How to Flip Camera on Google Meet

Although Google Meet users can preview their video feed with the mirror view feature, it does not let them really flip or mirror the video for their audience. So, users don’t have to flip their video feed every time they want to get a different perspective. There might be times when you’ll absolutely need to either mirror or flip your Google Meet’s video feed.

Can you flip your camera?

Well, no, and yes. Google does allow you to flip the video feed but there’s a small catch – you can only mirror your camera feed in the preview on your screen. Your audience, on the other hand, gets to see the unmirrored version. The platform does this so that its users can see the camera feed with the feed being too jarring.

However, with that said, Google Meet doesn’t flip the camera feed for the end-user. Meaning even if items and text in the camera preview may appear to be flipped to the user, they’re shown in the right orientation scheme to the other meeting participants.

This is a great tool for trainers and teachers that use the platform to convey important concepts and ideas to their meeting attendees. Sometimes educators can lose the relevance a little when flipped over in the video feed, which typically involves using charts and Whiteboards.

Why Is There a Mirrored Camera?

Like most webcams and mobile devices, Google Meet automatically flips the camera feed for users. This has been a popular trend that’s been running for the last decade now, and a lot of this has to do with the introduction of phones with dedicated selfie camera features and the popularity of selfies.

Humans have been using real mirrors in their actual lives for quite some time and a flipped image of themselves is what they’re used to seeing. Most people are used to seeing a flipped image, so seeing unmirrored images of themselves can often be a bit jarring for most.

To offer a more selfie-friendly and aesthetic environment as well as remedy the jarring issue, organizations began to mirror mobile device camera feeds so that they look like everyday mirrors. This trend caught on quickly and is now almost available in all video conferencing platforms that capture video from digital devices, whether it’s a laptop, tablet, smartphone, or dedicated camera.

How to Flip the Camera

As mentioned earlier, the camera feed is flipped only for the user’s preview and looks unmirrored for the other meeting participants. So, users don’t need to flip or mirror it. However, if you still want to mirror the video feed for the meeting attendees, then this article will show you how to flip the camera on Google Meet.

For macOS

To flip the camera feed when taking a Google Meet call on macOS devices, you’ll need to;

● Go to ‘Launchpad’ on your Mac device and then launch Quicktime Player

● Once inside the app, you’ll need to make a virtual camera feed, which users can do by clicking the ‘File’ option at the top of the screen and then choosing ‘New Movie Recording”

● You’ll be led to a Quicktime recording display screen with a camera preview. Here’s when you can now go to Google Chrome and launch Google Meet.

● Join the meeting where you want the participants to see a flipped video

● Inside your meeting display screen, click the ‘Present Now’ tab at the bottom of the screen and choose the ‘A Window’ option.

● Next, you’ll be asked to choose the QuickTime Window option which you want the other participants to see. The flipped camera feed of your video will be in this window. Choose the window and then press the ‘Share’ tab within the dialog to begin showing the flipped camera feed.

And there you have it. Your meeting attendees will now be able to see the mirrored video feed from your camera.

For Windows

Remember, while the default camera application works on most digital devices, some electronics manufacturers usually don’t allow users to mirror the video feeds on their devices. So, if your default camera doesn’t allow this functionality, you might have to download and use a third-party tool.

If the default camera allows you to mirror video feed, then you’ll need to;

● Launch the camera application on Windows. Click the ‘Start’ tab to locate it.

● Once you find the camera app option, click ‘Open’

● The app will automatically provide a video preview where the image will be mirrored

● Launch the web browser and join the call on Google Meet where you’d like to show the flipped camera feed.

● Next, click the ‘Present Now’ option, which is at the bottom of your screen on the right

● Choose ‘A Window’

● Choose the camera window with the flipped video feed and click the ‘Share’ option to select it

Now your flipped camera feed from your video preview will be shown to all the other attendees.

Flipping the Camera Without Sharing the Display Screen

Can you get a mirror effect when you used the techniques highlighted above to flip your video feed, and then share the resulting presentation? If users do not want to share their display screen so that they can flip their video feed but want other meeting participants to see a flipped version of themselves directly from their camera, then this technique might help get just that.

Keep in mind that you might need the help of a third-party tool, like Snap Camera, to use this method and if you have used the up on your laptop or desktop before, flipping video content from the camera will be a lot easier.

You can slit the process into three different parts when using third-party software.

1. Installing and setting up the app

If you know how to download and install apps for your Mac and Windows device, then you can just go directly to the tool’s download page. However, in the event you are not used to this process, there are many resources online that guide you on what to do.

With that said, once you install the third-party software on your Mac or Windows computer, you can’t start running the application right away. You need to give it permission to access the camera feature because modern operating systems typically have extensive security and privacy protocols.

If you want the third-party tool to work, usually you’ll need to grant access to the camera feature so that the app can customize the camera’s input settings and align them with your preferences.

How do you enable camera access on a computer?

