Start a video call

You can connect with family, friends, or coworkers through face-to-face video calls. For 1:1 calls, you can use classic Hangouts calling or Google Meet. For group video calls, use Google Meet.

Tip: If you use classic Hangouts to start a Google Meet video call, the number of participants depends on your account type. Learn more about participant limits for Google Meet.

Important: When you block someone on classic Hangouts, they can't message you in Hangouts but they can still join Google Meet calls you organize or join through the Hangouts app. Users blocked on classic Hangouts aren't blocked on Google Meet.

Start a one-on-one video call

  1. Open the Hangouts app .
  2. Select a person from the Hangouts list or search for their name or email address. When you find the person you want to call, click their name.
  3. In the top right, tap Video call and chose one:

Tip: To make sure you don't join a meeting with an expired code and to better plan for the future meetings you create, check when meeting codes expire. Learn about Google Meet meeting codes.

Tips to start a Google Meet video call from Hangouts

  • There are some requirements to use Google Meet. Learn more about Google Meet requirements.
  • When you click the link to join a Google Meet video call through Google Hangouts, the meeting may not open on the Meet app.
    • If you have the Meet app and the Gmail app: The meeting opens in the Gmail app even if you previously disabled the Meet tab in the Gmail app.
    • If you only have one of the apps: The meeting opens in the app that's downloaded on your device.
    • If you don't have the Meet app or Gmail app: You're prompted to install the Gmail app from the App Store.

Other settings for classic Hangouts video calls

Add people by name or email address

Anyone in the video call can add more people after the call starts.

  1. In the video call window, tap the screen.
  2. On the top, tap Add people .
  3. On the bottom, tap Invite.
  4. Enter and select a name or email address.
  5. Tap DoneDone. To join a video call, you need to sign in to your Google Account.

Share a link to add people

  1. In the video call window, tap the screen.
  2. On the top, tap Add people .
  3. On the bottom, tap Share link.
  4. Select an app. If they're signed in, anyone with the link can join the call.

Turn off your camera or mute the microphone

  1. Tap the video call screen.
  2. At the bottom, tap Mute to mute your microphone or Camera to turn off your camera.

Receive messages in the video call

When you receive messages in the video call, a chat icon appears on the bottom left of your screen. Tap the icon to get messages. Tap it again to close the chat. You can only get message history while you're on the call.

You can't respond to a video call message on your phone. You can respond to the message if you join the call on your computer.

Related resources

  • Start a Google Meet video meeting

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