Google Meet Tests Out Redesigned Web Controls for Camera and Microphone Toggles

Google’s latest material design for Google Meet’s camera and microphone toggles simplifies switching between hardware. The decision to revamp said feature is a move towards an easier and simpler user experience when one wants to switch between connected input devices.

In the old UI design, Google Meet’s toggle bar has simple one-click meeting controls. For the microphone, this is simply to mute and unmute yourself, which is the same process as the camera feature. In case you need to deep-dive into the settings of your camera or microphone, then you would have to play around with the settings of each, and quite frankly, it can get confusing. Not to mention a hassle if you have to do so mid-call.

Recently, the Google Meet web UI features a wider, pill-shaped mic and camera control button. However, the shape is not the only change you can see! Google has also added a new arrow pointing upwards beside either toggle. If you tap either the arrow toggle of the camera or microphone, you will be presented with a drop-down menu to switch between connected speakers and microphones.

Zoning in on the new microphone toggle, the audio control lets you choose if you’re using your built-in microphone or if you would like to switch to an external microphone that’s connected to your laptop or PC. If you forgot to change the settings from built-in to USB microphone, then changing it mid-call is as easy as toggling the mute and unmute switch!

In case you would like to tinker further, the new UI also features a conveniently placed gear icon in the new floating menu for audio and video controls.

However, it seems like the new UI is still on a beta basis and we have no word yet on Google when the official rollout would be. In any case, this new revamp is one we’re all excited about, and we hope to have it available for all much sooner!

In the meantime, if you’re having troubleshooting issues with your mic, we have written a guide to help you with that.