● On Mac – Select the ‘System Preferences’ option on the Mac, go to ‘Security Privacy’ and then ‘Camera.’ Check the box next to the brand icon

● On Windows – Input ‘Windows Key + I,’ go to ‘Privacy,’ click ‘Camera’ and then turn on the switches next to ‘Allow app to access Camera’

The above process is when you’re using Snap Camera and the like.

2. Enabling the Tool as the Default Input

Now that the third-party software houses the flipped version on you, it is time to enable it inside your Google Meet. Since users can only access Google Meet via a web browser, you need to ensure the web browser you are using can change the input devices for the different sites you want to visit.

For example, Firefox, Brave, and Google Chrome allow you to use most of the popular third-party tools of this nature as the default camera feature for a website. So, if the browser you are using is either Firefox, Brave, or Google Chrome, then you have a high chance of using most of the popular products available.

For example, when using Snap Camera, you’ll need to;

● Enable the tool inside your Google Meet by starting or joining the meeting

● Once you’ve started or joined the meeting, click the 3-dots icon (vertical ellipsis button) at the bottom right of your screen.

● Next, select the ‘Settings’ option

● When the dialog appears, choose the ‘Video’ option from the left sidebar

● From here, choose ‘Snap Camera’ as the default camera in the ‘Camera’ tab. You can access this dialog box by pressing the ‘X’ icon at the top right

And that’s really all it takes.

How to Use a Chrome Extension

If you’re casting the screen and you’d like to mirror a specific video on your web page, then you might want to consider using a Chrome Extension. Flip Screen, for instance, is a fantastic Chrome extension you can add if you want to mirror or flip all the text on the web page that you’re casting. The Chrome extension will flip or mirror everything on the web page.

However, if all you’d like to do is flip content in videos, then the Video Mirror Chrome extension is what you need in your life. It’ll allow you to mirror or flip content on your videos and supports Google Meet as well.

Can You Unflip the Camera

Users can unflip the camera feature on their Google Meet by clicking the ‘Mirror Camera’ tab. Tapping the video icon in your chatbox will also unflip the camera in your Google Meet. When you unmirror the camera application, it’ll automatically change to the camera feed that’s sharing their screen.

Can You Add Visual Effects?

Users can make their cameras in Google Meet more aesthetically appealing by adding visual effects to their meetings and video calls. The visual effects are easy to use and you can access them by pressing the camera icon in your chatbox. There are many options, from simple background visual effects like white or black background options to more complicated effects that allow you to change your video conferences into somewhat of a digital carnival. Additionally, users can also change both the color and shape of their camera feed to fit their meeting’s theme.

Why is the Video Feed Initially Flipped?

Try this on your smartphone; open its camera application, use the front-face setting, and wave your right hand. In the camera app, is your right hand waving?

Now, record another video while using your left hand to wave. Watch the video. Is it your left or right hand that’s waving? It’ll show you waving the right hand.

When you use the front-facing setting to record, while the live camera feed will look okay, the recorded one will be flipped. This is no accident. Why? Because the camera on the phone is more like the way another person looks at you rather than how it works with a mirror. From the perspective of someone who’s facing you, your right hand is their left, and vice versa.

This is a trick app developers like using. Most people instinctively think that front-facing cameras work like mirrors, so they usually find it a little awkward when the mirrored image is displayed by the camera. To side-step this awkward feeling, app manufacturers mirror the camera application again so it looks correct.

These are all the same principles adopted by most video conferencing tools, including Google Meet.

Does Text Appear the Right Way?

Fortunately, if you are showing text on your video feed, maybe you want to show other meeting participants something you’ve written, mirroring results in the text looking backward to you, while normal to the other people on the video conference call. Just ensure you don’t write backward, because that’ll lead to the text reading backward

Google Meet, as well as Teams, Skype, and Zoom, show users the mirrored view. However, everything for attendees remains exactly as it’s supposed to, so avoid printing things backward, writing things backward, and changing anything in the text. You should get it out of your mind because you might end up tying yourself in knots.

Where Else Do You Find this Mirror Effect?

Mirroring or flipping is very common on selfie cameras. They are presenting views that most people don’t normally see – someone looking at them. So the images on a selfie camera get mirrored, rather than what your camera is actually seeing.

There’s a great handshake test you can use to test this for yourself. Reach out to shake hands with your image. The flipped image displays you raising your hand facing the same side, meaning you can’t shake hands as usual.

Smartphones usually have an option to save the mirrored version which is what people standing opposite you would be seeing, or the flipped image that’s displayed in the preview. It can cause a lot of confusion when writing on clothing garments, where the mirrored image results in brands reading backward, which a lot of people end up doing.

It begs the question of who selfies are really for. Why? Because if you think flipped versions are the correct ones, you are probably taking the selfies for yourself. If you think mirrored images are the correct ones, then you are taking them for someone else.

