# Starting instant meetings
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Instant meetings allow you to you invite one or more contacts before the meeting starts. You can invite others to join after the meeting start. Invitees can decline to join.

**To start an instant meeting**

1. In the desktop client or web app, choose **Meetings**, **Start an Instant Meeting**.

1. Choose **My personal meeting ID** or **Generate a new ID**. For more information about meeting IDs, see [Choosing a meeting ID](understand-mtg-options.md#choose-type).

1. Choose **Start**.

1. In the preview pane, choose **Join** or **Join with video**.

1. In the **Add attendees** dialog box, select one or more contacts and choose **Add**.

The meeting window appears when you choose **Add**. The people you invite can accept or decline the invitation.