Google logs users out of Hangouts on mobile during chat transition

It’s been almost a year since we started talking about how Google Hangouts officially was. put to disappear. Since then it seems that we have been repeat the same thing every few months, only for Hangouts to stubbornly persist in living. If apps could talk, Hangouts would probably state, “what is dead can never die.”

However, Google on Friday took a slower step towards turn off the lights at Hangouts for good. Spotted by 9to5Google, iOS and Android users with free personal accounts started seeing a banner saying “Hangouts is being replaced by Google Chat”. (Google Chat is The Google version of Slack, while Google Meet is its version of Zoom). Users too saw a “Find out more” button which takes them to a support article explaining the switch from Hangouts to Chat as well as a button for “Switch to Chat in Gmail”.

The point of sale explains that clicking the switch button will log you out of the Hangouts mobile app, which means you No longer receive notifications from Hangouts or send messages with the app. Google is also reminding users that their Hangouts conversations from last year are already available in Chat, adding that older conversations will be available later.

Mobile devices are not the only ones affected by this change. Google’s Hangouts website also started displaying a message saying, “It’s time to switch to Google Chat.” Users are then redirected to the Chat website.

Sounds like a solid step towards the bite of the dust, doesn’t it? I thought so too, but I was reminded that Hangouts never dies. According to 9to5Google, mobile users who aren’t ready to say goodbye to Hangouts, which seems odd considering how many times its disappearance has been mentioned in the media, can still use the app after Google logs them out. . All they need to do is open the Hangouts app and re-add their account.

There is no official end date for Hangouts yet. The company says a “mandatory upgrade” for business accounts will take place in late 2021, which is coming soon, but no cuts have been announced for users with free personal accounts.

Now I have nothing against Hangouts. I’m just at the point where every time I see something related to it, I’m like, “Wait, is that still there?” In fact, when Google really unplugs, I can ask someone to pinch me.