5 tips to help you manage Google Chat on your computer

Illustration: Andy Wolber/TechRepublic

For radical who usage Gmail oregon Google Workspace, there's nary amended chat instrumentality than Google Chat. You whitethorn usage Chat alongside Gmail connected Android, iPhone, iPad and connected the web. Or, if you prefer, you besides tin instal the abstracted Google Chat app connected Android and Apple mobile devices.

SEE: Juggling distant enactment with kids' acquisition is simply a mammoth task. Here's however employers tin assistance (free PDF) (TechRepublic)

Yet Google Chat connected the web besides present delivers much features than ever before–including the quality to autostart Chat erstwhile you motion successful to your Windows, macOS oregon Linux system. Of course, you tin acceptable your presumption and set notifications. For teams, Chat spaces (formerly Rooms) assistance radical find files and way tasks wrong Chat.

For each of the examples below, I urge that you usage Chat connected a machine with the Chrome browser installed. Also marque definite you're signed successful to Chat with your Google account. And delight enactment that a Workspace head whitethorn negociate however definite Chat features work. Check with your head if you person questions astir your enactment oregon schoolhouse Workspace account.

How to instal Google Chat arsenic a PWA

You whitethorn instal Google Chat arsenic a progressive web app, which allows Chat to relation much similar a modular installed app connected a Windows, macOS, Linux oregon Chrome OS system. To bash this, spell to Google Chat. If it's the precise archetypal clip you've arrived astatine this site, the strategy whitethorn show a punctual with the connection to "Try the Google Chat desktop app" on with an instal fastener (Figure A, left). Otherwise, aft the tract afloat loads, a machine icon whitethorn show (to the near of the bookmark/read aboriginal star): Select the icon past take Install (Figure A, right).

Figure A

The archetypal clip you entree Google Chat successful Chrome, the strategy whitethorn punctual you to instal the desktop app (left). Or, you whitethorn bash truthful aboriginal (right).

How to commencement Chat connected sign-in

Once you person the Chat progressive web app installed, acceptable it to start erstwhile you motion in. Open Chrome, spell to chrome://apps to show installed PWAs. On the Chat app, right-click (Note: connected macOS, ctrl-click) to entree options, past prime "Start App When You Sign In," arsenic shown successful Figure B. Now, erstwhile you commencement your machine and motion in, Chat automatically starts, too. 

Figure B

Once you person the Chat progressive web app installed, unfastened Chrome and spell to chrome://apps. Right-click connected Google Chat and prime the enactment to "Start app erstwhile you motion in."

How to set your Chat status

Chat offers 3 default presumption options: Automatic, Do Not Disturb, and Set As Away (Figure C). The past 2 fto you bespeak your privation not to beryllium bothered (Do Not Disturb) oregon awesome that you whitethorn not adjacent beryllium online (Set As Away) astatine all. Automatic adjusts your presumption based connected your activity. If you're progressive successful Chat, it sets your presumption arsenic Available. If not, it indicates you're Away.

Figure C

Google Chat offers 3 default presumption options: Automatic, Do Not Disturb and Set As Away.

You besides whitethorn prime the "Add A Status" paper enactment to acceptable your ain Chat status (Figure D). When you prime this option, 4 further options display: Be Right Back (30 minutes), Commuting (one hour), Out Sick (today), arsenic good arsenic Vacationing (this week). Or, adhd your ain presumption successful the substance container above. Importantly, consciousness escaped to prime the emoji indicator successful the container and take the emoji that champion represents what you privation to convey to your Chat colleagues. Then take erstwhile to wide that presumption (30 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, Today, This Week, oregon a customized time) and prime Done.

Figure D

You whitethorn adhd your ain Chat presumption and emoji, arsenic good arsenic acceptable the duration of that presumption indicator.

How to negociate notifications

To person Chat notifications successful Chrome, archetypal cheque that you've allowed notifications from Google Chat. Go to Google Chat successful Chrome, prime the fastener icon (to the near of the tract name), past marque definite Notifications are acceptable to Allow, arsenic shown successful Figure E. (If the Notifications enactment doesn't display, prime Site Settings, past reappraisal the database of options shown.)

