How to meet using Upwork video meetings

How do I start an instant video meeting?

1. Open Upwork Messages, click the camera icon in the top-right corner of your conversation, and select Upwork video meeting. This sends a meeting link in messages to other participants.
2. In messages, select Join Upwork video meeting. (First-time users see a pop-up with links to Upwork’s Terms and Privacy Policy. Review and choose Continue to accept).

Tips to prepare for the meeting:

• Adjust video, audio, and noise filter settings before joining. The noise filter defaults to on, but you can turn it off
• On desktop, you can blur your background or use a preloaded image. Your choice saves automatically and you can change it anytime
• If you start the call, you can enable AI recording and gesture detection. AI features only work if recording is on

How do I invite guests to an Upwork video meeting?

You can invite people who aren’t in your Upwork message room—like a client’s teammate or hiring manager—to join as you start or any time during the meeting. You can have up to 10 people in a meeting. 

Only the meeting host can approve or deny guest entry.

Here’s how it works:

1. Start or schedule a video meeting in Messages
2. Select Copy meeting link or copy the browser URL
3. Share the link via email, chat, or any other channel

When someone clicks the link, they’ll need to:

1. Enter a display name (unless they’re logged in to Upwork)
2. Accept Upwork’s Terms and Privacy Policy
3. Allow mic and camera access
4. Wait in a virtual lobby until the host lets them in

If the meeting is being recorded, guests will see a clear notice before joining.

After the call ends, guests won’t be able to access the recap, messages, or chat history.

How do I schedule a video meeting in advance?

If Upwork video meetings are available, you’ll see that as a dropdown option when you choose the calendar icon in a conversation. Learn more about scheduling a meeting here. 

How do I join an ongoing or scheduled Upwork video meeting?

1. In messages, open Join Upwork video meeting. (First-time users see a pop-up with links to Upwork’s Terms and Privacy Policy. Review and choose Continue to accept.)
2. Select Join
    

How does sharing work during an Upwork video meeting?

• Anyone in the meeting can share their screen
• To get a better view, zoom in or out with the in/out button at the bottom center of your screen
• In a 1:1 meeting, you can also move your selfie tile around for a better view of the screen
   

What's the meeting recap?

When you enable AI, you’ll get an AI-generated meeting recap that you can find in the conversation room—so you can focus on the conversation instead of taking notes. Only people in the conversation room can view it.

Your recap will include the following:

• A text summary
• A full transcript in English. Note: Any parts of the meeting spoken in another language won’t appear in the transcript
• Video highlights
• Action items

Where do I find the meeting recap and how soon will it be available?

Your meeting recap starts generating as soon as the first participant leaves. The full recap is usually ready within one to two minutes after everyone has left the meeting, and we'll send you a notification when it's ready. The recap is available for six months. You can access recaps from:

• Recap page: You’ll land here automatically when the meeting ends
• Messages & email: You’ll receive a link once the recap is ready
• Conversation sidebar: Select Meeting recap (or tap the info icon on mobile)
   

Can I share my own meeting link without using the tools on Upwork?

You can use your own meeting tools after a contract has started. Sharing a meeting link (or any other form of contact outside Upwork) before a contract starts is circumvention, which is against our Terms of Service.

Can I disable AI features but still record the meeting?

No. You are not able to record without the AI features turned on.

Are transcripts and summaries for Upwork video meetings secure and private?

All meeting data is stored securely. Only people in the conversation can view transcripts and summaries. Upwork doesn’t collect sensitive info like biometrics, and uses meeting data only to support performance — in line with our Privacy Policy.

Can I delete my recorded video meeting from Upwork’s database?

The video will be deleted automatically six months after the recording. You may contact Upwork Support to request earlier deletion.

Why do I have access to Upwork video meetings for some meetings but not others?

This feature is in testing and not yet available to everyone—like agencies or Project Catalog. If a client with access starts a video meeting, only participants in the conversation room can view the recap via the message room or email link.

What features does Upwork video meetings include?

• In-meeting chat functionality
• AI recording with AI-generated video highlight reels, meeting summaries, and action items. 
• Picture-in-picture capability in most browsers — Chrome, Edge, Opera, Firefox, and Safari (some functions may not be supported on Firefox and Safari)
• Six-month availability for the recording and recap instead of Zoom's seven days

Note: Individual data rates from your internet or phone provider may apply when using video and voice meeting services.