Everyday Computer Skills · Video Calls & Devices · Lesson 2 of 5

Joining a Video Call

Click the link, check the preview, join muted and leave with confidence.

From link to meeting

A video call is a meeting where people see and hear each other through their screens. You usually join with a join link. That is a web address someone sends you by email, text or calendar invite.

When you click the link, the call opens in your browser, the app you use for websites. Or it asks to open the call app, if you have it.

Before you go in, most calls show a preview screen. Nobody else can see you yet. Use it well:

• Look at your camera picture. Check that your face is lit and in view.
• Look at what is behind you. If you don't like it, choose Blur to soften the background.
• Turn your microphone off. This is called being muted. Joining muted is polite, since others won't hear your kitchen or your dog.

Then click Join.

Inside the call, the mic button looks like a small microphone. A line through it means you are muted. Click it to unmute when you want to talk. Mute again when you are done.

To ask a question without interrupting, use Raise hand. To type a message to everyone, use Chat. When the call ends, click Leave, often a red button.

On the practice computer, preview your camera and mute before joining, then join. Unmute, raise your hand, send a chat message, and leave.

Zoom, Teams and Google Meet

There are many video call apps. The three you will see most are Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet. Schools, offices and doctors use them.

They look a little different, but they work the same way. Each has a link, a preview, a mic button, a camera button, chat, and a red Leave button.

• Zoom often asks you to download its app. You can usually join from your browser instead. Look for a small link that offers this.
• Teams offers to open the Teams app, or to continue in your browser. You usually don't need an account to join a meeting you were invited to.
• Google Meet runs in your browser. Nothing needs to be installed on a computer.

The first time you join, your browser asks if the site may use your camera and microphone. Choose Allow only for a call you trust.

A few tips that work everywhere:

• Join a few minutes early, in case something needs fixing.
• If nobody can hear you, check that you aren't muted.
• Use headphones to stop echo.
• Only open call links you expected, from people you know. A surprise link can be a trick.

On a Mac, the steps are the same. The first time, the Mac may also ask if the app can use the camera and microphone.