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With so many video chat apps available today, it can be difficult to keep them all straight — especially when a single company like Google offers several different apps that serve similar purposes.
2021-06-16
Introduced in 2016, Google Duo is unique from other Google video chat apps (like Google Hangouts, Google Meet, and the now-shuttered Allo) in that it's designed to be a fast and easy one-to-one video chat app like Apple's FaceTime.
But, unlike FaceTime, because it's cross-platform, Android and Apple users can video chat with one another.
Here's everything you need to know about using Google Duo.
After installing the app, follow the setup instructions by selecting your country, adding your phone number, and entering the confirmation code that will be texted to you.
Then, to make a call or send a message:
1. Open the Google Duo app.
2. On the app's homepage, swipe the contact list up and select a recipient. You can also type in a name or number at the top of the screen to quickly find someone without having to scroll through the whole list. To start a group call, click Creategroup at the top of your contact list.
Find a recipient by using the search bar or contact list.
Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider
3. Once you've selected a recipient, you can choose Video call or Voice call at the bottom of the screen to start an immediate call.
To start a call immediately, choose "Video call" or "Voice call" at the bottom.
Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider
4. You can also select Message in the bottom-right corner to create and send a Voice, Photo, Video, or Note message.
At the bottom, select a type of message to record.
Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider
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Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.
