Guide: Best Key­board Hotkeys for Google Hang­outs for Win­dows and Mac

Google has ended its consumer messaging app, Allo, and shifted its focus back to Hangouts. After launching Allo and Duo for Android and iOS users in 2016, the company rebranded Hangouts as a business-focused platform. Despite the initial hype, Allo failed to gain traction with users and was eventually scrapped.

Google Hangouts offers a web version, seamless integration with Gmail and an array of features that make it a viable alternative to Google Allo.

Google Duo offers video and voice calling, but lacks the important chat feature. To fill this gap, Google Hangouts provides users with a comprehensive communication platform that includes chat, stickers, voice and video calling as well as other features. With its web-based availability, it is a strong competitor to popular services such as Skype and Zoom.

Google Hangouts users can take their experience to the next level with eleven keyboard shortcuts for Windows and Mac. Memorizing these shortcuts can help streamline communication and make using the platform more efficient.

1. Close the chat window

Google Hangouts offers a unique chat window experience, with conversations popping up at the bottom of the screen when initiated. Users can minimize or close the window using the ‘Esc’ shortcut on Windows or Mac.

2. Hangouts settings menu

Google’s Hangouts web offers a range of settings accessible through the hamburger menu in the top left corner, or by typing “H” followed by “M”.

3. Open the Invitation menu

Google Hangouts lets you invite others to join in with a special invitation menu. To access it, open the hamburger menu and select ‘invitations’, or type ‘H’ followed by ‘I’ on your keyboard.

Google’s Hangouts offers multiple ways to connect with users, including searching for them by phone number or email address. To access the search bar, use the keyboard shortcut H followed by Q. This will allow you to search for users and create new groups.

5. Access archived chats

Google Hangouts allows users to archive chat threads with a simple right-click. To access archived conversations, simply type “H A” on the keyboard to open the menu.

6. Open Phone Menu

You can make calls with Hangouts - just go to the phone menu and call users. To access the phone section quickly, use the keyboard shortcut H followed by P.

7. Go to the first call

Google Hangouts’ web app offers a range of options and settings, including the handy hotkey H+C which takes you straight back to the first conversation in your chat menu. I find this incredibly useful and use it regularly.

Chatting can be made easier with keyboard shortcuts.

8. Move dancing people in chat

Google Hangouts offers plenty of ways to liven up your conversations. From sending emojis and stickers to typing in keyboard shortcuts like “/pitchforks” to bring a group of dancing people into the chat, there’s no shortage of fun options.

9. Add a live pony to a chat

Google is hoping to make Hangouts more fun by introducing keyboard shortcuts that allow users to bring live ponies into their chats. Typing “/ponies” will cause the ponies to run across the screen. Additionally, Google is looking for more keyboard shortcuts that can add a bit of fun to Hangouts.

10. Change the background color of the chat

Google Hangouts lets you liven up your conversations with a custom chat background. Just type /bikeshed in the conversation to switch from the default gray background to something more eye-catching. If you don’t like it, simply type the command again for a new look.

Current Hangouts chats will feature a new background color, but the change won’t be permanent: refreshing the page or reopening the app will reset it to its default gray.

11. Move multiple ponies around the screen

Type /pony streams to run a group of ponies through your chat screen on Hangouts.

Use Hangouts like a pro

Google Hangouts offers a range of convenient shortcuts for navigating the app on any desktop operating system, including Chrome OS, Windows, Mac and Linux.

Skype offers a range of navigation shortcuts to make using the platform easier. Read on to learn more.

Best Key­board Hotkeys for Google Hang­outs for Win­dows and Mac: benefits

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Final note

We’ve created a guide to the best keyboard shortcuts for Google Hangouts on Windows and Mac. If you have any questions, please let us know. And don’t forget to share the article with your friends!

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