Coming soon: manage Google Chat and classic Hangouts chat settings from one place in the Admin console
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
On July 6, 2020, we’ll start mapping your existing service status (e.g. Google Chat on, classic Hangouts on, Chat preferred off) to the new setting that matches your current user experience. You don’t need to take any action.
Most end users will not see any change. In domains where Google Chat is turned ON but classic Hangouts and Chat preferred are turned OFF, however, users will begin seeing Chat in Gmail over the next few weeks.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about the different settings options for chat.
New chat service settings in the Admin console |
Who’s impactedAdmins and end users
While these changes are rolling out, admins may temporarily see the "Chat clients" tab as well as the new service page. They should only change the new service status page to make changes for their domain.
Please note that while the experience for most end users will not change with these new settings, in the coming weeks we’ll launch Chat in Gmail to domains that have the “Chat only” setting selected. This means that any user in a domain where Chat is turned ON and Classic Hangouts and Chat Preferred are turned OFF will start seeing Chat in Gmail. This feature was previously only available to domains with the Chat preferred setting selected. End users will have the option to turn Chat in Gmail off at the individual level.
New combined service on / off setting row in the Admin console |
- Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on July 6, 2020
Chat in Gmail to “Chat only” domains
- Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially more than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on July 6, 2020
- Available to all G Suite customers
- Google Admin Help: Chat service consolidation
- Google Admin Help: Google Chat and classic Hangouts settings
- Google Admin Help: Transition to Chat Preferred
- Google Help: Use Google Chat in Gmail