RIP Hangouts, Google’s Messaging App You May Have Forgotten

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what happened to Google’s Hangouts app, we have good news and bad news for you. The good news is that Hangouts isn’t going anywhere, as long as you’re looking at it from the desktop version of Google’s services, or from an Android device running Lollipop or higher. The bad news? Hangouts is no longer available to iOS users or those on older versions of Android who haven’t taken advantage of an upgrade yet.

By techen Last updated Apr 4, 2022

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The death of Google+

The closure of Google+ comes amid concerns over its handling of data as well as a security bug that could have exposed user information. The social network—which launched in 2011 to rival Facebook and other networks—never gained momentum with users or advertisers. Plus, it was built on Circles and Sparks and not just communities. It’s a sad day for all who used it but maybe best to close it down before more scandals emerge.

What it was supposed to be

With more than 10 million users on board and an impressive array of features, Hangouts started out with a lot of promise. The multi-platform messaging app was supposed to be all things to all people—or at least those who used Google’s suite of products. But like many other endeavors in techland (we’re looking at you Wave), it never really took off.

The dark side of messaging apps

While it’s easy to install an app like Messenger and WhatsApp—and I know it’s tempting to use them just because they seem easier than SMS (who doesn’t want that?)—those apps aren’t better alternatives. Many carriers block messages sent through third-party messaging apps (like Facebook Messenger), so you won’t be able to communicate with certain people—and you could also end up paying data charges while your texts go unanswered.

Competing with Facebook Messenger

A new app has appeared on all of our mobile devices that says, Hi! I’m Allo and I’m here to compete with Facebook Messenger. The voice command is not entirely wrong. The app does look very much like Facebook Messenger and delivers similar messages with a few bells and whistles added to make it stand out from other messaging platforms. Will it succeed? Let’s take a look at how different Allo really is compared to other messaging apps available right now.

The end of Messenger

Back in April 2016, Facebook announced that it would be sunsetting its Messenger app. In just a few months, users will no longer be able to log into their Messenger app as of March 3rd and will instead have to download Facebook’s main social media app. So why is Facebook going through all of these trouble?

Alternatives to google hangouts

If you’re worried about going from video calling to plain old phone calls on your new device, don’t be. Some of our top alternatives for video chatting include Skype and FaceTime (if you have iOS devices), Duo (an Android app that works best with newer versions of Android phones) and Facebook Messenger. IMO is a free messaging app that also includes group chat features and end-to-end encryption. While it isn’t an official competitor to Google Hangouts or WhatsApp, it does offer many similar features.

Do we need to uninstall hangouts?

If you don’t use hangouts and are wondering if you should uninstall it, it’s time to think long and hard about whether it’s worth keeping or not. If you do not use hangouts at all, then I would recommend removing it from your phone as soon as possible to save space for apps that you actually want on your device. This will also help prevent battery drain and save on data when text messaging people outside of hangouts.

Conclusion

Hangouts is no longer available to iOS or those on older versions of Android. Hangouts is still available if you’re looking at it from the desktop or from an Android device running Lollipop or higher. Are you still using hangouts? Do comment to answer.