Google Duo Video Call Links: Inviting Participants

Short answer: inviting people with a call link

Google Duo no longer exists as a separate service. In 2022 Google merged Duo into Google Meet, and the Duo app on phones was updated and renamed Meet. In practice, a Duo video call link today is a Google Meet meeting link. To invite participants, create a meeting in the Meet app or in a browser, copy its link and send it through any channel you already use. Recipients open the link and join from the app or a browser, as long as their device and account meet the meeting's requirements.

• Open the Meet app (the former Duo app) on your phone, or open Meet in a browser.
• Start a new meeting, or create one for later, using the option your current version offers.
• Copy the meeting link or use the share button to send it by chat, text message or email.
• Ask participants to open the link, allow camera and microphone access, and join.
• If someone has to request entry, admit them from inside the meeting.

How call links work after the Duo and Meet merge

Duo was built around calling a contact directly by phone number or Google Account. Group invite links were added later so people could join a group call without being added one by one. After the merge, both models remain in Meet: direct calls to contacts, inherited from Duo, and meetings identified by a link and a meeting code. The link is the address of a meeting room rather than a ringing call, so participants join when they open it instead of receiving an incoming call. The code inside the link can also be typed into the app instead of tapping the link.

Some details are version-dependent and should be checked on your own device rather than assumed: button names and placement, whether guests without a Google Account can join, how long a link stays usable, host controls, participant limits and call length limits. These vary with the app version, the platform, and whether you use a personal account or a work or school account managed by an administrator.

When someone joins from a link in a browser, the browser asks for camera permission and microphone permission before video can start. If the device has more than one camera, the selected camera in the browser or in the meeting's video settings decides which capture source is sent. The resolution and frame rate that others actually see are adapted automatically to the connection, the device and the available lighting; the service adjusts bitrate and encoding during the call. Some versions offer a preference for send or receive resolution, but that sets an upper limit rather than a guaranteed quality.

Choosing how to invite and preparing participants

• One person who is already in your contacts: a direct call is often simpler than sending a link.
• A group, or someone who is not in your contacts: share a meeting link.
• A planned or recurring call: create the meeting in advance, or add a Meet link to a Google Calendar event so the invitation carries it.
• Someone on a laptop without the app installed: a link lets them try joining from a browser.
• A participant who is unsure about their setup: send the link early so they can check camera and microphone access before the call starts.

Before joining, a quick camera check prevents most first-minute problems: confirm the browser has camera permission, choose the right camera if there are several, close other apps that might be holding the camera, and face a light source rather than sitting with a bright window behind you. Better lighting also helps the image stay clear when the connection forces a lower resolution.

Treat a meeting link as something that grants access. Send it only to the people you intend to invite and avoid posting it in public places. Recording is not available on every account; where it is offered, check where the recording file is stored, its recording format and who can open it before relying on it, rather than assuming how files are handled.

Limits and related questions

Can I still create an old-style Duo link? The Duo app itself has become Meet, so new invitations are Meet links. Whether an old Duo group link still opens anything should not be assumed; creating a fresh meeting link is the reliable option.

Do participants need a Google Account? It depends on who hosts the meeting. Meetings hosted from personal accounts may require participants to sign in, while work or school accounts follow guest rules set by their administrator, which can allow or block people outside the organization.

Why does someone join from the link but show no video? The usual causes are a denied camera permission in the browser or phone settings, the wrong selected camera, another application already using the camera, or a connection so weak that video is paused or reduced. Fixing the permission or camera selection and rejoining usually resolves it.

Why does the picture look soft or choppy? The resolution and frame rate drop when bandwidth is limited, the device is under load or the scene is dark. Moving closer to a router, closing heavy apps and improving lighting help more than changing settings, because the service manages bitrate on its own.