If you’ve been using Google’s services for any length of time, you’ve likely come across the name Google Hangouts. For years, it was the go-to solution for messaging and video calls within the Google ecosystem, a familiar and reliable tool for both personal chats and professional meetings. But if you search for it today, you’ll find a landscape that has changed dramatically. Google Hangouts has been retired, but its spirit and technology live on in its successors.
This comprehensive guide will unravel the entire story of Google Hangouts. We’ll explore what it was, why it was so popular, and, most importantly, what has replaced it. Understanding this evolution is key to navigating Google’s current communication tools. Whether you’re a former Hangouts user wondering where your chats have gone or a new user trying to make sense of Google’s messaging apps, this article will provide the clarity you need.
What Was Google Hangouts? A Look Back at a Communication Giant
Launched in 2013, Google Hangouts was an ambitious platform designed to unify Google’s fragmented messaging services. It replaced Google Talk, Google+ Messenger, and the original Hangouts feature from Google+, consolidating them into a single, standalone application. It was available as a mobile app for iOS and Android, on the web through Gmail and a dedicated site, and as a Chrome extension.
For its time, Hangouts was incredibly versatile. It seamlessly blended different forms of communication into one interface:
- Instant Messaging: It offered one-on-one and group chats, complete with status indicators, photo sharing, and a wide array of emoji.
- Video Calls: Users could easily initiate free video calls with up to 10 participants (later expanded). These calls included features like screen sharing and collaborative apps, making it a powerful tool for both casual catch-ups and remote work.
- SMS Integration: On Android, Hangouts could be set as the default SMS app, allowing users to manage their text messages and Hangouts chats in one place.
- Voice Calls: It integrated with Google Voice, enabling users to make phone calls to actual phone numbers over the internet, often at very low rates or for free within the US and Canada.
This all-in-one approach made Hangouts a convenient and powerful tool. It was built into every Gmail account, giving it a massive initial user base. For millions, the little green speech bubble icon was a daily part of their digital lives, connecting them with friends, family, and colleagues around the globe.
The Great Divide: The Transition from Hangouts to Chat and Meet
Around 2017, Google began a strategic shift. Recognizing the different needs of consumer and enterprise users, the company decided to split Hangouts’ functionality into two separate, more focused products:
- Google Chat: Designed to be the successor for text-based messaging.
- Google Meet: Designed to be the successor for video conferencing.
Initially, these new products were targeted at Google’s business and education customers as part of the G Suite (now Google Workspace) offering. The original “classic” Hangouts remained the default consumer product for several years, leading to a period of confusion where multiple Google messaging apps coexisted.
The final transition began in earnest in 2020. Google started migrating enterprise users from classic Hangouts to Google Chat and Meet. Then, in 2021, the process began for personal Google accounts. Users were prompted to switch to Google Chat, their conversation histories were migrated, and the classic Hangouts apps and websites slowly began to shut down. By late 2022, Google Hangouts was officially retired for all users.
The core reason for this change was focus. By separating text and video, Google could develop each platform independently, tailoring features to specific use cases. Google Chat was built to compete with team collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams, while Google Meet was enhanced to challenge video conferencing giants like Zoom.
Meet the Successors: An In-Depth Look at Google Chat and Google Meet
If you were a fan of Google Hangouts, your new home is spread across two powerful applications. Let’s explore what they offer.
Google Chat: Your New Hub for Messaging
Google Chat is now the default messaging application for Google users. It’s accessible directly within Gmail, as a standalone web app (chat.google.com), and through dedicated mobile apps. While it inherits the core messaging features of Hangouts, it introduces a more structured and powerful environment, especially for group collaboration.
Key Features of Google Chat:
- Direct Messages (DMs): One-on-one and small group conversations function much like they did in Hangouts. You can share files from your computer or Google Drive, react to messages with emoji, and see read receipts.
- Spaces (Formerly Rooms): This is Chat’s standout feature and its biggest differentiator from classic Hangouts. Spaces are dedicated, long-term environments for group projects or topics. Within a Space, conversations are threaded, allowing for organized discussions that don’t get lost in a single chronological stream.
- Threaded Conversations: In Spaces, you can reply directly to a specific message, creating a thread. This is a massive improvement for keeping track of multiple topics within a large group, preventing conversations from becoming chaotic.
- Tasks and File Sharing: Within a Space, you can create shared task lists and have a dedicated tab for all files shared by the group. This transforms a simple group chat into a lightweight project management tool.
- App Integrations: Google Chat integrates with other Google Workspace apps and third-party services. For example, you can collaborate on a Google Doc directly within a chat or connect a bot to bring in notifications from tools like Asana or Jira.
- Enhanced Search: The search functionality in Chat is far more powerful than it was in Hangouts, allowing you to filter by people, file types, and dates to quickly find what you’re looking for.
For former Hangouts users, the transition to Chat means adapting to a slightly more organized way of communicating, especially in groups. The introduction of Spaces and threaded replies makes it a much more capable tool for collaboration.
Google Meet: Modern Video Conferencing
Google Meet is the video calling component that was once part of Hangouts. It has evolved into a robust, secure, and feature-rich video conferencing platform. Like Chat, it’s accessible directly from Gmail, Calendar, and its own web app (meet.google.com).
Key Features of Google Meet:
- High-Quality Video: Meet is optimized for high-quality, stable video and audio, even on lower-bandwidth connections.
- Large Meeting Capacity: While Hangouts was limited to a small number of participants, the free version of Google Meet allows for up to 100 participants in a single call (for up to 60 minutes). Paid Google Workspace plans expand this capacity significantly.
