Google Hangouts Video Call Links: Inviting Participants

Short answer: Hangouts links now point you to Google Meet

Google retired classic Hangouts. Text conversations moved to Google Chat, and video calls moved to Google Meet. To invite someone to a video call today, create a Google Meet link and send it to them. An old Hangouts video call link can redirect, show an error or do nothing, so don't use one for a new invitation.

How a meeting link works

A Meet link identifies one meeting room by its meeting code. Anyone who has the link can try to join. Whether they get in right away or wait for approval depends on the organizer's account type, the meeting's access settings and whether the guest is signed in. These settings vary between personal and organization-managed accounts, and Google changes them over time. Check the options shown in your own account rather than assuming a fixed behavior.

The link only gives access to the room. The quality of each person's video depends on their own device: the camera permission granted to the browser or app, the selected camera, the available bandwidth and the room lighting. The service adjusts resolution, frame rate and bitrate automatically based on network conditions and device performance. Participants usually can't fix these values manually.

Creating and sharing a call link

The usual ways to get a link are listed below. Button names and their locations can differ between the web version, mobile apps and account types.

• Instant call: start a new meeting in Google Meet, then copy the meeting link it shows and send it to participants.
• Link for later: create a meeting to use later. Meet gives you a link without starting the call, which suits sending invitations in advance.
• Scheduled event: add Google Meet video conferencing to a Google Calendar event. Guests you add to the event receive the link with the invitation.
• From a chat: start or share a Meet call from a Google Chat conversation so that the link appears in the thread.

When you send the link, include the date, time and time zone. For guests outside your organization, mention that they may need to ask to join and wait for the organizer to admit them.

Helping participants join with working video and audio

Many problems that look like a broken link are really device or permission issues. Before an important call, guests can check the following:

• Camera permission: the browser or app must be allowed to use the camera and microphone. If access was blocked earlier, it has to be re-enabled in the browser's site settings or the operating system's privacy settings.
• Selected camera: on computers with both a built-in and an external webcam, confirm the correct device in the call's video settings. The same applies to the microphone and speakers.
• Other apps: some systems let only one app use the camera at a time. Close other video apps if the preview stays black.
• Lighting: a light source in front of the face works better than a bright window behind it. Poor lighting lowers image quality more than most other settings do.
• Network: on a weak connection the service lowers resolution and frame rate first. Moving closer to the router or pausing large downloads helps more than changing any setting inside the call.

Limits and related questions

Old Hangouts video call links: links saved in old calendar entries, emails or documents were made for a service that no longer runs calls. Replace them with a new Meet link and tell people about the change, instead of expecting the old address to keep working.

Participant counts and call length: the maximum number of participants and the time limit for group calls depend on whether the organizer uses a free personal account or a paid or organization plan. Check the current limits for your account before planning a large or long session.

Recording: recording a call is not available on every account type. Where it is supported, the recording format, storage location and who can access the file are set by the account and organization policies. Before you record, confirm what your account allows and where the file will be saved, and tell participants first.

Privacy: treat a meeting link like a key. Anyone who receives a forwarded link can attempt to join, so avoid posting it in public places. Use access controls or waiting-room approval where available, and create a new link for sensitive meetings instead of reusing an old one. Data handling and retention are governed by Google's current policies and your organization's settings, so verify them rather than relying on general assumptions.