Google is trying to merge the Meet and Duo apps, and with that, they’re adding a feature they’ve clearly borrowed from Zoom. In a Google Workspace blog update, the company announced that Google Meet will soon give you the ability to mute by holding down the space bar and mute again by releasing it.
To frequent Zoom users, this feature may seem very similar to push-to-talk. Zoom certainly hasn’t revolutionized this feature, but it conveniently makes it available during video conferences. This is especially noticeable when you want to engage in conversation during a meeting but don’t want to be mute for long. Cisco’s Webex has a similar feature, and Microsoft Teams allows you to mute with a “Ctrl + Spacebar” shortcut.
Google has announced that it will start distributing its own version of the shortcut to all Workspace users on September 9, but it could take up to 15 days. It won’t be enabled by default once it arrives, so you’ll have to enable it in your Google Meet settings.
