Hide/Unhide Yourself on Google Meet: Mobile & PC

This guide shows you exactly how to hide (turn off) your video and unhide (turn back on) your camera in Google Meet, whether you’re on the mobile app (Android or iPhone) or using a computer in a web browser. It’s useful when you want to stop sharing your video but stay in the meeting, or when you need to quickly appear again. No special setup is required—just an active Google Meet call.

What You’ll Need

An active Google Meet call (you must be joined).
For mobile: the Google Meet app installed on your Android or iOS device.
For computer: a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) with the Meet tab open.
Working camera and microphone (for when you unhide).

Step-by-Step

On Mobile (Android & iPhone)

Join or open the meeting in the Google Meet app. If you’re already in a call, you’ll see the meeting controls at the bottom of the screen.
To hide yourself: Tap the video camera icon (usually labeled “Turn off camera” or shows a camera with a slash). When you tap it, your video will turn off, and the icon will change to have a red slash through it. A small message may appear confirming your camera is off.
To unhide yourself: Tap the same camera icon again. Your video will turn back on, and other participants will see you again.
Quick toggle from the main screen: If you’re not in the meeting controls, tap anywhere on the screen to bring them up, then tap the camera icon.

On Computer (Web Browser)

Open the meeting in your web browser. You’ll see the meeting controls at the bottom of the Meet window.
To hide yourself: Click the video camera icon in the bottom toolbar (it looks like a small video camera). When clicked, the icon will get a red slash through it, and your video will stop. You’ll see a “Camera off” label appear in your tile.
To unhide yourself: Click the same camera icon again. Your video will resume, and the red slash will disappear.
Using the menu: Alternatively, click the three-dot menu (More options) in the bottom right, then select Turn off camera or Turn on camera.

Common Mistakes

Muting instead of hiding: The microphone icon (with a red slash) mutes your audio, not your video. Make sure you’re tapping the camera icon, not the mic icon.
Tapping the wrong icon on mobile: On small screens, the icons are close together. Double-check that the icon you tap looks like a camera, not a microphone.
Hiding before joining: If you’re in the “Ready to join” screen, you need to join first, then turn off your camera. Some versions let you toggle before joining, but it’s safer to join and then hide.
Expecting the other person to see you’re hidden: When you hide, your tile shows a grayed-out icon or your profile picture, but other participants see a black tile with your name. They are not notified that you turned off your camera.

Tips

Keyboard shortcut on computer: Press Ctrl+E (Windows) or Cmd+E (Mac) to quickly toggle your camera on/off.
Use the tile view: When you hide, you can still see other participants. Click the grid icon to switch to a layout that shows all participants, so you don’t feel isolated.
Check your preview: Before joining a meeting, you can preview your video. If you want to hide from the start, turn off the camera in the preview screen, then join.
Background effects: If you’re hiding because of a messy background, consider using a virtual background instead—it’s less disruptive than turning off your video entirely.

Troubleshooting

Camera icon is grayed out: This usually means your camera is already off, or the meeting organizer has disabled video for you. If you’re a participant, you can’t force it on. If you’re the organizer, check your meeting settings.
Clicking the icon does nothing: Try refreshing the browser tab (on computer) or closing and reopening the app (on mobile). Also, check if your camera is being used by another app—close other apps that might be using the camera.
Video doesn’t turn back on: If you unhide and the video doesn’t appear, your camera may be blocked by browser permissions (on computer) or app permissions (on mobile). Go to your browser’s settings (or device settings) and allow Meet to access the camera.
Others still see you after hiding: This can happen if you’re sharing your screen. When you share your screen, your camera may still be visible in a small window. To fully hide, stop screen sharing first, then turn off your camera.
On mobile, the camera icon disappears: Tap the screen to bring back the controls. If they don’t appear, try rotating your phone or tapping the “More” (three dots) menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide my video but still be heard?

Yes, hiding your video only turns off the camera. Your microphone remains on unless you also mute it. To mute, tap the microphone icon separately.

Will others know I turned off my camera?

No, they won’t get a notification. They’ll just see a black tile or your profile picture instead of your video feed.

Can I hide my video before joining a meeting?

Yes, on both mobile and computer, you can turn off your camera in the “Ready to join” screen before clicking “Join now.” Your camera will stay off when you enter.

Does hiding my video stop the recording?

No, hiding your video does not affect the meeting recording. If the meeting is being recorded, your video will be absent from the recording, but your audio (if you speak) will still be captured.

Why can’t I turn my camera back on?

This could be due to a permissions issue. On computer, check that your browser hasn’t blocked camera access. On mobile, go to your device settings and ensure the Meet app has camera permission. Also, if you’re using a VPN or have a poor connection, the toggle might not work—try refreshing.

Is there a way to hide only my video but keep my screen share?

Yes, you can turn off your camera while you are sharing your screen. Your screen share will continue, but your video will be hidden. Just tap the camera icon to turn it off during a screen share.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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