How-to
How to create a Google Meet (instant, scheduled, or a link for later)
Last reviewed: By Cluesfinders Editorial Team
Google Meet gives you three ways to create a meeting: start one instantly, grab a reusable link to share later, or schedule it in Google Calendar. You need a free Google account to create one, but the people you invite can join from a browser without an account. Here is how to do each, step by step.
Disclosure: Cluesfinders is an independent affiliate of E-STAGE and may earn a commission if you sign up through our links, at no extra cost to you. That relationship does not change the facts we report about other platforms.
Three ways to start a Google Meet, at a glance
| Instant meeting | Link for later | Schedule in Calendar | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Starts a call right now | Creates a link to share | Adds it to the calendar with invites |
| Best when | You want to meet immediately | You will share the link ahead of time | It is a planned meeting with guests |
| Where you start | Google Meet › New meeting | Google Meet › New meeting | Google Meet or Google Calendar |
Reflects Google Meet as of September 2026.
What you need first
To create or host a Google Meet you need a Google account, which is free. The people you invite do not need one — they can join from a web browser as a guest, though you may need to admit them.
Start an instant meeting
Use this when you want to start talking right now.
- Go to Google Meet on your computer, or open the Meet app on your phone.
- Click or tap New meeting.
- Choose Start an instant meeting.
- Share the link (or add people) so others can join.
Create a meeting for later (get a link)
This gives you a reusable link you can send out before the meeting.
- Open Google Meet and click New meeting.
- Choose Create a meeting for later.
- Copy the meeting link and save it or share it by email or message.
Schedule it in Google Calendar
Best for a planned meeting — it emails everyone an invite with the video link built in.
- In Google Meet, click New meeting and choose Schedule in Google Calendar.
- Or, in Google Calendar, create an event and click Add Google Meet video conferencing.
- Add a title, time, and guest email addresses, then click Save to send the invites.
Invite people and join
- Share the meeting link, or add guests directly in the calendar invite.
- Guests open the link and click Join — from a browser, no account needed.
- As the host, you may need to admit people from the waiting screen.
When you want more than a meeting link
A Google Meet link is perfect for a quick call. But it comes with the platform’s look, a group time limit on the free plan, and no registration — so for client sessions or events where the experience is part of your brand, a plain link falls short.
A branded room fixes that: the same easy join, but under your name and without the free-plan caps.
Host meetings under your own brand
A Google Meet link works, but a branded room makes every session look like part of your business instead of a generic call. See how white-label virtual meeting rooms work.
Explore white-label virtual meeting roomsCluesfinders is an independent affiliate of E-STAGE and may earn a commission from links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a Google account to create a Google Meet?
To create or host one, yes — a free Google account is enough. The people you invite can join from a browser without an account.
How do I create a Google Meet link to share?
In Google Meet, click New meeting, choose Create a meeting for later, and copy the link. You can send that link out before the meeting starts.
How do I create a Google Meet on my phone?
Open the Google Meet app, tap New meeting, and choose an instant meeting, a link for later, or schedule it in Google Calendar.
How do you use Google Meet for the first time?
Sign in with a Google account, click New meeting, pick how you want to start it, and share the link with the people you want to join.