In the modern world, there are dozens or even hundreds of programs that will suit almost any task. Because of this, it is sometimes difficult to choose what exactly to use for certain needs. The same situation is with messengers: there are simply thousands of them, and the most popular ones get millions of downloads.
But few people know that all Android phones from the very beginning had a pre-installed messenger, which in terms of features was almost as good as its top competitors. And its name is Google Hangouts. Today we will tell you what this program is, why it is needed, how to remove it and many other features that you definitely did not know about!
Hangouts what is this program and where to find it
The Hangouts program was developed by Google back in 2013. Initially, it was supposed to replace three services of the IT giant at once, namely: a video call service, a chat service, and Google Talk.
And it must be admitted that the application copes with its task. Its functionality was really extensive: you could send messages to all your contacts, organize large-scale video meetings and, of course, exchange files. In general, the program looked more like a competitor to Skype and similar programs than to regular messengers like Telegram or Whatsapp.
How to use Hangouts
If you have Android updated to the latest version, then, unfortunately, there is no way. This is due to the fact that back in 2022, Google decided to abandon this product in favor of another one called Chat.
However, if you have an old phone that has not been updated for a long time and has not been connected to the Internet, you will, of course, be able to find the application. To do this, simply type Hangouts in the list of applications. However, you still won’t be able to use it – when connecting to the network and starting the program, it will give an error and ask to update. And it will update to that very Chat.
What are the features of the updated version of Hangouts?
Google Chat is actively supported by the company and its functionality, compared to Hangouts, has certainly increased. Here is a short list of functions that you can use:
- Possibility to create conferences for up to 8000 (!) people;
- File sharing and integration with Google Drive, Sheets, Docs and other company products;
- Available on most popular platforms (from Android to Mac);
- Video calls with multiple participants;
- Exchange messages with any contacts;
- Availability of two-factor authentication, which ensures security;
- Excellent connection quality thanks to Google servers all over the world;
- Clear and convenient interface with full translation into Russian;
And these are not all the functions that the application has. Many other features are described in the official documentation of the application from Google.
How to use the application and where to find it
If you have an Android phone, and a relatively new one, released after 2022, or updated to the latest firmware version, then the app should already be installed on your phone. Check the entire list of programs and, with a high degree of probability, you will find Chat there.
If you have an Apple device or for some reason you have previously deleted the application, it is easy to find in Google Play or AppStore . It is very easy to install, and you do not have to worry about security, because the developer of the application is the largest IT giant in the world, which thoroughly tests and actively supports all its products.
After installation, you will need to log in to the application. You can do this using your Gmail account if you already have one, and if you don’t, the system will, of course, offer to create one. The process is not complicated and will not require any additional effort from you. Perhaps you should prepare your phone number in advance, it will be needed for additional security of your new account.
How to Set Up Google Chat
In fact, there are not many standard customization options. Useful options include blocking or unblocking contacts you need, selecting a theme and customizing notifications (turning them off if they are too annoying or changing the sound). You can also turn on or off the Smart Input system, which gives you hints when typing messages.
To start chatting with someone, just click on the create chat button in the lower right corner of the screen on the main page of the application, after which Chat will offer you to choose from several options:
- Create Group : This option will create a new group where you can add members using their Gmail address or from your phone’s contacts list. New members will receive an email invitation and will be able to join your group.
- View Chat Groups : A basic search across all your chats, using their name.
- Search for apps : here you can select official apps that are integrated into Chat via API. For example, with the help of such correspondence you can set tasks in Jira or manage chatbots.
- Chat requests : This will display all chat requests that have been sent to you. You can accept or decline them, especially if it is an unfamiliar account that seems suspicious.
How to Uninstall Google Chat
To answer this question, you first need to figure out what exactly you want: to delete your account in the application completely or just remove the application from your device. We will analyze both options so that you definitely do not have any questions.
Deleting an account
This is not a very difficult task, however, it is worth understanding that you will lose access to all Google products that were linked to this account. If you understand this and are ready for this, then follow these short instructions:
- Go to the app and click on your profile picture in the upper right corner of the main screen.
- Next, we need the item “Account settings on the device”, where we select the desired account and click the “Delete” button.
That’s it, your account is deleted and no one else (not even you) will be able to access it.
Removing the application
This process also doesn’t take much time or effort. Depending on the specific version of Android you have, this can be done in different ways, but it usually helps to hold down the app icon on the home screen and drag it to the “Delete” option.
If it doesn’t work, you can do it differently. Go to Google Play and search for Chat. There will be two options: “Delete” and “Open”. Select the first one and wait for the process to finish. Done!
The American company has many products that were abandoned or removed completely one way or another. Now you don’t have to google “hangouts what is it” because there is an adequate and convenient alternative.