Chat service consolidation
To simplify the transition to Hangouts Chat, the chat settings for both classic Hangouts and Hangouts Chat have been combined in the Google Admin console. Now there's one place where you can control all the chat settings for your organization.
Where to find chat settings
When you go to the Chat Settings page for classic Hangouts, the Admin console redirects you to the Hangouts Chat settings page. The settings on the Hangouts Chat page apply to both services, except for the differences noted below.
| Admin console setting | Previous location | New location | Service it controls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chat History on or off | Classic Hangouts and Hangouts Chat | Hangouts Chat |
Both services Classic history setting applies to both services when classic Hangout is turned on. |
| Chat externally with people outside domain | Classic Hangouts | Hangouts Chat |
Both services Coming soon |
| Show status to people outside your organization | Classic Hangouts | Hangouts Chat |
Classic Hangouts only Feature does not exist in Chat. |
| Warn users before sending external messages | Classic Hangouts | Hangouts Chat |
Classic Hangouts only All external users will have an “External” marker in Chat. |
| Require chat invitations for users in your organization | Classic Hangouts | Hangouts Chat |
Both services |
| Place voice and video calls | Classic Hangouts |
Classic Hangouts All settings for video and voice calling continue to be in classic Hangouts. |
Classic Hangouts only |
|
Allow rooms with people outside your organization Coming soon |
— | Hangouts Chat |
Hangouts Chat only Feature does not exist in classic Hangouts. |
| Allow users to install bots | Hangouts Chat | In combined settings, but only applies to Chat. |
Hangouts Chat only Feature does not exist in classic Hangouts. |
