How to enable grid view in Google Meet and see every meeting participant at once

Grid view isn't just for Zoom. Google Meet has made it easier than ever to view every participant in a meeting at once with their similar tiled layout feature. Part of an April 2020 rollout of highly-requested Google Meet upgrades, this tool expanded the visible number of participants on-screen simultaneously from four to 16 people.

2021-01-08T22:37:57Z
  • You can enable a grid view in Google Meet during a meeting by selecting the "Tiled" layout option in the Settings menu.
  • Google Meet's tiled layout allows users to adjust the number of tiles they see on screen, as well as whether they can see their own screen. 
  • This layout feature is not yet available in-app for iOS or Android, but there are workarounds. 

Grid view isn't just for Zoom. Google Meet has made it easier than ever to view every participant in a meeting at once with their similar tiled layout feature. 

Part of an April 2020 rollout of highly-requested Google Meet upgrades, this tool expanded the visible number of participants on-screen simultaneously from four to 16 people. According to one Google support page, Tiled view can now accommodate up to 49 people at once. Before the update, users could access what used to be called "Grid view" through the Chrome extension "Google Meet Grid View." 

Tiled view is one of a handful of other layout options Google has available for Google Meet users, including Auto, Spotlight, and Sidebar. Choosing a tiled layout might be useful for very large virtual meet-ups or those who prefer that the screen not change as speakers take turns. With a tiled layout, everyone in the meeting (up to 49 people) stays visible in one place. 

Here's how to get a grid view in Google Meet. 

How to enable tiled view in Google Meet on desktop

1. Join a meeting in Google Meet. 

2. At the bottom right, click the icon with three vertical dots.

Clicking the three vertical dots will make a settings menu appear. Sophie Putka/Business Insider

3. Click "Change layout."

Other options in this menu include casting the meeting and turning on captions. Sophie Putka/Business Insider

4. Select "Tiled" to see every participant in the meeting at the same time.

Titled view is preset to show 16 screens at once. Sophie Putka/Business Insider

5. To adjust the number of tiles you see, use the slider at the bottom of the "Change layout" window. 

6. To include yourself as a tile with the other participants, click the button that looks like four squares at the top right.   

Unlike some competitor video call platforms, Google Meet allows you to see yourself on the screen. Sophie Putka/Business Insider

Enabling Google Meet's grid view on mobile devices and tablets

Tiled view is not currently available for mobile devices or tablets, but users can work around this with two different approaches. The first is using a web browser on your phone instead of the app. Just enable desktop mode (or "Request desktop site") within the browser, enter a Google meeting, and then change the layout in the same way as on desktop. 

The second approach is to participate in a meeting using the Google Meet app. If a participant on their desktop has enabled the "tiled" layout, ask that they share their screen with the rest of the meeting. 

Troubleshooting issues with Google Tiled View

If you're experiencing problems with Google Meet after switching to a tiled layout, such as your video freezing, there are several fixes you can try. Start by closing any applications, windows, or browser tabs that you aren't currently using, then try turning off your camera or reducing the number of visible tiles in your layout. You can find this last option where you found "Tiled" in "Change layout" at the bottom of the Meet screen.   

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Sophie Putka Sophie Putka is a freelance writer and reporter for Insider's Tech Reference team. Her work frequently focuses on the health and wellness, science, tech, and food beats. She writes how-tos, lists, and reported features, including pieces on how to use tech to dine safely during the pandemic and the impacts of blue light on your sleep. Sophie has been published in The Wall Street Journal, Inverse, Discover Magazine, Cannabis Wire, Atlas Obscura, Edible New Mexico, and more. Read more Read less

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