Leave & check messages with Google Duo

If you call someone using Duo and they don't answer, leave a video or voice message. The message can be up to 30 seconds long. You can also create and send a personalized note.

You need the latest version of Duo to leave or receive messages.

Leave a video or voice message

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open Duo. 
  2. Tap a name to call.
  3. After a call rings for 60 seconds, you can leave a message. Or, while the call is ringing, you can tap Leave video message or Leave voice message. 
  4. Follow the instructions on the screen. 
  5. When you're done recording, tap Stop Stop. You can:
    • Apply a filter, draw on, or add text to your video message.
      Important: This feature isn't compatible with all Android devices and may not be available on your device.
    • Preview your message. 
    • Tap Re-record. 
  6. Tap Send Send.
Note: If you add text or draw on your video message, you can make changes before you send it. To delete text, tap Text Textand then Cancel. To delete a drawing, tap Draw Drawand then Undo.

Send a message without calling someone

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open Duo. 
  2. On the screen, swipe down. 
    • For some tablets: Select Record a message. 
  3. When you're ready to record, tap Record Record. 
  4. When you're done, tap Stop Stop. You can: 
    • Preview your message.
    • Tap Re-record. 
  5. Tap Next. 
  6. Select up to 32 contacts.
  7. Tap Send Send.

Send photos or videos from your device

You can give Duo permission to send items from your device’s gallery app.

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open Duo.
  2. On the screen, swipe down.
  3. Tap the photo thumbnail. 
  4. Select a photo or video. 
    • You can choose a video size up to 180 MB.
  5. Tap Done. 
  6. Select a contact. 
  7. Tap Send Send.

Send a note

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open Duo. 
  2. On the screen, swipe down. 
  3. At the bottom right, tap Note.
  4. Create your message:
    • To type, tap the screen.
    • To move or rotate text, touch and hold, then drag.
    • To resize, pinch the text.
    • To draw, in the top right, tap Draw Draw.
    • To change the background color, in the bottom right, tap Palette Palette.
  5. When you’re done, tap Next Next.
  6. Choose up to 32 contacts.
  7. Tap Send Send.

Play a message you've received

Important: To play a message on a device, you need to have been signed into Duo on that device at the time the message was sent. After you play a message, you can revisit it at any time unless you changed your Duo settings to delete messages 24 hours after they play. When you delete a message, it's removed from all devices.

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open Duo. 
  2. Messages will show next to your contact's name.
  3. Tap Play Play and then Video message.
    • From here, you can download the message, share it, reply to it, delete it, or call the person back.
Delete messages after 24 hours
  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open Duo.
  2. In the top right corner, tap More More and then Settings and then Message Settings. 
  3. Turn off Save Messages.

Download a message

When you download a message, it's saved to your device. If you back up data on your phone to a cloud account, like Google Drive, it'll also be saved there.

Play messages on your Nest Hub

You can play new Duo messages on your Nest Hub or Nest Hub Max. To access old messages or re-play a message, use the Duo app on your mobile device. Unplayed messages will expire on your smart display 30 days after you receive them. 

Turn on closed captions

Important: When you use closed captions, your audio clip is sent to Google's servers for transcription. The video isn’t included and the audio file isn’t stored. No personal information is shared.

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open Duo.
  2. In the top right, tap More More and then Settings and then Message settings. 
  3. Turn on Captions for messages.

Note: If you delete your Duo account, any unsaved messages will be deleted.

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