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 25 people.

Everyone who wants to join a group conversation must use Hangouts.

  1. Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.

  2. Click New conversation Addand then New group.

  3. Enter or select the names, phone numbers, or email addresses of people you want to add.
  4. To start a group conversation or video call, click Message or Video call.

Add or remove people

Add people to the conversation

  1. Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
  2. Select a group conversation.
  3. At the top right of the chat box, click Settings Settings.
  4. Check "Joining by link.” Everyone in the group will see that you turned on joining by link.
  5. Click Copy link.
  6. 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.
  7. 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

  1. Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
  2. Select a group conversation.
  3. Click People People and then Add People.
  4. Enter the names, phone numbers, or email addresses of people you want to add.
  5. 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.

  1. Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
  2. Select a group conversation.
  3. Click People People.
  4. Find the person you want to remove. On their name, click Remove Remove.
  5. They will be immediately removed from the group. Everyone in the group will see that you removed the person.
  6. 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
  1. Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
  2. Select a group conversation.
  3. At the top of the chat box, click Settings Settings.
  4. In "Hangout Name,” enter a name.
  5. Click Ok. Everyone in the conversation can see the name of the group.
See who is in your group conversation
  1. Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
  2. Select a group conversation.
  3. Click People People.
  4. 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
  1. Go to hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail.
  2. Select the group conversation that you want to leave.
  3. At the top right of the chat box, click Settings Settings.
  4. Click Leave conversation and then Leave.
  5. 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 Close.

Brenna is a Hangouts expert and the author of this help page. Help her improve this article by leaving feedback below.

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