Your coach just sent you a link to a group coaching session — or maybe you spotted a scheduled group call inside your Coachful dashboard and you're not sure how to join. Joining a group coaching session is straightforward once you know where to look, and this guide walks you through every step: finding the call, testing your setup, and getting the most out of the live session.
TL;DR — How to join a group coaching session on Coachful
- Open your client dashboard at app.coachful.co and navigate to Sessions or your program's Squad.
- Click the scheduled group call to open its details, then hit Join Call when the session is live.
- Allow microphone and camera permissions in your browser the first time you join.
- On mobile, use the Coachful app (iOS or Android) for the smoothest experience.
What is a group coaching session on Coachful?
A group coaching session — sometimes called a group call or cohort call — is a live video meeting your coach schedules for multiple clients at once. Unlike a private 1:1 session, everyone in the group can see and hear each other, ask questions in real time, and benefit from the collective conversation.
On Coachful, group calls are powered by HD video via Stream, the same infrastructure used by major consumer apps, so the quality is reliable even with a large cohort. Your coach can host a weekly Q&A, a workshop, a masterclass, or a structured coaching call — all inside the same platform you already use to access your program content and chat with your squad.
Group sessions are typically attached to a Squad — the cohort group that was automatically created when you enrolled in your coach's program. This means your session history, replay links (if enabled), and group chat all live in one place.
Before you join: system and setup checklist
A few minutes of prep saves a lot of frustration on the day. Run through this checklist at least 15 minutes before your session starts.
Browser and device requirements
- Desktop: Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge (latest version) give the best experience. Firefox works. Safari on macOS is supported but camera/mic permissions can behave differently — see the troubleshooting section below.
- Mobile: Use the Coachful app on iOS or Android. Open app.coachful.co/mobile to install it or download it from the App Store / Google Play. The mobile app uses a native shell powered by Capacitor, which handles audio and video permissions cleanly.
- Internet speed: A stable connection of at least 5 Mbps upload/download is recommended for HD video. If you're on Wi-Fi, sit close to your router. If you're on a corporate network, check that video streaming isn't blocked.
Camera and microphone test
Coachful's video room shows you a preview of your own camera feed before you enter the call. Use that preview to confirm your camera is pointing correctly and your microphone is picking up sound. If you see a grey box instead of your face, your browser may not have been granted camera access yet — you'll see a browser prompt in the address bar to fix this.
Pro tip: Join 2–3 minutes early. The session lobby is a low-pressure place to sort out audio issues before your coach and other participants are on screen.
Step-by-step: how to join a group coaching session
- Sign in to your Coachful dashboard. Go to app.coachful.co/sign-in and log in with your email and password (or your social login if you set that up during onboarding).
- Find your session. From the left-hand navigation, click Sessions. You'll see upcoming sessions listed with their date, time, and title. Group calls are labeled accordingly. Alternatively, open your Program and click into your cohort Squad — upcoming group calls for that squad appear at the top of the squad page.
- Open the session details. Click the session card. You'll see the session title, your coach's name, the scheduled time in your local time zone, and a description of what the call covers.
- Wait for the call to open (or join early if available). The Join Call button activates when the session goes live — usually a few minutes before the official start time. If the button is greyed out, the coach hasn't opened the room yet. Refresh the page if you're right at the start time.
- Grant browser permissions. On your first group call ever, your browser will ask permission to use your camera and microphone. Click Allow. If you accidentally clicked Block, see the troubleshooting section below to reset permissions.
- Enter the video lobby. You'll land in a pre-call screen showing your camera preview. Choose your audio input (microphone) and output (speakers/headphones) from the dropdowns. Mute yourself if you want to enter silently.
- Click "Enter call" (or "Join now"). You're in. You'll see your coach and any participants who have already joined on a grid layout. Your own feed appears in the corner.
Navigating the live video room
Once you're inside the call, you have a set of controls along the bottom of the screen. Here's what each one does:
- Mute/unmute mic — Toggle your microphone on and off. Default etiquette in group calls is to stay muted unless you're speaking.
- Camera on/off — Turn your video feed on or off. Some coaches ask all participants to have cameras on; check your program guidelines.
- Screen share — Share your entire screen or a specific application window. Useful if your coach asks you to present something.
- Raise hand — Signals to your coach and the group that you have a question, without interrupting whoever is speaking.
- Chat panel — A side panel for text messages during the call. Great for dropping links, answering polls, or asking a quick question without unmuting.
- Leave call — Exits you from the room without ending it for everyone else. Only your coach (the host) can end the session for all participants.
