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Dialog: Join Meeting

How to Open

  • Via meeting link (e.g. from calendar, email, chat)
  • In Calls: "Join Meeting" → enter link or meeting code
  • Deep link e.g. sparks://meet/... (desktop app)

Pre-Join (Before Joining)

Before actually joining you can check and set:

OptionDescription
CameraPreview, on/off; select camera (if multiple)
MicrophoneMute; select microphone
SpeakerChoose output device
NameAdjust display name for meeting
Background effectsBlur or custom image (via Video → More / Background effects)
Background detectionAuto, GPU, or CPU – how the app separates you from the background (see below)

Background Effects

  • Blur: Blur background
  • Custom image: Use your photo as virtual background
  • Improves privacy and reduces distraction

Background Detection (Segmentation)

Wherever you can pick blur or a custom background—Pre-Join, guest pre-join, waiting room, and in the meeting via Background effects or the video More menu—you can often choose how segmentation runs:

ModeMeaning
AutoUses GPU when it makes sense and is available; otherwise CPU
GPUFaster segmentation when the GPU and drivers work well
CPUFallback if you see issues with GPU (e.g. unstable edges or high CPU load with GPU on)

Note: When you turn off blur or a virtual background, your camera preview should return to normal (no frozen frame).

After Joining

  • Meeting layout: The meeting UI currently uses the full window and sits above the sidebar and top app bar (this layout may change in future releases).
  • Meeting toolbar: Chat, Q&A, polls, participants, whiteboard, view switch
  • Controls: Camera, microphone, screen share, reactions
  • Moderators: Breakout rooms, recording, timer, participant actions (pin, spotlight, remove)

Meeting Types

  • 1:1 call: Direct from contact/phone book; no pre-join dialog mandatory
  • Group meeting: Via link or calendar; pre-join usual
  • Room meeting: Linked to Matrix room; chat, Q&A, polls available

Keyboard Shortcut in Meeting

  • Option+Space / Alt+Space: Temporarily unmute (push-to-talk) when enabled in Privacy settings

📸 Screenshot: Join meeting, Pre-Join page

Roles in Meeting

What moderators and participants can do: Meeting Roles: Moderator and Participant