- You can use google chat to message anyone, as long as you know their email address or phone number.
- To use google chat, make sure it’s turned on, then open the “hangouts” tab in your gmail inbox.
- you’ll need a google account to use google chat.
- visit the business insider tech reference library for more stories.
if you have a google account, you have access to an instant messaging application that doesn’t require a screen name: google chat.
you don’t even need to go far to find it: google chat is integrated into your gmail inbox.
here’s how to use google chat in any internet browser on your mac or pc.
see the products mentioned in this article:
apple macbook pro (from $1,299.00 at apple)
acer chromebook 15 (starting at $179.99 at walmart)
how to use google chat
first, you need to make sure google chat is enabled.
1. In any internet browser, open your gmail inbox.
2. click the gear icon in the upper right corner of the screen, then click “view all settings”.
3. click the “chat and meet” tab.
4. select “chat”. if it is already selected then google chat is already enabled. if you later want to disable google chat, change it to “chat off”.
5. click “save changes” or, if you didn’t make any changes, return to your inbox.
If you turn off google chat, you won’t be able to send messages or receive notifications, but you won’t be logged out of chat. this means that any chat extension you have will continue to work.
how to start a google chat
1. on the “hangouts” tab on the left side of your gmail inbox, click the plus (+) icon.
2. Type the name, email address, or phone number of the person you want to chat with. if you only want to enter a name, it will have to be in your contacts. To start a group chat, click “new group” and enter each person you want to include. you can name your group as you create it. If you select someone who doesn’t use google chat yet, you will be prompted to invite them to the app.
3. Once you’ve started a chat or created a group, you can start the conversation by typing in the message field.
4. You can add an emoji or sticker by clicking the smiley face icon in chat and then clicking the emoji or sticker you want to use.
5. add a photo by clicking the photo icon in the chat. Select a photo stored on your Google Drive, in Google Photos, or upload a new photo from your computer or the Internet.
6. press the enter or return key to send your message.
Technical reference related coverage:
-
how to create folders in gmail using labels to organize your emails
how to find archived emails in gmail in 2 easy ways on mac or pc
how to mark all gmail as read to clean your inbox of unread emails
‘what is snooze in gmail?’: how to use gmail inbox management feature on desktop or mobile
how to schedule an email to be sent in gmail on desktop or mobile, if you want to compose an email but schedule it to send later