Now, it seems Google is finally pulling the trigger, with plans to eventually scrap Hangouts in favor of Google Chat and Google Meet sometime next year. According to a Google blog post, the company plans to transition all users from Hangouts to Chat within the first half of 2021, leading to the eventually dismantling of Hangouts as a whole.
Google on Thursday provided an update for users who still rely on Hangouts to chat with friends and family. The search giant said in the first half of 2021, Hangouts users will be migrated to a free version of Google Chat — the Slack and Discord competitor currently available to enterprise users.
Another thing we wanted the answer to was why can’t I use google hangouts anymore?
[Solution] Hangouts Plugin Issues
If you still have issues, try these steps:
Refresh the browser page. Close or quit your browser, then reopen it. Restart your computer. Uninstall the Hangouts plugin, then download and install the Hangouts plugin again. Try using the Chrome browser, which doesn’t require the plugin. Learn more about Chrome .
But Hangouts is optional in Gmail; users can switch over to it but they can also switch back. There’s a good reason for this, as Hangouts loses some of the features still available in the Gmail chat, like the ability to make phone calls. Gmail users have been able to place calls from inside Gmail to any phone in the world for a few years now.
Why can’t I use Google Hangouts Meet on my computer?
A lot of users have found that Chrome is the culprit. It’s not very convenient, but simply using another browser works . Firefox only supports Hangouts Meet and not the classic extension anymore though. In the case of the latter, you will have to use Microsoft Edge .
Why can’t I make phone calls on Google Hangouts?
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. At this time, you’ll need to set up and use a Google Voice account to make phone calls.
If you can’t send messages, you may have Internet connection problems. Try these steps: Check cellular data: Make sure data is turned on and that you have a strong signal. Check Wi-Fi signal: If your signal is not working, turn Wi-Fi off and then back on. Sign out of the Hangouts app and then sign back in: Learn how to sign out.
What will happen to hangouts conversations after the transition to Gmail?
Google will automatically migrate Hangouts conversations during the transition, along with contacts and saved history . When the transition is complete, the free version of Google Chat will be available as an integrated experience in Gmail and as a standalone app.
What is Hangouts Chat and how does it work?
To put it simply, Hangouts Chat is Google’s answer to Slack. With individual and group chat functionality, the service has been perfect for teams looking to keep Google as their primary means of communication through G-Suite.