On the homepage, click Video Call to start a new video session. Sending instant messages with Hangouts is easy, but the service makes video calls simple too.
It’s possible that after all of the changes Hangouts is undergoing, you may just want to use a completely different service altogether for your messaging and calling needs. How to Set Up a Google Hangouts Video Call. It is best suitable for enterprise use for google video conferencing and webinars regardless of where other participants are. Click on your profile picture at the top-right of the screen and hit 'Sign out.' Now no one can contact you directly, though people who have your info can still invite you to a hangout. Hangouts Meet is a component of the G suit Google package with multiple software. Alternative messaging and calling services Google hangouts meet video conference is an advanced version of the Google hangouts software. If you’d rather just go ahead and start using Google Chat instead, you can use it via the web or its mobile apps ( iOS or Android). According to 9to5Google, Google has already begun rolling out a preview version of Google Chat, a messaging app that appears to be a replacement for Hangouts messaging. While you may still be able to send chat messages to other Google accounts via Hangouts - we tested this in April 2021, and for now, chatting with other Google accounts appears to still work in Hangouts - text messaging from Hangouts is a different story, and like voice calling, you’ll now need Google Voice to send a text message.Įventually, however, Hangout’s remaining chat messaging functionality may also be on the chopping block in the future. I can’t send a message from my computer screenshotĪlong with the shutdown of voice calling in Hangouts, messaging has also been affected by Google’s recent changes to the platform. You can access Voice via a mobile app ( iOS or Android) or a web app. If desired, Google says you can export your Hangouts data until July 2021. When you set up your new Voice account (or choose to use an existing one), you should bear in mind the following: Past messages from Hangouts should still appear in Voice, and you should be able to use your Voice number for voicemails, texts, and calls (including domestic and international calls made either via your mobile device or web browser). If you’ve never used a Google Voice account before, check out our guide on how to set up a Voice account on your smartphone. At this time, you’ll need to set up and use a Google Voice account to make phone calls.
Google recently shut down the Google Voice integration that made voice calling in Hangouts possible, which means you can’t place phone calls from Hangouts anymore. The desktopapp allows chats and calls to run independently of a webbrowser, and chats and notifications will automatically be syncedbetween the desktop and mobile app.