How to Join a Video Meeting Using a Meeting Code

Before you start

A video meeting code is a short identifier created by the meeting organizer. You can use it in the meeting service's desktop app, mobile app, or web version, depending on what the organizer supports. You do not need to create the meeting yourself; you only need the code and, if the organizer set one, the meeting password. The meeting platform handles the video connection through its own servers or peer connections, so you do not need to configure a server or network port yourself.

Check that your camera, microphone, and speaker or headphones are connected before opening the meeting service. Close other applications that may be using the camera or microphone, because a capture source can usually be used by only one application at a time. If you plan to join from a browser, make sure the site has permission to use the camera and microphone when prompted.

Step-by-step instructions

• Open the meeting app or the organizer's meeting link page.
• Select Join, Join a Meeting, or the equivalent option shown on the start screen.
• Enter the meeting code exactly as the organizer provided it. Codes may contain letters, numbers, or hyphens, but do not add spaces unless the organizer included them.
• Enter the meeting password if the service asks for one.
• Choose your camera, microphone, and speaker from the device lists if the preview or settings screen is available.
• Select Join or Connect and wait for the meeting to open.

Some versions show the camera preview before you join, while others open the meeting directly and let you change devices from the in-call controls. The exact labels can vary between desktop, mobile, and web versions, but the meeting code is entered in the same type of join field in each version.

The service may reduce video quality if your connection is slow. This can lower the bitrate, frame rate, or both. You can sometimes reduce the load by turning off your outgoing camera and keeping only audio active.

Check the output

After you join, confirm that you can hear other participants and that they can hear you. Use the meeting's mute indicator to check whether your microphone is active. If the meeting shows a camera preview or self-view, check that the correct capture source is selected and that the image is not frozen or black.

The meeting service controls encoding and the recording format automatically, so you do not need to choose a video codec or file format when joining. If you record the meeting, check the service's settings for where it saves the recording and which format is available, because this can differ from the live meeting quality.

Common problems and next steps

If the meeting code is not accepted, check that you are entering it in the join field rather than the sign-in field, and compare it with the organizer's message. A code from one meeting service will not normally work in another service.

If other people cannot hear you, check that the correct microphone is selected and that you have not joined while muted. If your camera image is missing, close other programs that may be using the camera and select the camera again in the meeting controls.

When the picture or audio is unstable, check your connection and consider switching from wireless to a wired network connection. Turning off the outgoing camera can also help if the available bandwidth is limited.