February 3, 2025
Google Meet adds more screen reader options for in-meeting reactions
What’s changing
To improve access for users with vision disabilities, we are adding several more options for how reactions in Google Meet are experienced through screen readers. You can access and adjust the settings at any time during the meeting by pressing Shift+R or from the Settings menu (Three-dot overflow button > Settings > Reactions > Accessibility). The following settings have been added for in-meeting reactions:
- Don’t announce reactions: No announcements or sound when a reaction is received.
- Play a sound for all reactions: Play a sound when a reaction is received.
- Announce all reactions: Announce only the emoji when a reaction is received, for example “Thumbs up”.
- Announce all reactions and senders: Announce the emoji and who sent the received reaction, for example “Elisa Beckett and 2 others reacted with thumbs up”.
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Press Shift+R or go to Settings menu (Three-dot overflow button) > Settings > Reactions > Accessibility to adjust your settings.
We hope that these new settings help you configure the experience to suit your needs.
Getting started
- Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
- End users: Press Shift+R to toggle how you hear reactions. Settings will persist from meeting to meeting. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using reactions in Meet, using keyboard shortcuts in Meet, and Meet accessibility in general.
Rollout pace
- Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 3, 2025
Availability
- Available for Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google accounts