling experience:
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Pre-call screen features
| When you tap a contact, it defaults to a legacy call unless everyone is using the latest version of Meet and has received the update. Existing Group calls will continue to be legacy. Available in legacy pre-calls for all users:
Tip:The update hasn’t rolled out to you yet if:
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When you tap a contact or start a new group call, the pre-call screen defaults to the new Meet calling experience if everyone is using the latest version of Meet and has received the update. Available in Meet pre-calls between personal accounts:
Unavailable legacy feature:
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Encryption differences
Legacy calls are always end-to-end encrypted, which is a security method that protects communications data. End-to-end encryption is used to mask data with a code that only you and the other callers have access to.
You’ll find these end-to-end encrypted symbols in legacy calls:
- A shield with a lock inside
.
- If you tap this icon, it shows “End-to-end encrypted.”
- During a legacy call: A shield with a lock inside, with the words “End-to-end encrypted,” which fades when you switch to full screen.
By default, Meet Calls are cloud encrypted to enable expanded cloud encrypted features such as in-call messages, reactions, add-ons, polls, Q&A, and more. Your information is encrypted in transit and at rest in Google's data centers.
Users with personal accounts:To add end-to-end encryption, in the pre-call screen, turn on Additional encryption.
- The feature is only available for calls made between users with personal accounts. If you toggle this on and try to make a call to a Business or EDU account, you get the error “ This person’s organization doesn’t let them receive end-to-end encrypted calls. ”
- Additional encryption will gray out the cloud encrypted features that aren't supported such as:
- In-call messages
- Reactions
- Activities like polls and Q&A
- Ability to report abuse
Users with Business or EDU accounts:The “Additional encryption” toggle isn’t available and calls are always cloud encrypted.
These symbols indicate the encryption type:
- Cloud encryption:
- When you tap Empty shield
, it says “This call is cloud encrypted.”
- When you tap Empty shield
- Additional encryption:
- When you tap a shield with a lock inside
- If you're in a call, it’s a blue lock badge
.
- When you tap a shield with a lock inside
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Group calls
You can continue to make legacy group calls with existing groups. New group calls are Meet group calls.
- On your device, open the Meet app
.
- Tap New
Group call.
- In the search bar, you can select up to 31 contacts to include in your group call.
- If you tap on a contact who can’t receive Meet calls, you get the message "[Contact name] can only join via a link. Share a Meet link with them once the call is started."
- Tap Nextand either:
- Tap Call
.
- The call rings for users who can receive Meet calls.
- Once inside the call, for any contacts you added to the group that can't receive a Meet call, you have the option to tap Share link.
- They can join through the Meet link you shared.
- Tap Create and share a link.
- This option shows if all of the contacts you added to the Group aren’t eligible to receive a Meet call ring. You can share a Meet link for them to join instead.
- Copy the link or tap Share.
- Tap Join.
- Wait for others to join the call through the link you shared.
- This option shows if all of the contacts you added to the Group aren’t eligible to receive a Meet call ring. You can share a Meet link for them to join instead.
- Tap Call
Tips:
- Group calls are saved in history as a list of contacts who were in the call. Contacts who joined through a shared link aren’t listed. You can’t name these groups.
- You can’t add or remove users from the saved item in history, but you can start a new group call with the desired users.
- You can continue to make legacy group calls with existing groups, but new group calls are Meet group calls.
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Messages
| Legacy calls | Meet calls: The new experience |
|---|---|
| In-call:In-call messaging isn't available in legacy calls. The Legacy (Duo) messages feature is no longer available. |
In-call:To send in-call chat messages, at the bottom right, inside a call, tap More Tip:For Business or EDU Workspace users, access to this feature is controlled by your admin, learn how to manage Meet settings . |
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Find settings
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To find Meet settings, tap Menu |
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Contacts
| Only your local device contacts are used for legacy calling. To let Meet access your local device contacts, you must give Operating System (OS) permission. | Contacts available for Meet calls are sourced from 2 locations:
Users with personal accounts can toggle on “Only contacts can call me:”
Business or EDU:
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Call history
| Call history for legacy calls will only be saved on the device the call was made on and can't be exported. |
Meet call history is centrally saved on Google servers and synced across all devices logged into that account. You can find, delete, and export all Meet calls regardless of the device used. To review, delete, or export Meet call history: Tap Menu |
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Check who’s calling with Knock Knock
| Knock Knock is only available when you make legacy calls. When you make a legacy call, they get a live preview video of you while their device rings, if they have you as a contact. You don't get their live preview video until they answer. |
This legacy feature isn’t available on Meet calls. |
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Admin controls for Workspace users
| For Business and EDU users:
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In addition to Meet access controls , admins can also restrict who can make Meet calls to their users. You can set call restrictions for users in your organization, so that they can’t receive calls. You can choose from these options:
Learn about call restrictions . If you want to restrict users in your organization from placing calls, the following options are available:
Tips:
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