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Chat and Rooms in Gmail

The original blog entry on ways to find your way around Google's email service and to perform the basic email tasks can be found here - https://blogs-on-gmail.blogspot.com/2019/02/gmail101.html. 

This is a supplemental blog entry because recently, Google decided to expand Chat access to consumer users, thereby causing changes to the Gmail web and mobile apps UI. Here, we shall highlight the changes made in the Gmail standard view web UI and also answer some of the frequently asked questions related to this topic.

A bit of history to begin with. 

This used to be the Gmail web UI prior to its redesign in 2019:


After the redesign in 2019, Gmail used to look like as shown below. Two very prominent sections in the left panel - Gmail labels (#1) on top and Hangouts (#2) below it.


Thereafter, sometime in 2020, Meet was introduced in Gmail and the UI was changed again. Here, we find a third section in the left panel, for Meet (#1). Additionally, a new Support icon “?” was added (#2) and the Settings icon was moved up from the Button bar to the right of the Support icon (#3).


Now, in 2021, with Google’s decision to expand Chat access to all consumer users, the Gmail standard view web UI has undergone another UI change with the new Chat (#1) and Room (#2) sections getting added to the Gmail left panel. The Chat status selector (#3) is added to the left of the Gmail Support icon “?” at the top-right.


The Chat, Rooms and Meet sections are adjustable by hovering the mouse pointer just above where it spells the name and then dragging it up/down.


The following explains how to get this early access to this new Chat, how to revert back to Classic Hangouts or turn this feature off completely,

You can check the current configuration by visiting the Chat and Meet tab under Gmail settings. Here is the direct URL to that page - https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#settings/chat or you can navigate by clicking on the Gmail Settings icon > See all settings > Chat and Meet.


Under that tab, you can choose to switch between Google Chat and Classic Hangouts or even to turn Chat/Hangouts off as well as to manage the notification settings, decide on the Chat panel position and show/hide the Meet section in the main menu.

It is important to mention the fact that when Google introduces a new feature or a product, it typically goes through the following phases:
  1. Opt-in - you have the choice to start using it. Google will often suggest you try it.
  2. Opt-out - the new feature is turned on for everyone, but you have the option to switch back to the old product or turn it off.
  3. Release - the feature is turned on for everyone and can no longer be removed or be switched back to the old product.
So, the new Google Chat in Gmail may also follow this process. In that context, it is better to get acquainted with the features of this service early than be forced to learn everything at once when phase 3 begins.

What does the Hide Meet session in the main menu option do?

It hides the Meet section from the Gmail left panel. That means you will only see the Mail, Chat and Rooms sections.

You can still join your Google Meet sessions from your Google Calendar or from your Gmail or Google Meet mobile apps.

Finally, the most important question, how does it impact the Gmail left panel management?

In my opinion, it makes for a very dynamic Gmail left panel. With all 4 sections open, the left panel feels crowded with partial views and scrolling required for all of them. However, the collapsing feature for the new sections, which allows the user to hide the section details which may not be required at that point in time to focus on what's important, without missing updates in the other sections, makes for a much cleaner and functional UI.


As you can see on this screenshot below, even with all tabs closed, I can clearly see my unread status for Mail, Chat and Rooms.


In conclusion, if you have any feedback to share, do that either through the feedback option from your mobile apps or by clicking on the support "?" icon from the Gmail page, and then clicking on Send Feedback.


Comments

  1. Unknown2 July 2021 at 22:42

    I have lost my gmail: - dayasahu833@gmail.com Our device had Gmail id login. Due to some problems with the device, the device had to be reset. I know my Gmail id password. But I did not see my backup code at all, and when I login to enter my gmail account password. Then 2 verification backup codes are asked to be entered, but I am not knowing 2 verification backup codes, I appeal to you, please help me.
    There are very important numbers and documents in the account. I am very upset. Please send my backup code to my number, or turn off 2-step verification in my Gmail account. I am given a chance again from next time I will never make this mistake. You are requested to give me a backup code or remove my 2-step verification code.

    Regards,
    Daya Sahu

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Somnath2 July 2021 at 23:33

      This is not the place to post questions like yours. You can post them here https://support.google.com/accounts/thread/new?hl=en. Be sure to include the relevant details and not include personal details such as your email address, phone numbers, etc.

      Since you have mentioned performing factory reset on your device, visit https://support.google.com/accounts/thread/75668397/checklist-before-you-or-you-allow-someone-else-to-perform-a-factory-reset-on-your-device?hl=en for info on what you need to have to sign in to the account. If you don't have access to the necessary options, your attempts to reclaim the account will be rejected.

      Delete
  2. Unknown28 July 2021 at 09:27

    1 week ago i reset my android phone.

    The problem is i forgot my Google account login. I open google.com/accounts/recovery link to recover it. Provided all steps.I also remember exactly the previous password this locked account. When i entered it google ask this password is changed 52 days ago. Last remembered password i enter it correctly. Phone verification also correct. Then Google ask to send another verification to my old recovery gmail account which i already close the entire account and second gmail account is same as I want to recover it. So i choose "Try another way". Google then ask me when the locked account created, month and year which i can't remember it. i got "Google couldn't verify this account belongs to you". Thats the final step, my account still locked.

    This is very frustating. Phone number is a very private stuff. Its even more private then email recovery which someone can hack into it. I think phone verification should be enough to recover my account.

    Somebody in Google please help me to recover my account. Its my life and money, my photos backup, whatsapp backup, saved passwords, and adsense money are in this account.
    Details

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Somnath23 August 2021 at 21:59

      I wrote a checklist on what you need to ensure before you (or you allow someone else to) perform a factory reset on your device - https://support.google.com/accounts/thread/75668397?hl=en.

      Please remember that performing a factory reset automatically triggers the Factory Reset Protection feature. So, following the reset, if you do not remember the password, or have access to the necessary recovery and verification options listed in the account and/or a device through which are signed in to verify your attempt from the reset one, it may be extremely difficult, if not totally impossible for you to regain access.

      Thanks.

      Delete
  3. Dee key31 July 2021 at 20:21

    Okay I will

    ReplyDelete
  4. Miss Demeanor4 August 2021 at 22:28

    Nice blog.

    I was looking to contact you because you helped me once on a post of mine a couple years ago, and...you're actually the only person who had anything of value to say regarding my issue.

    I'll leave it at that because it looks like you're getting spammed enough. and I don't want to leave any breadcrumbs that'll show up in a search.

    I made my email visible on my profile, and I'm wondering if you could shoot me a message so I can ask this very specific question about your response.

    Thank you in advance. Feel free to delete this comment, or let me know and I will, so it doesn't draw more of the above commentors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Somnath23 August 2021 at 21:48

      Thank you so much for the positive comment and encouragement. Please let the comment remain here. :)

      Delete
  5. Barış20 October 2021 at 15:44

    We are also waiting for an article for the gmail login process. thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Somnath25 October 2021 at 07:05

      Thank you for your suggestion. The sign in process can be different based on the security options enabled on the account and also the device one is signing into. So, it is almost impossible to create a post that caters to everyone, I shall see the best I can do. :)

      Delete
  6. Wenz26 November 2021 at 06:16

    Nice

    ReplyDelete

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