If you’re the kind of person who’s always on the move—running between job sites, juggling a remote team, or just tired of being chained to a desk—hosting meetings from your phone sounds like magic. The good news: it’s not magic, it’s just the Gotomeeting app.
This guide is for people who need to run real meetings, not just stare at their calendar and hope. I’ll walk you through actually using the app to host meetings, call out what works well (and what doesn’t), and help you skip the stuff you don’t need.
1. Get the App and Set Up
First things first: download the Gotomeeting app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Search for “GoTo Meeting”—yes, it’s annoyingly two words in the stores.
Setup is pretty painless: - Open the app. - Sign in with your Gotomeeting account (or create one if you’re new). - If your company uses SSO or Google login, expect a browser pop-up.
Heads up: Gotomeeting isn’t free for hosts. If you’re just joining someone else’s meeting, you can skip the paid account. But to actually host a meeting, you’ll need a subscription.
Pro tip: Enable notifications. You’ll want those reminders, especially if you’re on the go.
2. Scheduling a Meeting on Your Phone
Once you’re logged in, scheduling is straightforward, but here’s where some mobile quirks show up.
Steps:
- Tap the “+” or “Schedule” button.
- The UI changes a little between iOS and Android, but you’re looking for something obvious.
- Fill in meeting details:
- Meeting name (keep it short—you’ll thank yourself later).
- Date & time.
- Repeat or recurring? (If you do weekly standups, this is handy.)
- Audio options:
- You can stick with VoIP (app audio) or allow dial-in numbers. VoIP is fine unless you’re dealing with bad cell data.
- Send invites:
- The app will let you add participants or copy the meeting link.
- Invites go out via your phone’s default email/calendar app.
What works: The scheduling flow is quick and baked into your phone’s calendar, so you don’t have to retype everything.
What doesn’t: Editing a meeting after creation is clunky. If you need to change a lot, it’s honestly easier from a laptop.
3. Starting and Hosting a Meeting
When it’s go time, running a meeting from your phone is simple—if you know where to tap.
Steps:
- Open the Gotomeeting app.
- Find your meeting under “Upcoming.”
- Tap “Start.” That’s it. You’re the host now.
Now you can: - Mute/unmute yourself. - See who’s joined (swipe to see the participant list). - Add people on the fly. - Share your phone screen or files (more on that below).
Pro tip: If you’re using headphones, make sure they’re connected before you start. Bluetooth switching mid-call is asking for trouble.
What works: Audio and video quality are surprisingly solid, assuming you’ve got decent cell data or Wi-Fi.
What to ignore: Fancy backgrounds and filters. They’re buggy on mobile and drain your battery.
4. Managing Participants
The participant controls on mobile are decent, but a bit buried. You can:
- Mute others (helpful when someone’s dog goes nuts).
- Remove people if needed.
- Promote someone to co-host.
How: - Tap the “Participants” icon (usually two heads or a list). - Long-press or tap on a name for options.
Limitations: You can’t do breakout rooms or some advanced stuff from mobile. If you need fancy features, use a laptop. For regular meetings, mobile works fine.
5. Sharing Your Screen or Content
Yes, you can share your phone screen in Gotomeeting. This works best for showing slides, documents, or even walking someone through an app.
To share your screen:
- Tap the screen-share icon (usually a rectangle with an arrow).
- You’ll get a warning—your phone will share everything on your screen until you stop.
- Choose what to share (your whole screen, a photo, or a file).
What works: For a quick doc or slide, it’s great. Just don’t try to present a complex spreadsheet—it’ll be unreadable on most people’s screens.
What doesn’t: If you get a phone call or a notification, everyone sees it. Silence your phone and turn on Do Not Disturb.
6. Chatting and File Sharing
The built-in chat is there if you want to share links or notes during a call.
To use chat: - Tap the chat icon during a meeting. - Pick if you want to message everyone or just one person.
Limitations: You can’t send big files. Stick to links or short notes.
7. Recording Meetings
You can record meetings from mobile, but there are some catches.
- Look for the “Record” button when you start the meeting.
- Recordings usually save to the cloud, not your device.
- You’ll get a link after the meeting to share with others.
What works: Cloud recording means you don’t have to mess with phone storage.
What’s annoying: You can’t trim or edit recordings from the app. If you care about polish, do it on your computer after.
8. Quick Tips for Smoother Mobile Meetings
- Charge up: Video calls eat battery fast.
- Find a quiet spot: Your car is better than a coffee shop.
- Test your network: Nothing kills a meeting like dropping out.
- Have a backup plan: If your app crashes, be ready to call in via phone.
9. What’s Overhyped (and What to Ignore)
- Virtual backgrounds: They’re half-baked on mobile. You’ll look like a ghost.
- In-app integrations: Most aren’t available on mobile. Use your phone for basics, not for running polls or complex workflows.
- “AI features”: As of mid-2024, Gotomeeting’s app has some “smart” features, but they’re not reliable enough to bet a meeting on.
10. Troubleshooting Common Headaches
- Echo or feedback: Usually someone’s got both their phone and laptop dialed in. Mute one device.
- App crashes: Restart the app. If it keeps happening, reinstall.
- Can’t find meeting links: Double-check your calendar or the app’s “Upcoming” tab.
If all else fails: You can always dial in by phone. The call quality is fine, and sometimes it’s just simpler.
Keep It Simple: Final Thoughts
Hosting meetings from your phone isn’t rocket science, but it’s not quite desktop-quality either. Gotomeeting’s mobile app covers the basics: starting meetings, sharing screens, and muting that one guy with the leaf blower. Skip the gimmicks, stick to what works, and don’t stress about perfection. The more you use it, the easier it gets—so just start hosting and adjust as you go.
You’re busy. Let the app help you stay that way.