Launch a video meeting in less time than it takes to say it with this free, open source solution available on all platforms.
There is no shortage of applications for making video calls or meetings: Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Google Duo, Skype, Viber, Zoom, Slack, Teams, the possibilities are numerous.
The users generally choose them because they are used massively, and make it possible to easily find a large part of their address book, already acquired for their cause. No need, therefore, to go on a mission to convince those around him to install them and create an account. But these applications also have their share of drawbacks. They all require you to create an account and, for some, restrict advanced features unless you go to checkout.
To read: Jitsi Meet: 10 tips to master the free video conferencing service like a pro
Jitsi Meet goes against the grain of everything that exists. Closer to a video meeting solution like Zoom, Jitsi Meet is a free solution, open source, and accessible on all platforms. Here, users do not call each other directly by choosing one or more contacts. The service will ask you, upstream, to create a sort of meeting room that your family, friends and colleagues can join once you have shared the access information with them.
Jitsi Meet is accessible directly from your web browser or from the iOS and Android mobile applications. Here’s how to set up and use the service for all of your video calls.
1. Open Jitsi
Start by going directly to Jitsi’s online interface from your web browser, or install the mobile application on your iPhone or Android smartphone.
- Go to Jitsi Meet (Free)
- Download Jitsi Meet for Android (Free)
- Download Jitsi Meet for iPhone / iPad (Free)
Note that if you use Jitsi from your computer, the service is optimized to work with Google Chrome (or Chromium).
2. Create a room
From the Jitsi home page, enter a room name in the Start a new meeting (desktop) or Enter a room name (mobile) field and validate.
As soon as your room is validated, your device’s webcam should snap into place and display your image on the screen. Take the opportunity immediately to switch to the Settings of the interface in French. Click on the More actions button represented by three small dots at the bottom right, and enter Settings.
Go to the More tab, and click on the drop-down menu to change the language.
Back on the image, personalize your file by clicking on the small frame at the top right, to indicate your name.
3. Invite participants
To invite participants to join your videoconference room, display the toolbar and click the i button at the bottom right.
Click Copy to copy the link for your room, and send it to attendees using your preferred medium.
You can also simply indicate the name of your room to your interlocutors who will only have to enter it in the Jitsi app on their smartphone or from the web interface to join the conversation.
4. Secure your room
Anyone who knows the name of your room will be able to access it again later.
To avoid this, you can set a password to protect it. Click on the i button to display your room information, then on Add a password.
Users who try to join the meeting will have to automatically enter the defined password.
5. Make use of the functions of Jitsi
Jitsi offers a whole bunch of features that make it a very complete tool. You can, for example, choose to toggle the display of participants within a mosaic by clicking on the button appearing four squares, share your screen, access a chat, or even raise your hand, to indicate that you want to take speech without interrupting your interlocutors.
Other advanced functions are also integrated into the solution. To access it, click on the More actions button.
You can then blur the background, share a YouTube video that will be integrated directly into the video conversation, broadcast live on YouTube, or even record your entire video meeting.