Cool Tricks for Google Hangouts You (Probably) Didn't Know Existed

There are a lot of Gmail users out there who access Google Hangouts on a regular basis, but don't even realize it. Hangouts has been the default in-browser chat client in Gmail (or Google+, if you're weird) for many years, but many users still refer to it by the name of its less-versatile predecessor, Google Chat (or colloquially, "Gchat").


GChat is dead, people.

Of course, Gmailers who absolutely need the old-timey Gchat-esque experience in their life can always click the "Revert to old chat" link via the arrow next to their name in the chat list. But why do something dumb like that when the full-on Hangouts has so many cool things to offer? (There were even a lot of features that I—a veteran Hangout-er—discovered over the course of writing this feature.)

Throughout the years, various Google communication functions have been integrated into the greater Hangouts environment (e.g. Google Talk, Google Voice). Google has since expanded Hangouts into a multipurpose, poly-screen, cross-platform (and even cross-OS) chat client. Looking forward, Hangouts may evolve into an even greater uber mobile communication hub, which will handle all your texting and voice calls as well.

While mobile is most certainly what Google's devs have in mind for Hangout's future, let's not neglect some of the cool things you can do in the desktop version right now. Check out our list of little-known treasures. There are definitely some cool things you didn't know about.

Draw a Doodle

I'm super old, so I don't use the Snapchat. However, I know that one of the features that people enjoy on that service is the ability to draw humorous doodles. I'm told it's fun. Well, you can do the same in Hangouts, even though this function is curiously hidden.

To get your Hangout doodle on, place your mouse over the picture icon (the little mountain scene in the bottom-right corner of the chat box) and it will reveal a pencil icon directly to its left. (Seems unnecessarily complicated, no?) Click on the pencil icon and it will open a work space that you can use to "draw" simple line pictures. You can choose a number of brush sizes, shapes, colors, and amounts of transparency.

Click "Send" and the doodle will appear in the main message window. Afterwards, any Hangout participant will have the ability to "edit" the image by hovering their mouse over the image to prompt a clickable little pencil icon in the top-right corner. Each change will create a new image that will be pasted below it. You can have an ongoing doodle conversation in which each new addition will be recorded in the main message window.

Note: In the doodle window, you'll find a little camera icon in the top-right corner, which makes it seem like you should be able to add a photo and doodle on top of that. I couldn't get it to work through this window. HOWEVER, if you add an image first (we'll get to that below), you will have the ability to doodle on top of that.

Say it With an Emoji

Why would you ever choose to say something with words, when you could say it with an adorable little cartoon character? I can't think of a reasonable answer to that question. Thankfully, Hangouts makes it possible to never type a word again. Seriously, there are enough emoji available here to represent anything within the spectrum of human experience.

To access this vast emoji library, just hit the little smiley face in the bottom left-hand corner of your chat input box to reveal a pop-up window. Across the top, you'll see various sets of occasionally animated toonbits for you to choose from (you can hit the scroll arrow on the right for even more sets).

Then just click on any emoji, and it will be added to your conversation. Once it has been placed in the convo, you'll even have the ability to doodle on top of that image emoji—just hover your mouse on top of the emoji to prompt the pencil icon in the corner, and click that to edit the image.

Unfortunately, Hangouts doesn't seem to allow you to use multiple emoji on a single line—each toon is automatically placed on its own line. So, for the time being, you can't string together any complex emoji sentences.

Pretty as a Picture (or Gif)

You can also add pictures directly into your Hangouts conversations from a variety of sources. Just click the little mountain scene in the bottom right-hand corner. This will open a pop-up window with a number of option tabs at the top. Here's a quick run-down of your input sources:

1) "Upload photos" is where you can browse for a file from your computer or drag-to-upload.

2) "Auto Backup" refers to any photos you allowed Google to automatically suck up from your Android device into its giant data hole.

3) "Photos" refers is anything uploaded into Google's new unlimited Google Photos service.

4) "Albums" are images organized from various places, including past chats with particular people.

5) "Video search" allows you to search for links to YouTube videos (not the actual videos, mind you, just a still and a link.

6) "Web camera" allows you to take stills from you Web cam to send to people.

And of course, you can doodle on top of any of these images as detailed above. (Well, still images—Hangouts doesn't allow you to doodle on top of an animated gif.)

Video Chat

See that little movie camera icon in the top-left corner? You can click that to open a video chat window. In the new pop-up screen, you'll be able to grab the link in the top-right corner and add new people into your vid chat. Also, if you hover your mouse to the left-hand side of the screen, you'll see a bunch of other cool tools like "Google Effects," which allow you to ad fun animations on top of a live video feed. Note: You will need to download a free Hangouts Plugin for your browser to access video chat.

Call a Phone From Your Computer

Hangouts allows you to place phone calls right from your browser to just about any number in the world (with some limitations). Most calls within the U.S. or Canada are completely gratis, but you have the option to set up a calling credit to pay for any international calls.

To place a call, just click the little phone icon at the top of your chat window (if you're an Android user, you'll already have access to the phone numbers of the Hangout friends stored in your phone).

Group Hangouts

Want to bring some more folks into your conversation? In an open chat window, click the little person icon with the plus sign in the top-left corner and it will open your contact list. Just check the boxes next to any additional folks you'd like to include and they will all be invited to join.

Unlock Hidden Animations

Google developers have a little too much time on their hands. I believe this to be the case because they've softwired a number of completely unnecessary animated Easter Eggs into Hangouts, which are prompted by certain phrases. We've put together a comprehensive list here, but here are some fun ones you might want to try:

yay!!

happy birthday

LMAO

/ponies

Know Your Options

If you click the little gear icon in the top-right corner of your chat window, you'll be able to commandeer certain settings for your communications with that specific user. For example, you can toggle the option to receive notifications from them on or off, or choose if you'd like to keep a detailed record of the Hangout History. You even have the option to block the person directly from this window.

In addition, if you are accessing Hangouts through Gmail, you can access main settings through the little downward arrow next to your name above the chat list on your left. Here, you can set your status, mute notifications for a certain time, or see your blocked and hidden contacts.

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