Some Google Meet sessions should remain closed until a moderator arrives. The Host must join before anyone else setting controls that arrival order where it is available. It does not require the original organizer specifically if an appointed co-host can start the meeting.
Locate the arrival-order option
As the organizer or authorized host, open the meeting’s Host controls and review Meeting access. Where the switch is offered, turn Host must join before anyone else on to require a host first. Turning it off permits guests to arrive before a host, subject to the meeting’s other access rules. Review the access type separately; arrival order does not define the invited audience.
Check whether waiting rooms replace this choice
Google says Workspace users with access to the waiting-room feature do not see this option. An absent switch can therefore reflect the meeting’s supported workflow rather than a browser failure. Inspect the waiting-room configuration instead. In that workflow, the automatic bring-in setting affects admission, and Google documents that a co-host joining starts the meeting and moves everyone in.
Arrange a responsible first host
If someone else will moderate while the organizer is absent, confirm their co-host assignment and availability in advance. Explain that their arrival may open the meeting to waiting guests. Check saved settings for a recurring meeting because an earlier configuration can remain in effect. Tell attendees what to expect before the host arrives so a waiting screen is not mistaken for a broken link. After joining, inspect the People panel and admit the intended group according to the chosen policy. Do not loosen the entire meeting’s access merely because one guest arrived early; first establish which host or waiting-room condition is holding entry.
References
- Start or schedule a Google Meet video meeting
- Use waiting rooms in Google Meet
- Tips to set up business meetings
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.