How to Pin a Video in Google Meet

Updated 9 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Pinning a video in Google Meet keeps one participant’s tile prominent on your own screen, which is useful when you want to follow a speaker or presentation. It changes your view only; it does not pin the person for everyone else. You need to be in a Meet call on a supported browser or the Google Meet app.

What You’ll Need

An active Google Meet call with the participant or shared screen you want to keep in view.
A computer with a web browser, or a phone or tablet with the Google Meet app.
On a computer, a Meet layout that displays participant tiles. The exact controls can vary slightly by device and interface version.

Step-by-Step

Join the meeting. Open the meeting link or enter the meeting code, then join the call. Wait for the participant tiles or shared content to appear. If you have joined before a host, wait until the meeting becomes available.
Find the video you want to keep visible. On a computer, look through the participant tiles in the meeting window. On a phone or tablet, swipe through the visible tiles if the person is not currently shown. You can usually pin a participant even when they are not speaking, as long as their tile is available in the meeting.
Open the tile’s options. On a computer, move your pointer over the participant’s tile and select the pin icon if it appears. If you do not see a pin icon, select the tile’s three-dot menu and choose Pin or Pin to screen, depending on the interface. On mobile, tap the participant’s tile to reveal its controls, then tap the pin icon or open the tile’s menu and select the pin option.
Check the result. The selected participant should become larger or remain prominent in your layout. Other meeting participants will not be notified that you pinned them, and their view will not change.
Pin shared content if needed. When someone presents, locate the presentation tile. Open its controls or three-dot menu and choose the pin option if available. This can help keep the presentation prominent while you listen. If you pin a participant instead, their camera view may be emphasized rather than the shared content.
Remove the pin when finished. Open the same tile controls and select Unpin or tap the pin icon again. You can then return to the regular layout or pin a different participant or presentation.

Common Mistakes

Expecting everyone to see the same pinned tile. Pinning is a personal viewing setting. It does not make the participant the meeting-wide focus or change other attendees’ screens.
Looking only for a labeled button. On some devices, the control is a pin-shaped icon rather than a menu item that says “Pin.” Hover over the tile on a computer or tap it on mobile to reveal more controls.
Pinning the wrong tile. A participant tile and a presentation tile are separate. Check which one is highlighted or enlarged after pinning, and switch if you meant to focus on the shared screen.
Confusing pinning with muting or spotlighting. Pinning affects your layout. It does not mute anyone, make someone a meeting host, or spotlight them for all attendees.
Assuming a pin improves the video feed. It changes how the available tiles are arranged; it cannot improve a participant’s camera, microphone, or connection quality.

Tips

Use pinning when you need a steady view. It is helpful during a lesson, interview, demonstration, or meeting where you want to follow one person instead of whichever tile Meet emphasizes.
Pin the presentation for screen-focused meetings. If the slides, spreadsheet, or demonstration matter more than the presenter’s camera, choose the shared-content tile rather than the presenter’s tile.
Try layout controls if the result is not what you want. Meet’s layout settings can change how many tiles are shown and how they are arranged. Pinning and layout selection work together, but one may affect how prominent the pinned tile looks.
On a touch screen, tap once before searching menus. Controls can remain hidden until you tap the video. Avoid tapping the camera image repeatedly if you are trying to open options; use the displayed menu or pin icon.
Unpin promptly when the focus changes. Switching between a presenter and shared material can make it easier to follow the meeting and avoid overlooking other participants.

Troubleshooting

I cannot find the pin control. Move the pointer over the tile on a computer, or tap the tile on a mobile device. Check the three-dot menu for a pin option. If you are viewing a presentation, open the controls on the presentation tile itself, not the presenter’s camera tile.

The tile is too small or does not look pinned. Confirm that the pin icon or menu item changed state, then check the layout. A small meeting window, many participants, or the selected layout can affect how much space a tile receives. Expand the meeting window or adjust the layout, then check whether the pinned tile is easier to see.

The pin option is missing or unavailable. Make sure you are in the meeting rather than viewing a static link or preview. Try selecting a different participant tile, then reopen its menu. If the controls still do not appear, reload the meeting or leave and rejoin if it is safe to do so; unsaved work in other tabs should be preserved before refreshing.

The wrong video stays prominent. Unpin the current tile, locate the intended person or shared screen, and pin that tile instead. If the person has turned off their camera or left the call, there may be no live video to display; choose another participant or presentation.

Meet controls are not responding on a phone or tablet. Check that the app is responsive and that your device has a working connection. Close and reopen the app if necessary, then rejoin the meeting. If you are using Meet in a mobile browser, try the app, since the available controls can differ by device and browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does pinning someone notify them?
No. Pinning changes your own view and does not send the participant a notification.

Can I pin someone for everyone in the meeting?
No. A participant can pin a tile for their own screen, but this does not force the same view on other attendees.

Can I pin a presentation instead of a person?
Yes, when the presentation tile is available. Open that tile’s controls and choose the pin option.

How do I unpin a video in Google Meet?
Open the pinned tile’s menu and choose Unpin, or tap the pin control again if it toggles on and off.

Can I pin more than one person?
Meet’s available pinning behavior and tile controls can depend on the device and current interface. If you need to follow several people, use the layout controls to show more tiles and pin only the tile or tiles the interface permits.

Does pinning make the person louder?
No. Pinning changes the visual layout, not audio volume. Adjust your device’s audio controls if you need to change what you hear.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.