Meeting Layout & Views
How video, screen shares, and activities are displayed during meetings.
The meeting layout automatically adapts based on what's happening — who's speaking, what's being shared, and what you've chosen to focus on. Understanding how the layout works helps you follow along and stay engaged.
How the Layout Works
The meeting screen has two main areas:
| Area | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Main Stage | The primary content — an activity, screen share, or the current speaker |
| Participant Strip | A row of video tiles at the top showing other participants |
The main stage automatically shows the most relevant content based on what's happening in the meeting.
What Shows in the Main Stage
The main stage displays content in this priority order:
| Priority | Content | When It Appears |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Display Link | When someone shares a web page URL |
| 2 | Whiteboard | When the whiteboard is active |
| 3 | Media Player | When video content is being played |
| 4 | Screen Share | When someone is sharing their screen |
| 5 | Active Speaker | When no activity is active — shows who's talking |
| 6 | Your Video | When you're the only participant or no one is speaking |
Display priority is not a stop command
The stage displays one primary surface using this priority. Do not assume a hidden screen share or another activity has stopped merely because a different surface is shown. Stop it explicitly when finished.
The Participant Strip
The top of the screen shows a filmstrip of participant video tiles:
Tile order:
- You — Your video always appears first
- Pinned participants — Anyone you've pinned
- Other participants — Everyone else
Navigation:
- Scroll left/right to see more participants if there are many
Pinning a Participant
Pin someone to override automatic video-track selection. Display Link, Whiteboard, and Media Player surfaces still take priority over the selected video track.
To pin someone:
- Find their video tile in the participant strip
- Click the three-dot menu (⋮) on their tile
- Select Pin
Pinning behavior:
- Only one pin is allowed at a time
- You can pin either their camera or their screen share
- Pinning overrides automatic speaker switching
- The pin is removed if the participant leaves or stops sharing
To unpin:
- Click the three-dot menu on the pinned tile
- Select Unpin
Pinning is personal
Your pin only affects your view. Other participants see their own layout based on their preferences.
Active Speaker Detection
When no activity is running and nothing is pinned, the main stage shows the active speaker — the person currently talking.
How it works:
- The system detects who has an unmuted microphone and is speaking
- Their video moves to the main stage
- A green border may appear around the stage when someone is speaking
- When they stop, it may switch to the next speaker
Note: Screen sharing takes priority over active speaker. If someone is sharing their screen, that appears in the main stage even if someone else is talking.
Activities and Your Video
When an activity is active (whiteboard, media player, etc.):
- The activity takes the main stage
- Your video appears in the participant strip
- If you're also screen sharing, both your camera and screen share appear as separate tiles in the strip
Visual Indicators
| Indicator | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Green border on stage | The person in the main stage has their microphone on |
| Hand icon on tile | Participant has raised their hand |
| Pin badge on tile | You've pinned this participant |
Layout Tips
Pin for focused viewing: If you want to watch a specific person regardless of who's speaking, pin them.
Scroll to find participants: In larger meetings, scroll the participant strip to find specific people.
Related
- Screen Sharing — Share your screen with participants
- Whiteboard — Collaborate visually
- Media Player — Play video content
- Display Link — Share web pages
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