Start a group conversation
You can use Hangouts to talk with more than one person at the same time.
- Conversations can include up to 150 people.
- Video calls can include up to 10 (Gmail, G Suite Basic) or 25 (Business, Education) people.
Everyone who wants to join a group conversation must use Hangouts.
- Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
-
Click New conversation
New group.
- Enter or select the names, phone numbers, or email addresses of people you want to add.
- To start a group conversation or video call, click Message or Video call.
Add or remove people
Add people to the conversation
- Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
- Select a group conversation.
- At the top right of the chat box, click Settings
.
- Check "Joining by link.” Everyone in the group will see that you turned on joining by link.
- Click Copy link.
- Share the link with the person you want to add.
- Anyone can join the group using the link.
- Everyone in the group will see when someone joins.
- Everyone will also be able to see the conversation history.
- To turn off sharing using a link, uncheck "Joining by link.” If someone turns sharing by link back on, all previously shared links will work again.
Add by name, number, or email
- Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
- Select a group conversation.
- Click People
Add People.
- Enter the names, phone numbers, or email addresses of people you want to add.
- Check the names and click Add people. They will be immediately added to the group. Everyone in the group will see people who are added.
Remove people from a conversation
You can remove someone from a group if you:
- Started the group
- Were added by name, phone number, or email address.
When someone is removed from a group, they won't be able to see past or future messages in the conversation.
- Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
- Select a group conversation.
- Click People
.
- Find the person you want to remove. On their name, click Remove
.
- They will be immediately removed from the group. Everyone in the group will see that you removed the person.
- To add someone back into a group, add them by name, phone number, or email. People who’ve been removed from a group won't be able to rejoin using a link.
Other options
Name your group conversation
- Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
- Select a group conversation.
- At the top of the chat box, click Settings
.
- In "Hangout Name,” enter a name.
- Click Ok. Everyone in the conversation can see the name of the group.
See who is in your group conversation
- Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
- Select a group conversation.
- Click People
.
- You'll see a list of the people in the group conversation. Everyone in the group can see who else is in the group.
Leave a group conversation
- Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
- Select the group conversation that you want to leave.
- At the top right of the chat box, click Settings
.
- Click Leave conversation
Leave.
- To rejoin, someone must invite you to the group. After you rejoin, you’ll be able to see the conversation history, even messages sent after you left.
When you leave a group conversation, a few things will happen:
- You won’t receive new messages or video calls.
- You won’t see previous messages that were sent.
- Other people in the conversation can still see previous messages that were sent, including messages you sent.
To close the window without leaving the group, click Close .
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