As part of our Google Workspace, we have access to a number of applications, from Gmail and Calendar to Forms and Notebook LM. While most of these apps are purely web-based, two key features—Google Meet for video conferencing and Google Drive for storage—are also available as applications* that can be accessed directly from your desktop and don’t have to be viewed through a web browser.
Google Meet
For Google Meet, using the desktop application can mean a faster, smoother connection. When you open Meet in a browser, it competes for resources with other open tabs. When you use the Desktop version, the app has more resources dedicated to running it. Check out our knowledge base article for installing the app or Google’s instructions for downloading the Meet App.
Here are some other helpful articles related to Google Meet:
- Google Meet: Overview
- Google Meet: Scheduling and Privacy
- Google Meet: Tips and Tricks for Google Meet Meetings
Google Drive
Google Drive for Desktop allows you to access your Drive files and folders from your desktop. The files are automatically synced, so you can edit and collaborate on them in real time. Check out this knowledge base article for instructions on installing Google Drive. This is also a great way to back up your device—simply sync your local folders to Drive.
* Did you Know? Desktop for Drive is a traditional desktop application that is downloaded and installed. Google Meet, on the other hand, is a Progressive Web App, which runs through a browser but acts like a native application.