How to Use Google Meet Whiteboard in 2026? 5 Steps with Jamboard Alternatives for Collaboration

In 2026, Don't Count on Jamboard for Google Meet Whiteboard

For many, their first experience sharing a whiteboard in Google Meet started with Jamboard. By clicking the "Whiteboard" feature on the right side of the screen and selecting Jamboard, you could draw, add sticky notes, and organize ideas with meeting participants.

But if you've opened Google Meet recently, you might have noticed things are different.

Google ended full support for Jamboard on September 30, 2026. Starting October 1, Jamboard devices went offline, and the app became view-only. By January 1, 2026, Jamboard files became completely inaccessible.

In short: To use Google Meet's whiteboard in 2025, you'll need to find an alternative.

First, Understand the Relationship Between Google Meet's Built-in Whiteboard and Jamboard

In the Google Meet interface, the terms "Whiteboard" and "Jamboard" are often used interchangeably. Previously, clicking the whiteboard feature would default to creating a Jamboard file.

Now, Google has handed the future of whiteboard collaboration to three tools: FigJam (by Figma), Lucidspark, and Miro. Google Workspace officially recommends that users import their old Jamboard files into these three platforms to continue editing.

It's important to note that Google Meet hasn't completely removed the whiteboard entry point, but it's no longer backed by the Jamboard service. In practice, you're more likely to open FigJam, Lucidspark, or Miro directly and then share your screen in the meeting.

Jamboard Retirement Timeline: Can You Still Recover Your Files?

If you've stored a number of Jamboard files, this timeline is crucial:

• September 30, 2026: Last day of full Jamboard support.
• October 1, 2026: Jamboard devices go offline; the app becomes read-only.
• January 1, 2026: Jamboard files become inaccessible.

In other words, starting in 2025, any Jamboard content not exported before the deadline will essentially be lost. Google's official advice is to import your files into FigJam, Lucidspark, or Miro before the cutoff date.

If you're just now realizing this, first check whether you have any backups. If you do, prioritize handling them. If not, treat it as a lesson in data management and remember to regularly export your cloud whiteboard content in the future.

5 Steps for Google Meet Whiteboard Collaboration in 2025

Step 1: Choose an Alternative Tool

Google's three main recommendations are FigJam, Lucidspark, and Miro. You can quickly decide based on the following:

• FigJam: Lightweight interface, ideal for quick brainstorming and sticky notes.
• Lucidspark: Feature-rich, suitable for teams that need structured idea organization.
• Miro: Mature large-scale whiteboard ecosystem, great for cross-departmental or complex projects.

If you're transitioning from Jamboard, try FigJam first. Its operation logic is closer to Jamboard, making the learning curve less steep.

Step 2: Create a Whiteboard for Your Meeting

Using FigJam as an example, create a new Board and add the meeting topic, date, and participants. Then, prepare a few sections: discussion area, to-do area, and decision area. This way, you won't waste time starting from a blank canvas when the meeting begins.

Lucidspark and Miro have similar concepts, though the names may differ.

Step 3: Share Your Whiteboard Screen in Google Meet

After starting your Google Meet meeting, click "Share screen" or "Share window." Select the window of your whiteboard tool that you've already opened—avoid sharing your entire desktop to prevent accidentally exposing chat notifications.

After sharing, confirm that meeting participants can see the whiteboard content. If they report the view is too small, ask them to enlarge the window or use the zoom feature within the tool.

Step 4: Invite Participants to Collaborate in Real Time

Sharing your screen in Google Meet only lets others "see" the whiteboard. To allow participants to edit, you must share an editing link within FigJam, Lucidspark, or Miro.

Open the "Share" button in the top-right corner of your whiteboard tool, set it to "Anyone with the link can edit," and then paste the link into the Google Meet chat. This way, participants can type, add sticky notes, or draw on the whiteboard while on the video call.

Step 5: Export and Save After the Meeting

After the meeting ends, export the whiteboard content as a PDF or image and save it to your team's shared cloud folder. This step is often overlooked, but it's key to making meeting outcomes traceable.

If you want to preserve the full context of the discussion, also place the whiteboard link and meeting notes in the same document, so you don't have to dig through chat messages later.

How to Choose Among 3 Jamboard Alternatives

FigJam: The closest lightweight whiteboard to Jamboard. Ideal for small meetings, design discussions, and quick ideation. The free plan's features are usually sufficient for typical office workers.

Lucidspark: Emphasizes structured thinking, suitable for teams that need to categorize, prioritize, and turn ideas into action plans. If your meetings often need to converge on clear conclusions, consider this first.

Miro: The most feature-complete but also the most complex. Suitable for large teams, cross-departmental workshops, or scenarios requiring extensive templates. For simple weekly check-ins, Miro might feel overly heavy.

Avoid These Pitfalls: Don't Wait Until the Meeting Day to Test

Many people can't open a whiteboard in Google Meet meetings—not because the tool is broken, but because they never tested it beforehand.

The first pitfall is "assuming Google Meet still has built-in Jamboard." Before the meeting, confirm your whiteboard tool is ready; don't search for the entry point at the last minute.

The second pitfall is "only sharing the screen without enabling edit permissions." As a result, participants can only watch you draw, losing the collaborative value. Check link permissions before sharing.

The third pitfall is "not backing up old Jamboard files." If you have important content left on Jamboard, it's already inaccessible after 2025. What you can do now is verify backups of other cloud files and establish a new whiteboard workflow.

Summary: For Google Meet Whiteboard in 2025, Pick a Tool and Start Fresh

The Jamboard era officially ended in 2025, but the need for video collaboration in Google Meet hasn't disappeared. What you need isn't to mourn the old tool, but to quickly migrate your team's whiteboard workflow to FigJam, Lucidspark, or Miro.

If you were a light user, FigJam is the lowest-barrier starting point. If your team needs more comprehensive meeting data management, then evaluate Lucidspark or Miro further.

The most important things: test your whiteboard tool before the meeting, set up edit permissions, and remember to export and save after the meeting. That way, even without Jamboard, your Google Meet collaboration can continue seamlessly.

References

• Cómo dibujar en Google Meet en 2025
• How To Use Jamboard In Google Meet 2026 (EASY GUIDE) - YouTube
• How to Use Jamboard with Google Meet | Shake Up Learning
• Google Jamboard and Its Alternative
• The Future of Whiteboarding with Google Workspace is Here!