How to Use Google Hangouts
How to Set Up a Google Hangouts Video Call
Because Google presents many overlapping messaging applications, you might have completely forgotten about Hangouts. It is a bit likened to Google’s version of Skype, as it offers video and audio calling, plus text chat, over the internet.
To use Google Hangouts, you need a Google account. You already have one of these if you use Gmail, YouTube, or one of Google’s many other services.
To get started, go over to the Google Hangouts homepage and click on the Sign-in button in the top-right corner. Log in to your Google account, or click on Create an account to make one.
Sending instant messages with Hangouts is very easy, but the service also makes video calls simple too. On the homepage, click on Video Call to start a new video session. If you also want, you can also click on the Video call button that is in any conversation to call that person or group.
When you click on the Video Call link, Hangouts opens it up in a new window and asks you to invite some people. Type a friend’s name or email address to invite them, or click Copy Link to Share. You can then send that link to friends via any method (text message, email, etc.), and clicking it will let them join your Hangout.
Once in a Hangout, you will see whoever is speaking in the center of your screen. If you prefer, you can click someone’s thumbnail in the bottom-right to always show them. Click the Message icon in the bottom-left corner to send an instant message to all call members.
To invite more people to the Hangout, click the Add icon in the upper-right. Here you’ll also see the Settings icon, which lets you adjust the camera, sound, and bandwidth settings. Under the three-dot menu, you’ll find options to share your screen or go fullscreen.
Click the Microphone or Camera icons that are at the bottom of the screen to mute your audio or video. When you’re done with the call, just click the red Hang up button to leave.
How to Record a Google Hangout
Hangouts once had a feature called Hangouts on Air that made it easy to broadcast your video calls and record them. However, this is no longer an option, nor is a workaround that involved YouTube streaming.
To record a Google Meet call, simply click the three-dot button at the bottom-right of the window and choose Record meeting.
How to Schedule a Google Hangout
You can’t schedule a Hangout using the app, but you can achieve the same effect by creating an event in Google Calendar.
Head to Calendar’s homepage. Click the Create button at the top-left to make a new event, then choose More options to show the full set of controls. Fill out information like the meeting title, location, and time, then click the Add conferencing box.
Select Hangouts here, then use the Guest panel on the right to invite people from your Google contacts or via email address.
Hit Save when you’re done, and you’ll get a prompt to send invitation emails to guests. If you do this, your guests will receive an email about the event with a Join video call link. Once they click that, they’ll jump right into the scheduled call.
How to Share Your Screen on Google Hangouts
You don’t need any special tools to share your screen during a Hangout. In a Hangout call, click the three-dot menu button at the top-right and choose Share screen. You’ll see a prompt to choose what you’d like to share: pick either a monitor or a single app.
Once you start screen sharing, everyone in the call will be able to see what’s on your screen until you click Stop.
How to Block or Unblock Someone on Google Hangouts
If someone is bothering you on Hangouts, you can easily block them. To do so, open Hangouts and select the conversation with the person you want to block. Click the Gear icon on their conversation, then choose Block & report.
To unblock someone later, click the hamburger menu button in the upper-left of Hangouts. Choose Settings, then select Blocked people. You’ll see everyone you’ve blocked and had the option to unblock them.
