6. Collaborate in Gmail

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In this section: 6.1 Start or join video meetings 6.2 Use Google Chat in Gmail 6.3 Vacation notifications 6.4 Desktop notifications 6.5 Mail delegation 6.6 Shared mailbox

6.1 Start or join video meetings

You can start a new video meeting on the fly with Google Meet in Gmail (computer only).

Start a new video meeting

1. Open Gmail.

2. In the sidebar, click Start a meeting.

   Note: If you don’t see this option, it might not be enabled for your organization, or it might be hidden. To unhide Meet, see Show or hide Google Meet in Gmail.

3. In the Meet window, choose an option to join the meeting:
   • To join using your computer’s camera for video and your computer's microphone for audio, click Join now.
   • To join using your phone for audio, click Join and use a phone for audio and then follow the on-screen prompts. If you join by phone, you can still use your computer for video. For details, see Use a phone for audio in a video meeting.
4. Once you are in the meeting, choose an option to add other people:
   • To share the meeting code with someone, click Copy joining info, then paste the info into a messaging app. 
   • To invite someone by sending them an email, click Add people, enter names or email addresses, then click Send invite.
   • To invite someone to join the meeting by phone, click Add people, then click Call and enter a phone number. 

Join a video meeting

1. Open Gmail.

2. In the sidebar, click Join a meeting.

   Tip: If you don’t see this option, contact your Google Workspace administrator.

3. Enter a meeting code or nickname.
   • Google Workspace users can share a nickname with people in their organization as a fast way to join a meeting.
4. Click Join.

6.2 Use Google Chat in Gmail

If you have a quick or urgent question, you can send a direct message to someone instead of an email. In Gmail, you can start a Chat conversation right from your inbox.

Turn Chat on or off in Gmail

1. On your computer, open Gmail.
2. At the top right, click Settings   View all settings.
3. At the top, click Chat and Meet.
4. Next to “Chat,” to turn Chat on or off in Gmail, select Google Chat or Off.
5. Click Save Changes.

Send a direct message to someone

1. Go to Google Chat or your Gmail account.
2. If the name isn’t already under "Chat," click Start a chat .
3. Enter a name or email address. Suggestions appear as you enter text.
   • To send a 1:1 message to someone outside of your organization, enter their email address.
4. Click the person you want to message.
5. Enter a message, then click Send .

Start a group conversation

1. Go to Google Chat or your Gmail account.
2. Under "Chat," click on an existing group conversation, enter a message click Send .
3. If the group conversation isn’t under "Chat,” click Start a chat Start group conversation.
4. Enter a name or email address. Suggestions appear as you enter text.
5. Click Done .
6. Enter a message, then click Send .

Note: If you turn off Chat in Gmail, your conversation list and pop-up notifications won't appear in Gmail. However, you can still use Chat on the web (chat.google.com).

6.3 Vacation notifications

Outlook:  Out of Office	Gmail: Vacation responder
Outlook 2016   Outlook 2013   Outlook 2010	Note: To use Vacation responder, your account must be at least 24 hours old. Open Gmail . At the top right, click Settings See all settings. Scroll down to Vacation responder and select Vacation responder on or Vacation responder off. If you turned on the vacation responder, enter the dates you're away and add a message. Then, select who should get a response. At the bottom, click Save Changes.

6.4 Desktop notifications

Outlook: Desktop notifications	Gmail: Desktop notifications
Outlook 2016   Outlook 2013   Outlook 2010	You can get desktop notifications when you’re signed in to Gmail and have it open in your browser. At the top right, click Settings See all settings. Scroll down to the Desktop notifications section. Click Click here to enable desktop notifications for <your organization>. Select New mail notifications on or Important mail notifications on. At the bottom of the page, click Save Changes.

6.5 Mail delegation

Outlook: Delegate access

Gmail: Mail delegation

Outlook 2016   Outlook 2013   Outlook 2010

At the top right, click Settings See all settings. Click the Accounts and Import. In the Grant access to your account section, click Add another account. Note: Your organization may restrict email delegation. If you don’t see this setting, contact your administrator. Enter the email address of the person you want to add and click Next Step. Click Send email to grant access. The person you added will get an email asking them to confirm. It may take up to 24 hours for you to see them as a delegate after they confirm.

6.6 Shared mailbox

Outlook: Shared mailbox

Gmail: Shared mailbox

Outlook 2016, 2013, and 2010

If your team needs a shared mailbox, such as for technical support or customer service, you can use a Google group as a collaborative inbox. For example, you can create a group with the address [e-mail], add your support staff as members, and allow people outside your organization to send messages to the group. Your support staff will receive your customers' messages, and they can do any of the following from the group's Topics view: Assign responsibility for a topic to a member of the group Mark a topic as resolved Edit the tags associated with a topic Filter topics according to tag, resolution status, or assignee See instructions on how to set up a collaborative inbox