Google Workspace Updates: Seamlessly join meetings on Google Meet hardware with “Connect room” (original) (raw)
December 2, 2025
What’s changing
In the coming weeks, we’ll introduce Connect room, a new way to seamlessly begin your meetings on Google Meet hardware directly from your personal device. This will be available in early preview.
Connect room streamlines how you start meetings in a conference room. Instead of manually typing a meeting code, this feature uses ultrasound proximity detection to identify a nearby, available Google Meet hardware device.
When you open the Google Meet green room on your laptop, it will automatically detect the room and present a simple option to connect to it. With a single click, the meeting starts on the room hardware, and your laptop transitions into Companion mode, getting you checked-in and ready to collaborate without missing a beat.
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| After clicking Connect room, your meeting is started on the room device while your laptop joins in companion mode and checks you into the room. |
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| Google Meet updates the “Use Companion mode” to “Connect room” when it detects a nearby room to start a meeting. |
This feature simplifies the meeting join experience. In particular, you can now:
- Take over a booked, but empty conference room: If a conference room is reserved but unoccupied, open your meeting on your laptop, click “Connect room,” and you can immediately start your meeting on the Google Meet hardware.
- Join and book an available conference room in one click: If you find an available and bookable conference room and wish to use it, simply open your meeting on your laptop, click “Connect room,” and the Google Meet hardware will instantly join the meeting, simultaneously booking the room for your use.
- Join private meetings more easily: Simply open a meeting invite on your device, click “Connect room,” and instantly join the meeting directly on Google Meet hardware.
- Join a meeting not listed on the conference room calendar: If you were sent a Google Meet invitation in chat or email, open your meeting on your laptop, click “Connect room,” and you can immediately start your meeting on the Google Meet hardware.
Additional details
Users on the Rapid Release track will start seeing this feature for devices enrolled in our Early Preview Rooms (EPR) program starting on December 2, 2025. We’ll share more details on the Workspace Updates blog when we begin a broader rollout.
Getting started
- Admins: To preview this feature, your domain must be on the Rapid Release track and have devices enrolled in our EPR program. In addition, this feature relies on Google Meet hardware’s Proximity Detection device setting, which is ON by default. For this feature to work, you must enable Proximity Detection on your fleet's devices. In-room booking must also be enabled for Connect room to automatically book the room when joining the call.
- End users: This feature will be ON by default for users on the Rapid Release track entering a room with enabled hardware. To use the feature, ensure your laptop microphone is selected in the greenroom, then simply click "Connect room" when the prompt appears. Visit the Help Center to learn more.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) to EPR rooms only starting on December 2, 2025
Availability
- Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices
Resources
- Google Help: Use Connect room feature in Google Meet