Google Hangouts is a key feature of Google+. If you are not using Hangouts already, you are missing out! Maybe you haven’t yet joined Google+. Well, if you do have a Google account, then joining Google+ is a matter of seconds. Or maybe you haven’t quite figured out how to use it. This is where this article comes in. Once you get the hang of it, you will want to use it more often.

Google Hangouts is a key feature of Google+. If you are not using Hangouts already, you are missing out! Maybe you haven’t yet joined Google+. Well, if you do have a Google account, then joining Google+ is a matter of seconds. Or maybe you haven’t quite figured out how to use it. This is where this article comes in. Once you get the hang of it, you will want to use it more often.

Join Google+

Point your browser to Google Plus and log in with your Google account. Unless you have already joined Google+, you will be offered to upgrade your account and create your public Google+ profile.

Start a Hangout

Fortunately, Google recently redesigned Google+ and made it easier to find stuff. With the new design came a left-hand sidebar, which shows you where you are on Google+.

You can start a Hangout from both the Home page and the Hangouts section. In both you should see a Hang out button in the right-hand sidebar.

After clicking that button, you may have to install the Google+ Hangouts browser plugin first. This sometimes causes problems, but should only take seconds. If you are using Google Chrome, you won’t even have to restart your browser.

Once you are really ready to start your hangout, you’ll see a page with all your friends on the right, a list of people you are inviting and the option to name your hangout on the left, your voice, camera and other settings in the top right, and your present webcam picture at the bottom.

Note that you can also call someone using Hangouts by switching to the Telephone tab on top. Once you have added everyone, simply click the Hang out button and your chatroom will be created. (altro…)