Benefits of Video Conferencing

There are very many reasons why you should consider using video conferencing platforms such as Google Meet. Here are some of the benefits of using Google Meet and the like.

1. Saves Money

By giving your organization an easy way to conduct face-to-face meetings online, Google Meet provides an in-person, collaborative experience without having to worry about travel expenses. Meaning no travel fees are needed for big meetings, conferences, training, etc. This allows you to concentrate precious resources elsewhere.

In addition, when you can have meetings virtually, you can acquire the best talent from anywhere in the world and work effectively remotely.

2. Help Improve Communication

Whether you’re a large corporation or a small business, clear communication is very important to meeting goals, setting expectations, and clearly understanding projects. Video conferencing platforms like Google Meet can improve communication because humans generally process visuals more aptly and way faster than audio or text.

When you have a visual of other meeting participants, everyone will multi-task less, be more engaged, and give themselves a chance to understand and process data more clearly.

3. Saves Time

Because you can meet with others virtually anywhere, video conferencing tools allow people to save on travel time. You won’t need to spend a lot of time traveling to get to meetings and you can spend more time concentrating on more important work.

However, you can save time with such tools in many other ways. For starters, working through problems via meetings instead of emails can help reduce confusion, remove the disruption of receiving many messages, and align team members faster. This helps to reduce the time it takes to finish projects.

4. Increases Productivity

Because video conferencing tools make it easy for team members to collaborate on projects in real time, you can avoid having to deal with version control issues, in-document comments, and long email chains, most of which can result in delays, misunderstandings, and confusion.

By being able to join calls and collaborate on work in real-time, you can make sure everyone gets a chance to speak, queries are answered immediately, and all feedback is incorporated swiftly. Furthermore, you can quickly come together as a team to ensure that all members understand the task before they leave the meeting.

5. Creates Accurate, Consistent Records

When you host voice-only calls or in-person meetings, someone on the team usually has to end up taking notes. And given how conversations have a fast-paced nature, information can easily get lost in the process. However, with video conferencing tools, like Google Meet, that allow to securely record and transcribe, all information can be kept intact. Furthermore, you can easily refer back to the data when queries arise.

6. Enhances Efficiency

Clearer communication processes by way of non-verbal and verbal cues, real-time collaboration, screen sharing, and allowing people to have virtual meetings from anywhere makes video conferencing a way more efficient use of your time and everyone else’s.

Ending meetings and calls at specific times can also help keep the team both on topic and, of course, on time. Best of all, though, it can be as flexible as you need it to be, meaning it’s easy to answer questions fact-to-face and jump into brainstorming sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some related FAQs about mirroring the camera on google meet.

What is the Google Meet background mirroring?

As mentioned earlier in the article, Google Meet automatically mirrors the view as the eyes are more comfortable viewing a mirrored image of themselves. Because of this automatic mirroring, the background will look flipped to you as well. You can turn this off in the ‘Settings’ tab.

Can you mirror your camera feed for others?

No option allows you to flip your video feed for others on Google Meet. In fact, it’s not such a good idea to flip your camera feed for others on Google Meet calls because everything will look flipped to other participants. People are comfortable seeing only their image mirrored, but not of a person who’s in front of them. Therefore, meeting participants will find it incredibly awkward if they see your flipped image.

Should you flip your camera?

You should avoid flipping your video feed on Google Meet for others. By default, Google Meet mirrors your camera feed for you and other meeting participants get to see it as normal. You can switch off the mirror view any time you want for specific purposes. But, under normal circumstances, you shouldn’t have a problem looking at a mirrored image of yourself.

Conclusion

If you’ve ever wanted to know how to flip a camera on Google Meet, hopefully, this article has provided you with all the information you need. As you can see, flipping the camera isn’t as hard as most people tend to think. In fact, it’s a pretty straightforward process when you know what to do.

With that said, although you can use mirror view to preview your video feed, the Google Meet application does not really flip or mirror your camera for other meeting participants. So, you do not have to mirror the camera every time you’d like to get different perspectives. There might be situations when it is absolutely necessary to mirror your Camera feed on Google Meet.

How to Flip Camera on Google Meet

How to Flip Camera on Google Meet

Can you flip your camera?

Why Is There a Mirrored Camera?

How to Flip the Camera

For macOS

For Windows

Flipping the Camera Without Sharing the Display Screen

1. Installing and setting up the app

2. Enabling the Tool as the Default Input

How to Use a Chrome Extension

Can You Unflip the Camera

Can You Add Visual Effects?

Why is the Video Feed Initially Flipped?

Does Text Appear the Right Way?

Where Else Do You Find this Mirror Effect?

Benefits of Video Conferencing

1. Saves Money

2. Help Improve Communication

3. Saves Time

4. Increases Productivity

5. Creates Accurate, Consistent Records

6. Enhances Efficiency

What is the Google Meet background mirroring?

Can you mirror your camera feed for others?

Should you flip your camera?

Conclusion

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