How to use the new Google Meet calling without a phone number.

Learn about changes with Google Duo

Oct 7, 2022

Hi Evita,

Welcome to Google Meet support Community!

No, Google is not removing the option to make calls with just an email. You’re still able to do everything you’ve always done in Google Duo, such as:

Make voice or video calls to friends and family by phone number or email.

Use fun filters and effects.

Send messages.

Ask Google Assistant to call with your existing devices.

In fact, with email you can try out the new experience in the Google Duo app: use meetings.

Users must be signed in with a Google Account in order to try meeting features. Accounts set up with only a phone number can’t use meetings.

Regards,

NinCoT

April Hiscox

Oct 16, 2022

I'm having the same problem. It is not clear how to make these calls anymore. I've figured how to invite someone, but the invites won't generate or connect. This was the primary method my son used to communicate with his grandparents, we may have to switch to Facebook messenger.

Last edited Oct 16, 2022

Oct 17, 2022

Hi April,

Would you describe step by step, so we can troubleshoot which one is failing and for what reason.

Looking forward to your answer.

Regards,

NinCoT

April Hiscox

Oct 17, 2022

As far as I can tell there is no way to add contacts and I can't find any instructions online to do so.

I open meet. Select new in the lower right corner. The next screen allows 3 choices. "Search or enter code", "create new meeting" or "schedule in google calendar ". If I enter an email address in Search I get an invite option. Then a new screen that looks like the start of a call but has "compose an invite". Then a neverending version of this spinning blue circle:

https ://support.google.com/meet/answer/7291339

Oct 18, 2022

Evita: try uninstall and install back the Duo-now-Meet app.

What happens if you switch to a different Google account? If your device pre-loads Google Accounts, select the Account you want to make calls with.

Allow Meet access to:

Your microphone and camera

Your contacts for calling

Your device's notifications

Regards,

NinCoT

April Hiscox

Oct 18, 2022

I think you misunderstood the question posed by both the original poster and myself. We do not have a way to have a calling account because the devices we are using do not have phone numbers. We want to make "calls" with a child's account and not a "different google account". I will try to reinstall meet one last time this evening and let you know if that fixes the problem for the account I am trying to use, but ultimately, it is clear to me that despite the language and links you are pointing too, Google has removed this feature and we will have to use a different service for on demand video calling without phone numbers.

Evita Hollis

Original Poster

Oct 18, 2022

I agree with April, I don't believe you understand our issue. My son uses an old iPhone and his tablet. The tablet still has Duo, but not the iPhone, I am only able to use Meet on the iPhone. However, when attempting to make a call it requires a phone number, which he does not have.

April -- what I ended up doing was using Google Voice to get a virtual phone number that is linked to my cell phone number. I use the Google Voice number for Google Meet and it sent the verification text to my cell phone number. I'm not using or giving anyone the virtual number, other than to get past this step within Google Meet. It works for my son's iPhone, so hopefully, this helps you.