4 Fixes When Google Meet Lags During a Presentation

Quick Tips

• You should use Google Meet on the Chrome browser as it may save you from further troubleshooting.
• Also, ensure you have high-speed internet before proceeding to any solutions.
• On slower computers, you may have to end the apps running in the background to free up system resources.

Basic Fixes

• Suspend other background activities and apps – Running other background activities, like downloads, may cause lag. You may also close other unused applications to free up system resources.
• Avoid using background wallpapers – Google Meet offers background wallpaper functions, but they are resource-intensive.
• Update Google Chrome – The Google Meet presentation lag may not be related to Google Meet; an outdated computer may have certain bugs that trigger the problem.

Fix 1: Lower the Display Resolution

Are you using a 4K monitor or laptop with a 4K display to conduct Google Meet calls? In that case, Google Meet will try to render everything in the 4K resolution during the presentation. You should lower the display resolution to avoid lag.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on Windows using Windows + I keys.

Step 2: Go to System > select the Display menu.

Step 3: Select Display resolution under the Scale & layout menu and select a lower resolution.

Open Google Chrome and deliver a presentation during Google Meet. You should see a drastic reduction in lag.

Fix 2: Update Display and GPU Drivers

If your computer’s display and GPU drivers are outdated, you might experience heavy lag during Google Meet presentations. You must update the display and GPU drivers from the Device Manager menu to fix this. You can use driver update programs or follow the steps below.

Step 1: Right-click the Start menu and click Device Manager.

Step 2: Expand the Display adaptors menu, right-click on your display driver, and select Update driver.

Step 4: Click Automatically search for drivers, then reboot your PC and try delivering presentations over Google Meet.

Fix 3: Turn Off Hardware Acceleration

Turning off hardware acceleration is a valid fix if the GPU is outdated, weak, or overloaded. Hardware acceleration puts a greater burden on the GPU. By disabling it, you reduce the burden and kill the lag.

Step 1: Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.

Step 2: Go to the System section and select Display.

Step 3: Click Graphics in the Related settings section.

Step 4: Click Change default graphics settings, then toggle off Hardware acceleration in the next windows.

Fix 4: Use Your Phone for Audio

If you organized the meeting through a Google Workspace account, use a phone for audio in a video meeting. This option is great if you have poor internet connections. Follow the steps below.

Step 1: Once you are in the waiting room, before joining a meeting, click on Join and use your phone for audio.

Step 2: Input your phone number in the provided field and click on Call me and join. This should initiate a call to your phone.

Step 3: Answer the call and follow the instructions to use the phone as audio.