Start a video meeting and send messages

Want to get more out of Google apps at work or school?  Sign up for a free Google Workspace trial

With Gmail, you can start and join video meetings. You can also add Google Chat to your Gmail inbox and get all the features of Chat directly in Gmail.

5.1 Start and join video meetings

Start meetings from Gmail

5.2 Use Chat in Gmail

To manage your communication in one place, you can add Google Chat to your Gmail inbox and send chat messages to people. This is available if your organization allows it.

Turn Chat on or off in Gmail

1. On your computer, open Gmail.
2. At the top right, click Settings   See 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.

Note: If you turn off Chat in Gmail, your conversation list and pop-ups won't appear in Gmail, but you're not signed out of Chat.

Change position of the Chat panel in Gmail

You can move the Chat panel to the right or left side of your inbox.

You can move the Chat panel to the right or left side of your Gmail inbox.

1. On your computer, open Gmail.
2. At the top right, click Settings See all settings.
3. At the top, click Chat and Meet.
4. Next to “Chat position,” select Left side of the inbox or Right side of the inbox.
5. Click Save Changes.

What is the difference between Chat in Gmail and Chat?

You get the same features in Chat and Chat in Gmail, but the integrated Gmail experience provides a central location for collaborating across your Google Workspace services.

• Chat—Use when you want to mainly communicate through chat messages. For example, when you're on the go, you might want to quickly check the mobile Chat app for messages.
• Gmail—Use when you want to collaborate with a team from the convenience of your Gmail inbox. If you're working on your computer, you might prefer to use Gmail while you're collaborating with others on files and tasks, without having to switch between services.

5.3 Change your Chat status in Gmail

1. Open Gmail.
2. At the top right, click your Chat status to change it.
3. If you choose Do not disturb, select how long you want to mute your notifications for.
4. (Optional) To turn off Do not disturb, click your statusTurn off do not disturb.

In the Chat panel, people can see a status icon next to your profile picture:

•  Available
•  Do not disturb
•  Away (in last 15 minutes)
•  Away (more than 15 minutes)
•  In a meeting
•  Out of office
• In focus time

Set a custom status

1. On your computer, open Gmail.
2. At the top right, click your Chat status.
3. Click Add a status.
4. Enter your text or choose a status option. You can also add or change an emoji.
5. Under Clear status after, click the Down arrow  and choose when to end your custom status.
6. Click Done.

Delete a custom status

1. On your computer, open Gmail.
2. At the top right, click your Chat status.
3. Click the status to delete.
4. Click Delete .
5. Click Done.
    

 

Google, Google Workspace, and related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC. All other company and product names are trademarks of the companies with which they are associated.