Transcribing a Meet call in four steps
Meet already runs in a browser tab, and Chrome can share a tab's audio. That is the whole trick.
Join the Meet in Chrome or Edge
Open the meeting as usual. Nothing changes about how you join.
Open MeetingSidekick in a second tab
Go to meetingsidekick.ai and sign in free, or use the 5-minute trial. Tick the consent box and press Start, then allow the microphone.
Share the Meet tab with audio
In the share picker, pick the Meet tab and make sure "Also share tab audio" is on. Your microphone and everyone else's voices are both captured.
Press Stop for the summary
When the call ends, press Stop. You get the transcript, a summary with decisions and action items, an email recap and a chat you can ask about the meeting.
Meet's built-in transcripts vs. extensions vs. a tab
Each common route has a catch. Here is where each one fits.
Meet's own transcripts
Good if your Workspace edition includes them and the host turns them on. On personal Gmail accounts and many plans they are not available, and you get a document, not a summary.
Chrome extensions
They work, but they ask to read and change data on sites you visit, and managed work laptops often block installing them.
Notetaker bots
A bot joins as a participant. The host has to admit it, and every attendee sees it on the list.
A second tab
Nothing to install, nothing to admit, works on a locked-down laptop. The catch: it only hears what your computer plays, so you need to be in the call.
The limits, before you start
Chrome or Edge, on a desktop. Safari and Firefox cannot share tab audio. On a phone, put the call on speaker and MeetingSidekick listens through the microphone instead.
Keep the Meet tab open. If you close or reload the shared tab, capture of the call audio stops. Your microphone keeps going.
Audio, not video. You get the transcript, summary, saved audio and a chatbot, not a screen recording.
Be open about it. Recording laws vary by place and many organizations have policies, so tell people you are taking notes and follow the rules that apply to you.
Answered
How do I transcribe a Google Meet call without an extension?
Open meetingsidekick.ai in a second Chrome or Edge tab, press Start, and share the Meet tab with "Also share tab audio" turned on. The transcript appears live and nothing is installed or added to the call.
Will other people see a bot or a notetaker in the call?
No. Nothing joins the meeting. The audio is captured by your own browser, which is why you should tell people you are taking notes.
Do I need Google Workspace or admin rights?
No. It works with a personal Gmail account or any Workspace plan, and nothing needs an administrator to approve it.
Does it work if I am not the host?
Yes. You only need to be in the call. Host settings for Meet's own transcripts do not matter here.
How much does it cost?
Free is 2 hours of recording, one time, with no credit card. Pro is $15 a month or $120 a year for 30 hours a month. Max is $50 a month for unlimited recording. There is also a one-time 5-hour pack for $9 that never expires.
Try it on your next Meet call. Nothing joins.
Free to start, no credit card. Open a second tab, press Start, share the Meet tab.
Start free →