You can reduce the video Google Meet receives without asking every participant to turn off their camera. Receive resolution changes the incoming picture on your computer. It is useful when your connection is limited or when you need audio more than a large grid of live video feeds.
Lower the incoming resolution
Open Settings and Video in the browser meeting. Find Receive resolution and choose a lower available maximum. Google describes Standard definition, single feed, as turning off other participants’ thumbnails to save more data. Audio Only uses the least data and shows no video. Check that you changed Receive resolution rather than Send resolution.
Hide a particular distracting feed
If your goal concerns one participant rather than the whole incoming stream, use that person’s tile menu and choose Don’t watch when available. For someone outside the current layout, open the People panel and use the participant’s More actions menu. Google states this affects your display only. To restore the feed, select Start Watching. It does not turn off that person’s camera for the meeting.
Verify the appropriate tradeoff
Listen for improved continuity and check whether the information you need remains accessible. Audio Only can be unsuitable when you must follow a sign language interpreter or a visual demonstration. Choose a less aggressive reduction or agree on another accessible format in that case. Keep your own camera decision separate: reducing incoming video does not itself document what you are sending. After the connection improves, restore the required view and confirm the relevant participants or content are visible. Note which incoming setting helped so you can repeat the useful adjustment without changing everyone else’s meeting experience.
References
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 4, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.