When your Google Calendar is connected to Beside for macOS, Beside automatically finds upcoming meetings, prepares context, and reminds you when it's time to join.
This article explains what gets detected, how timing works, and what notifications you'll receive.
📌 Note: Beside for macOS currently supports Google Calendar only for meeting detection and meeting prep.
How auto-detection works
After you connect Google Calendar, Beside continuously:
Scans your calendar for new or updated events
Detects meetings that include a video link (Zoom, Meet, Teams, etc.)
Extracts key details like title, participants, time, and platform
Sends a pre-meeting notification with Join and Meeting Prep
When the call starts, auto-records the meeting
📌 Without a calendar connection: Beside can still auto-start recording when it detects a call on your Mac (e.g., Meet/Zoom/Slack/FaceTime), but you won't see the meeting in Upcoming or receive pre-meeting prep.
What gets detected
✅ Detected:
Meetings with video links from: Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex, Around, Whereby, GoToMeeting, BlueJeans, and other major platforms
Invites where you are the organizer, an attendee, or optional attendee
⚠️ Not detected:
All-day events (no specific time)
Calendar blocks like "Focus time" or "Lunch"
In-person meetings (unless you start them manually)
Events marked as Free or Out of Office
Declined meetings (unless you change your RSVP)
Detection timing
Beside checks for meetings:
Continuously while the app is open
Every 5 minutes when running in the background
Meetings appear in Upcoming:
As soon as they're added to your Google calendar
Up to 30 days in advance
Until 1 hour after they end (then move to Past Meetings)
Meeting notifications
When a meeting is detected, Beside will automatically:
Display it in your Upcoming Meetings list
Send a notification 5 minutes before the start (customizable)
Offer a one-click Join button
Open Meeting Prep with contextual details (participants, prior notes, recent topics)
FAQ
My meeting isn't showing up in Beside - why?
My meeting isn't showing up in Beside - why?
Make sure the event has a video link (Zoom, Meet, Teams, etc.) and that your Google Calendar is connected. All-day events, in-person meetings, and declined invites are not detected. Check Settings → Calendar to confirm the right calendar is selected.
Does Beside detect meetings from Outlook Calendar?
Does Beside detect meetings from Outlook Calendar?
Not yet. Beside for macOS currently supports Google Calendar only for meeting detection. Outlook support is coming soon.
📖 Connect your calendar on macOS
Can Beside record meetings without a calendar connection?
Can Beside record meetings without a calendar connection?
Yes. Beside can auto-start recording when it detects a call on your Mac (Zoom, Meet, Slack, FaceTime), but without a calendar connection you won't see pre-meeting prep or the meeting in your Upcoming list.