- Advanced Features: Meet includes a host of modern video conferencing features that were not present in classic Hangouts:
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- Custom Backgrounds and Blur: Change your background to an image or video, or simply blur it for more privacy.
- Real-Time Captions: Google’s best-in-class speech recognition provides live captions during meetings.
- Screen Sharing: Share your entire screen, a single window, or a specific browser tab.
- Interactive Tools: Use features like polls, Q&A sessions, and breakout rooms to make meetings more engaging (some features require a paid plan).
- Recording: Paid plan users can record meetings directly to Google Drive.
- Deep Integration: Meet is seamlessly integrated across Google Workspace. You can start a video call from a Google Chat message, and every Google Calendar invitation automatically includes a Meet link.
For those who used Hangouts for video calls with friends and family, Google Meet offers a more stable and modern experience. For professional use, it has become a top-tier solution packed with essential collaboration tools.
How to Migrate and Find Your Old Conversations
One of the biggest concerns for users during the transition was the fate of their chat histories. Google provided a migration path to ensure that years of conversations were not lost.
- Automatic Migration: For most users, Google automatically migrated their Hangouts conversations to Google Chat. You should be able to find your old one-on-one and group chats by searching for the person or group’s name in Google Chat.
- Google Takeout: If you want a complete archive of your Hangouts data, you can use Google Takeout. This service allows you to download a copy of your data from almost any Google product. You can request an archive of your Hangouts chats, which will be delivered as JSON files. This is a great way to ensure you have a personal backup of your history, even if you can’t easily view it in Google Chat.
If you open Google Chat and can’t find an old conversation, try searching for it specifically. While the migration was comprehensive, finding a specific chat within the new interface can sometimes take a moment.
Using the New Tools: A Practical Guide
Now that you understand the new landscape, how do you use these tools effectively?
Starting a Chat or Space in Google Chat
- Open Google Chat: You can do this in Gmail (look for the Chat icon on the left-hand sidebar) or by going to
chat.google.com. - Start a Direct Message: Click the “+” button and select “Start chat.” Type the name or email address of the person (or people) you want to message. A standard chat window will open.
- Create a Space: Click the “+” button and select “Create space.” Give your Space a name and description. You can then invite people and start organizing conversations into threads.
Starting a Video Call in Google Meet
- From Gmail or Chat: Look for the video camera icon. In Gmail, it’s in the left sidebar. In a Google Chat message, it’s in the top-right corner of the chat window. Clicking this will instantly create and share a Meet link in your conversation.
- From Google Calendar: When you create a new event, simply click the “Add Google Meet video conferencing” button. A unique link will be attached to the event for all invitees.
- From the Meet Website: Go to
meet.google.comand click “New meeting.” You can choose to create a meeting for later (giving you a link to share), start an instant meeting, or schedule a meeting in Google Calendar.
The integration is seamless. You can be in a text conversation in Google Chat and, with one click, escalate it to a video call in Google Meet, bringing everyone from the chat into the meeting.
The Future of Google’s Messaging Strategy
The transition from Hangouts to Chat and Meet represents Google’s commitment to a more focused and powerful communication suite. By aligning its messaging apps under the Google Workspace umbrella, Google has created a more cohesive experience for both personal and professional users.
This strategy also allows Google to innovate more quickly. Instead of updating a single, monolithic app, the company can push new features to Chat and Meet independently. We’ve seen this with the rapid addition of AI-powered features in Google Meet and enhanced collaboration tools in Google Chat.
While the journey from Hangouts was confusing at times, the end result is a more capable and modern set of tools that are better equipped for the demands of today’s digital communication.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I still use Google Hangouts?
No. As of late 2022, Google Hangouts has been fully discontinued and is no longer accessible. All users have been migrated to Google Chat. Attempting to visit the Hangouts website or open the old app will redirect you to Google Chat.
What happened to my old Hangouts messages?
Most of your one-on-one and group conversations from Google Hangouts should have been automatically migrated to Google Chat. You can find them by searching for the contact or group name in Chat. For a complete personal archive, you can use Google Takeout to download your entire Hangouts history.
Is Google Chat free?
Yes, Google Chat is free for all users with a Google account. It offers a rich set of features for personal use. More advanced features, such as creating Spaces that allow external users, are part of paid Google Workspace plans.
Is Google Meet free?
Yes, Google Meet has a robust free version. It allows you to host meetings with up to 100 participants for up to 60 minutes. It also includes features like screen sharing and live captions. Longer meetings and advanced features like recording and breakout rooms require a paid Google Workspace subscription.
What is the difference between a Google Chat group message and a Space?
A group message is a simple, unthreaded conversation, similar to how classic Hangouts worked. It’s best for quick, informal chats. A Space is a more powerful, long-term environment designed for projects or ongoing topics. Spaces feature threaded conversations, shared task lists, and a dedicated file area, making them much better for organized collaboration.
Can I still make phone calls like I did with Hangouts?
The functionality of making phone calls to phone numbers, which was integrated into Hangouts via Google Voice, now resides primarily within the Google Voice app itself. You can download the Google Voice app or use its web interface to make and receive calls using your Google Voice number, separate from Google Chat.
The story of Google Hangouts is a story of evolution. What began as a versatile, all-in-one solution has matured into two specialized, best-in-class products. Google Chat and Google Meet carry the legacy of Hangouts forward, offering more power, focus, and modern features than their predecessor ever could. While we may miss the simplicity of the classic Hangouts experience, the transition has ultimately provided users with a more capable and future-proof communication suite, deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem and ready for the future of work and personal connection.
