Here's how to use Google Hangouts.
Use the clickable sections below
to skip through different parts of this tutorial.
First, log in to your Google account.
Click on the dotted-square icon in the top right corner
and select the Hangouts app from the drop-down.
You can also find Hangouts within your Gmail.
In this area,
you'll find the Hangout functions
where you can start conversations
and speak to others.
You can go straight to Hangouts
by going to Hangouts.google.com in your web browser.
Click on "MESSAGE"
and then type in the email address
or phone number.
You can also type their name
if you've already used their contact before.
A chat window will appear.
Type your message here
and then enter to send.
If you want to add more people to the chat,
click the group icon here.
You can also attach photos to your message
by clicking the image icon here
and selecting your file.
To create a group chat,
click here and then add the contacts you want.
Click on the phone-call icon,
and a message window will appear
with your currency sign.
This indicates how much credit you have on your account
in case you want to make calls
outside the US or Canada.
To find out what your Google phone number is,
click the plus icon.
You'll be able to choose an available number
for your region.
Type a US or Canadian number in the contacts bar
and click "Call."
A window will appear if the call is connecting.
It'll say "Free" to confirm that the call won't cost you.
If the person answers,
you'll be able to hear them,
and it'll say "In call."
You can change your microphone input for the call
by going to the settings button
and selecting your mic.
To mute yourself, click the microphone icon.
To end the call, click the red "Hang up" button.
Google recently took video calling off of Google Hangouts.
If you want to do video calls via Google,
you'll have to use Google Meet.
You can use Google Meet via your browser,
on desktop, or on your mobile app.
Select "Meet" from your Google apps drop-down to launch.
To start a video call,
click on "New meeting"
and "Start an instant meeting,"
and you should see yourself appear.
Click "Join meeting" to start the call,
and under "Add others,"
click "Add people"
and type in the contacts you want to invite.
If they accept to join the call,
you'll see them appear.
You can turn off your own video
by clicking the video icon.
To mute yourself,
click on the microphone icon.
Send everyone on the call a message
by clicking on the chat icon and typing.
To invite more people during the call,
use the invite icon here
and type their contact.
To hang up, press the red icon.
If you'd like to share your screen during a video call,
click on "Present now."
You'll be given options
of how you want to share your screen.
You can show everything on your screen
or choose to restrict it to a window or tab.
Select the window and click "Share."
Launch the Hangouts application
and tap "GET STARTED."
Log in to your Gmail account.
And tap the check mark to start using Hangouts.
It'll ask if you want to enable notifications.
Click "OK" and then "Allow,"
if you're happy to receive them
when you're called or messaged.
To send a message,
go to the message tab
and tap the green plus icon.
Enter the email in the search bar
and then tap the contact below.
Type your message
and press the green icon to send.
You can also attach images
or add stickers here.
To turn your message into a group chat
and invite more people,
click on the three-dots icon
and select "People" from the drop-down.
You'll see who's already able to see your messages.
Tap "Create group with [your contact]"
and then add the contact you want.
You can name your group here.
Tap the check-mark icon to send the invite to join.
To make a phone call,
tap the call tab
and then the green-circle icon.
Type in a phone number here
or tap the contacts icon
to select one saved on your phone.
Tap the call icon to start dialing.
Launch the Google Meet app on your device
and make sure you're logged in to your Google account.
To start a video meeting,
tap "New meeting"
and "Start an instant meeting."
Invite others to the call
by tapping "Share invite" to send them a link,
or click on the three-dots icon
and select "Add others"
and then "Share joining info."
If your contact clicks on the link to join,
you'll see them appear.
To mute yourself, tap here.
Or turn off your video by tapping here.
You can adjust your volume
by selecting the volume icon and adjusting.
To flip your camera the other way, tap here.
To send messages to everyone on your call,
start the chat by selecting the three-dots icon
and select "In call messages."
Type your message
and click on the triangle.
To share your screen,
tap the three-dots icon
and select "Share screen" from the menu.
To hang up, tap the red icon.