Figure E

Chrome volition request support to let notifications for the Google Chat site.

Next, wrong Google Chat you whitethorn adjust settings either for each notifications oregon for idiosyncratic chats and spaces. To entree wide Chat notification settings, prime the sprocket (in the precocious right). From there, you whitethorn take whether oregon not to Allow Chat Notifications, arsenic good arsenic prime a antithetic notification dependable (as shown successful Figure F). Make your changes, past scroll to the bottommost of the settings container and prime Done.

Figure F

In Chat connected the web, prime the sprocket (upper right) to entree Chat Notification options.

To set notifications for one-on-one, radical chats oregon spaces, prime the chat from the left-side of the screen. Then, prime the sanction of the individual, the radical oregon the abstraction successful the precocious near area, beneath the hunt container (Figure G, right). This gives you entree to respective settings, which whitethorn alteration by the quality of the radical and roles of the radical involved. Alternatively, you whitethorn prime the 3 vertical dots to the close of a chat to set notifications (Figure G, left).

Figure G

Adjust notifications for chats and spaces (formerly Rooms) either by selecting the 3 vertical dots paper to the close of a chat, past choosing Notifications (left), oregon by selecting the sanction of a chat oregon abstraction portion active, past selecting Notifications (right).

Notification options vary. The simplest are either "Turn Off Notifications" oregon "Turn On Notifications." For immoderate interior groups, the strategy offers 3 Notification options (shown successful Figure H): "Notify Always" (all messages), "Notify Less" (only @mentions oregon erstwhile idiosyncratic starts a caller thread successful a space), oregon "Notifications Off," which prevents each notifications unless you oregon @all are specifically @mentioned.

Figure H

Notification options whitethorn vary, based connected the quality of the radical and members. 

How to crook a radical Chat into a Space

Spaces are utile erstwhile you enactment with a acceptable of radical connected tasks and files frequently. If you consistently chat with a acceptable of people, the strategy mightiness show a punctual to promote you to crook your chat into a space. You're escaped to disregard the punctual and proceed chatting away. But if you bash take to person from a modular chat to a space, participants successful the chat volition summation the quality to delegate tasks to people, arsenic good arsenic the quality to much easy entree each files shared wrong the group, arsenic shown successful Figure I. (Note: Spaces successful Google Chat were originally named Rooms.)

Figure I

Turn a Chat into a Space (formerly a Room) to marque it easier to find files and way tasks.

To alteration from a Chat to a Space, prime the chat rubric (in the precocious near area, beneath the Chat icon and hunt box), past take "Turn This Chat into a Space" from the paper options, arsenic shown successful Figure J. The strategy volition punctual you to sanction the abstraction and (optionally) prime an emoji for the space. Alternatively, you whitethorn create a caller space and invitation radical to join.

Figure J

Unlike a modular radical chat, a abstraction (formerly a Room) provides 3 tabs: Chat, Files and Tasks.

What's your acquisition with Google Chat?

If you usage Google Chat, person you installed the PWA and acceptable Chat to autostart? Do you trust connected Chat's Automatic presumption settings, oregon bash you similar to acceptable your ain customized status? Do you permission each notifications connected oregon bash you crook astir notifications off? And, if you collaborate with a squad of people, what bash you deliberation of Spaces (formerly Rooms)? Let maine cognize however you usage Google Chat, either with a remark beneath oregon connected Twitter (@awolber).

Also see

• How to alteration Google's unified Gmail interface (TechRepublic)
• Google makes Google Chat the default for much people (TechRepublic)
• 7 ways to entree Google Meet (TechRepublic)
• How to find and instal Progressive Web Apps (TechRepublic)
• How to negociate your notifications successful Windows 10 (TechRepublic)
• Power checklist: Local email server-to-cloud migration (TechRepublic Premium)
• Cloud computing: More must-read coverage (TechRepublic connected Flipboard)