Send a Google Chat message to a person or group

You can send messages to people who use Google Chat or classic Hangouts. If you use a Google Workplace account, you can only chat with someone outside of your organisation if they use a personal Google Account or if both of your organisations allow it.

Start a conversation

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 organisation, enter their email address.
4. Click the person that you want to message.
5. Enter a message, then click Send .

Tips

• If you use a work or school account, suggestions include everyone in your organisation, even if they don't have Google Chat.
• To message you back, the recipient of a message may need to accept your request.

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 .

Add or remove people from an existing group conversation

1. Go to Google Chat or your Gmail account.
2. On the left, under 'Chat', select a group conversation.
3. At the top, next to the conversation name, click the down arrow or More options Add people and bots.
4. Enter names or email addresses of the people that you want to add.
5. Click Send.
6. Optional: To remove people from the conversation, at the top, next to the conversation name, click the down arrow or More options View members.
7. Next to their name, click More options Remove from space .

Other options

• To add a person to the conversation or mention them: Type , then enter a name.
• To add emoji to your message: Click Emoji .
• To share files from your device: Click Upload file .
  • Everyone in a space can find shared files.
• To share files from Google Drive: Click Add Google Drive file .
  • Everyone in a space can find shared Drive files.
• To start a video call: Click Add video meeting .
• To schedule a calendar meeting: Click Calendar .
• To send a GIF: Click GIF .
• To add formatting to text: Click Format .

Chat with a bot in a 1:1 message

1. Go to Google Chat or your Gmail account.
2. Next to 'Chat', click Start a chat Find a bot.
3. Type the bot name or select from the suggestions.
4. Enter your message.
5. Click Send .

Remove a bot from a 1:1 message

1. Go to Google Chat or your Gmail account.
2. Next to the bot in your conversation list, click More options Remove.

Remove a bot from a space

1. Go to Google Chat or your Gmail account.
2. Open a space.
3. Click More options View members.
4. Next to the bot that you want to remove, click More options Remove from space.

Know when someone has read your message

In a 1:1 message, a small avatar of the person who you chat with appears to the right of the last message that they read. You can't turn these read receipts on or off. Read receipts don’t appear in group conversations or spaces.