If you’re in the Google ecosystem or use Google Workspace at work, Google Chat is a popular choice for messaging and collaboration. The app replaced Hangouts in Gmail (RIP), Originally launched for business Before rolling out to everyone. Regardless of the context for using Google Chat, there are a handful of hacks to maximize its features.
Add Chat to Gmail to keep everything in one tab
If you already have multiple tabs open—and one of them is Gmail—you don’t really need another one for Google Chat. Instead, you can add Chat to your Gmail taskbar and toggle between your Inbox and Chat interface in the same tab (as long as they’re under the same Google Account). This hit settings Tap the gear at the top of your Gmail window View all settings. choose Chat and meet Tab and press the radio button next to it Google Chat. You can also manage your chat settings from this tab. For Gmail on mobile, go to Settings > Chat and toggle Show the chat tab continued
Google Chat has a desktop app—if you use Chrome
For those who prefer the desktop app over a browser window, you can download the Google Chat app. While this is a standalone app rather than an extension, Chrome must be open and running for the app to work. However, you don’t need to use Chrome as your default browser. To install the app, open chat.google.com In Chrome and click either Install icon or go to More > Install Google Chat. From there, you can start a chat from your desktop.
Schedule chat messages for later
The ability to schedule messages for later means you can draft chats when they’re top of mind but leave them to be sent when you actually want them to be seen by the recipient. This is handy for communicating with coworkers who have different work hours, saving messages for someone returning from vacation, or scheduling recurring check-in chats. Draft your message and click the down arrow next to send button, then choose either the suggested send time or set a custom one.
Set the Do Not Disturb period
If you don’t want to receive notifications at all hours, set up Do Not Disturb to activate when you’re done working. This will mute alerts from Google Chat during the set time frame. In your chat window, go to Settings > Notifications and scroll down Don’t disturb the schedule. You can toggle or hit one of the default options Create a new one To create a custom schedule. Make sure to enable Do not disturb schedule matches for time zonesEspecially if your team is spread across multiple time zones.
Get email notifications for unread messages
There may be times when you have turned off Google Chat or turned off push notifications but still want to see a summary of important messages. You can enable email notifications for unread direct messages or @ mentions to get reminders for chat messages you haven’t read in more than 12 hours. On the desktop, go to Settings > Notifications and toggle Get email notifications for unread direct messages or @mentions continued
Open multiple chats in windowed mode
To avoid toggling back and forth between multiple conversations in Google Chat on desktop, you can open them in a pop-out window to view them together. From your home screen in Chat, tap the three vertical dots (options) on the right side and hit Open in a pop-up. Alternatively, you can hit the pop-up icon at the top of any DM or space. Note that you cannot pop out individual threads.
Add personal messages to Tasks
Google Chat obviously plays well with other Google apps, including Tasks. If there is an action item in a chat conversation, you can tap it and put it in your task to-do list. Three-dot menu > Add to tasks. On mobile, long press the message and go to More > Add to Tasks. If you’ve added Tasks to your right-hand panel in a chat, you can view and organize your list in the same window as your conversation.
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Use search filters to find specific messages
Like other Google apps, Chat has advanced filters to help you narrow down search results and find specific messages in your space and conversation history. Type your query into the search bar at the top of the window, then choose from any of the following filters:
You can sort by more recent and relevance.
Turn off chat history to auto-delete messages
For sensitive messages you don’t want saved in your chat history, Google Chat has a feature like disappearing messages that will delete new messages from your chat log after 24 hours. To enable it, open a conversation, click the down arrow next to the chat title, and select Close history. Your log will show which messages have been sent with history on and off so you know which ones to delete.
Get conversation summaries from Gemini
If you have a Google Workspace account, you can ask Gemini to summarize read and unread conversations in Chat so you don’t have to go back and review each message individually. Summaries are available for DMs (group and individual), spaces and threads. Conversation summaries are enabled by default for eligible accounts—to use the feature, select a read or unread conversation in Google Chat or Chat in Gmail, hover over it in the Home tab, and click Give a summary. You can also summarize unread messages in a conversation by opening the conversation and selecting Give unread summaries.
