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Video Calls and Online Meetings: A Calm Beginner's Guide
A plain-English walkthrough of joining and taking part in video calls on Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet, from clicking the link to fixing common hiccups.
Stay on mute until it is your turn to speak, then unmute, say your bit, and mute again.
Last reviewed 2026-06-17 by the IT Lunchroom Editorial Team. Free, plain-English guidance for everyday work technology.
What you'll be able to do
after this you will be able to join a video call from a link, control your camera and microphone, share your screen, and stay calm when something goes wrong
Video callsJoining from a linkCamera and microphone controlsStaying on muteScreen sharingMeeting etiquetteTroubleshooting calmlyZoom, Teams and Meet
Joining is usually just one click
Whoever set up the meeting sends you a link, often in an email or calendar invite. When it is time, click that link. Your browser may open the meeting straight away, or it may ask to open an app like Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet; either choice is fine, so pick whichever one appears. Many services also let you join from the browser without installing anything, so look for a small link that says something like "join from this browser" if you would rather not download the app.
Your camera and microphone are yours to control
Before you fully join, most meetings show a preview screen where you can turn your camera and microphone on or off. Those two buttons, usually a small camera and a small microphone, stay near the bottom of the screen during the whole call. Clicking one turns it off; clicking again turns it back on. A line through the icon means it is off, so if people cannot see or hear you, that crossed-out icon is the first thing to check.
Mute is your friend, and so is a little etiquette
When you are not speaking, keep your microphone muted. This stops background sounds, like a kettle, a keyboard, or a dog, from interrupting whoever is talking. When it is your turn, unmute, say what you need to say, then mute again. A couple of other gentle habits help too: look toward your camera now and then so you seem present, and if a lot of people are on the call, use the "raise hand" or chat feature to jump in without talking over anyone.
When the tech acts up, stay calm and try the simple fixes
Glitches happen to everyone, and they are almost never your fault. If your sound or picture drops, first check those camera and microphone buttons are actually on. If people say they cannot hear you, your device may be using the wrong microphone; look for a small arrow next to the microphone button to pick a different one. If the whole call freezes or looks blurry, that is usually your internet catching its breath, so wait a moment, and if it does not settle, leave the meeting and click the same link again to rejoin. Nobody minds a quick "sorry, I dropped out".
Common questions
How do I share my screen so others can see what I'm looking at?
Look for a "Share" or "Share screen" button, usually in the row of buttons at the bottom of the call. Click it, then choose whether to show your whole screen or just one window, such as a single document. Pick the specific window when you can, so people only see what you mean to show and not your email or messages. When you are finished, click "Stop sharing" and you are back to the normal view.
What if I click the link and nothing seems to happen?
Give it a few seconds, as meetings can take a moment to load. If a box pops up asking to open an app, click "Open" or "Allow". If it still will not start, close the tab and click the link again, or look for a "join from browser" option instead. It is also worth checking you are joining at the right time, since some meetings will not let you in until the host opens the room.
Do I have to turn my camera on?
Not always. Many calls are perfectly fine with your camera off, and you can join with just your microphone. If you are unsure, it is polite to have your camera on for small meetings or introductions, and it is common to turn it off for large calls or when you would simply rather not be on screen. The choice is yours, and you can switch it on or off at any point during the call.
Practice it hands-on
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