New to group coaching? Coachful's all-in-one platform keeps your live sessions, program tasks, habits, and squad chat in one place — no Zoom links, no separate logins. Find a coach on Coachful and experience the difference.
Joining on mobile (iOS and Android)
The Coachful mobile app is a progressive web app wrapped in a native iOS/Android shell. This means you get push notifications for session reminders and the same HD video experience as desktop, without being stuck in a browser tab.
To install the app, visit app.coachful.co/mobile on your phone, or search for Coachful in the App Store or Google Play. Once installed, sign in with the same credentials you use on desktop. Your sessions, squad, and program content all sync instantly.
When a group session is about to start, you'll receive a push notification (if you've allowed notifications). Tap it to go straight to the session join screen. The mobile video room has the same mute, camera, and chat controls as desktop, just optimized for a smaller screen.
What happens if you miss the live session?
Life happens. If you can't make a group coaching session, check whether your coach has enabled session recordings. If a recording exists, it will appear in the session details inside your dashboard after the call ends — typically within a few minutes of the session closing.
Not all coaches record every session (some prefer live-only calls for privacy and engagement reasons), so check your program's welcome materials or ask your coach directly via squad chat. You can message your coach or the group at any time through the Squad chat, even outside of live sessions.
Pro tips for getting more out of group coaching sessions
Prepare a question in advance
Group sessions move fast. Write down one specific question or challenge you want to raise before the call starts. Being concrete ("I'm stuck on pricing my 3-month package") gets you a more useful answer than a vague prompt.
Use the squad chat between sessions
Your cohort squad is always on, not just during live calls. Post wins, ask questions, and share resources in between sessions. Coaches on Coachful often respond in the squad chat within a few hours, and your fellow participants can be just as helpful. Active squads consistently see better client outcomes because the learning doesn't stop when the video ends.
Review your program tasks after each call
Most coaches align their group calls with specific weeks or milestones in the program curriculum. After a session, open your Program tab and check for any new tasks, habit check-ins, or goals your coach may have unlocked. Acting on insights within 24 hours dramatically improves retention and progress.
"The coaches I see get the best results are the ones who treat the group call as the start of the work, not the work itself."
Troubleshooting: common problems when joining a group call
The "Join Call" button is greyed out
The host (your coach) hasn't opened the room yet, or the session hasn't reached its start window. Refresh the page a minute before the scheduled start time. If it's still greyed out 5 minutes after the start, message your coach in the squad chat — they may have opened the call on a different platform link by mistake.
My camera or microphone isn't working
This is almost always a browser permissions issue. In Chrome, click the lock icon (🔒) in the address bar, find Camera and Microphone, and switch both to Allow. Reload the page. On Safari (macOS), go to Safari → Settings for This Website and enable camera and mic access there. If you're on a work laptop, your IT policy may block access entirely — in that case, join from your personal device.
My video is lagging or choppy
First, switch from Wi-Fi to a wired ethernet connection if possible. If that's not an option, move closer to your router. You can also reduce bandwidth usage by turning off your camera temporarily (video uses significantly more bandwidth than audio alone) and asking others in your household to pause streaming or large downloads during the call.
I can hear others but they can't hear me
Check that your microphone isn't muted at the OS level (not just inside the Coachful call). On Windows, right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and open Sound settings to confirm your mic input is active. On Mac, check System Preferences → Sound → Input. Also confirm you haven't muted yourself inside the call — the mic icon in the call toolbar shows a red slash when muted.
I joined but the session isn't showing in my dashboard
Make sure you're signed into the correct account. Some clients accidentally create a second account with a different email. If in doubt, check with your coach what email address they sent your program invitation to, and sign in with that address. You can also reach Coachful support from within the dashboard's help menu.
I enrolled in the program but can't see the group session
Group sessions are associated with your cohort Squad. If you enrolled after the squad was created, you should be added automatically. If you don't see the squad, go to Programs → [Your Program] → Squad and confirm you're listed as a member. If not, ask your coach to re-check your enrollment — they can verify and re-add you from their admin dashboard.
Ready to make the most of your group coaching?
Group coaching sessions are one of the most powerful (and underrated) parts of a coaching program. You get live access to your coach, peer accountability, and real-time answers — all in one call. The key is showing up prepared, participating actively, and following through on what you learn between sessions.
If you're not yet enrolled in a coaching program, you can browse vetted coaches across dozens of niches on the Coachful marketplace. Already have a coach? Sign in to your Coachful workspace and check what group sessions are coming up — your next breakthrough might be one call away.