End-user concepts

The Google Meet Live Sharing SDK allows developers to sync content across devices in real time and incorporate Meet into their apps, enabling them to bring new, fun, and genuinely connecting experiences to their users.

If an end user wants to start live sharing, there are three entry points:

  1. From an application using the Meet Live Sharing SDK.
  2. From Google Meet.
  3. Using a Meet URL shared by others.

Option 1: From an app using the Meet Live Sharing SDK

When watching a video in a live sharing app, select Live sharing. Meet then begins a live sharing session.

Start Live Sharing from an
app.

A call to AddonSession.Builder.begin() triggers the Meet app to start and join a meeting. If the user is already in a meeting, the user remains joined to their ongoing meeting. Eventually, the builder returns an AddonSession. The connected meeting URL can be retrieved by calling AddonSession.getMeetingInfo(). Users can then share the meeting with others.

The following sequence diagram gives an overview of the expected process when setting up live sharing:

Start Meet Live Sharing SDK
diagram.

Option 2: From Meet

  1. In a Meet video meeting, select Start live sharing.
  2. Select Activities.
  3. On the Activities tab, select a live sharing app from the list.
    Meet opens the app and users can explore co-activities. Users are placed into picture-in-picture (PiP) mode within Meet.

Start Live Sharing from Meet.

The live sharing app is started using an Intent sent from the Meet app (or, if not yet installed, the user is redirected to Google Play).

Option 3: Using a Meet URL shared by others

Open a Meet URL supplied through email or chat. Once connected, Meet recognizes there's an ongoing live sharing experience and opens the relevant live sharing app.

Start Live Sharing from a Meet URL shared by
others.