Kicking someone off your Google Meet call could soon be even more satisfying

Google Meet logo being displayed on a laptop and a phone that are resting on a wooden table
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Removing troublesome participants from a Google Meet call could soon feel a lot better thanks to a new update.

The video conferencing tool will now offer a richer set of options for those looking to wield the hammer of justice, with the ability to not just remove participants, but also report and block them too.

The change will hopefully put an end to disruptive users raising havoc on Google Meet calls, and will be good news for Jackie Weaver wannabes everywhere.

Google Meet block

In a Google Workspace update blog post announcing the news, the company noted that the move means that when a host or co-host removes a participant from a call, they will also be given a selection of additional actions.

Google Meet block or remove users from call

(Image credit: Google Workspace)

Along with simply removing the participant from the call, they will now be asked if they want to fill out an additional abuse report and/or block the user from rejoining.

"We hope these additional options make it easier to manage your meetings and avoid further disruptions," the company said.

It notes that using the "block" function should only be when absolutely necessary, and that blocked users can be manually restored to the call from the “People” panel. 

The update, which is rolling out now and requires no special tweaks on the user or admin side, will be available for Google Meet on laptop and desktop devices, as well as Android and iOS devices. It is available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers, and also to users with personal Google Accounts.

The news comes shortly after the company announced it would be bringing Google Meet together with its more consumer-focused Duo platform into one single platform.

The move will provide users with "a single, integrated solution for both video calling and meetings", as Duo is renamed to Google Meet later in 2022.

Mike Moore
Deputy Editor, TechRadar Pro

Mike Moore is Deputy Editor at TechRadar Pro. He has worked as a B2B and B2C tech journalist for nearly a decade, including at one of the UK's leading national newspapers and fellow Future title ITProPortal, and when he's not keeping track of all the latest enterprise and workplace trends, can most likely be found watching, following or taking part in some kind of sport.