How to Chat in Gmail

This wikiHow teaches you how to chat with a contact through Gmail chat on a computer.

Steps

  1. Image titled Chat in Gmail Step 1
    1
    Open Gmail. Go to https://www.gmail.com/ in your computer's web browser. This will open your Gmail inbox if you're logged in.
    • If you aren't logged into Gmail, enter your email address and password when prompted.
  2. Image titled Chat in Gmail Step 2
    2
    Find your chat name. You'll find your name and email address listed toward the lower-left side of the page; this is the chat section, which is where you'll be able to select people with whom to chat.
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  3. Image titled Chat in Gmail Step 3
    3
    Click ＋. It's to the right of your chat name. Doing so opens a pop-up menu.
  4. Image titled Chat in Gmail Step 4
    4
    Select a contact. Click a contact's name in the resulting pop-out menu, or type in a contact's email address or phone number and then click their name in the resulting drop-down menu.
    • If the person's name doesn't show up after searching for them, they probably aren't in your contacts. You'll need to add them to your contacts before you can chat with them.
  5. Image titled Chat in Gmail Step 5
    5
    Enter an invitation message. In the text box near the top of the chat window, type in a message (e.g., "Hi! Please add me to your chat contacts.") that you'd like to use to invite your contact to chat with you.
  6. Image titled Chat in Gmail Step 6
    6
    Click Send Invite. It's a blue button at the bottom of the chat window.
  7. Image titled Chat in Gmail Step 7
    7
    Wait for the contact to accept your request. Once the person accepts your chat request, you'll be able to proceed.
  8. Image titled Chat in Gmail Step 8
    8
    Chat with your friend. Once your friend accept's your request, you can click ＋ and then click their name to begin chatting with them. Their chat window will open in the far-right side of the page.
    • If you close the chat window, you can always re-open it by clicking the person's name in the chat section on the left side of the page.
  9. Image titled Chat in Gmail Step 9
    9
    Initiate a group chat. Click the ＋ icon, then enter a contact's name, click their name when it appears, repeat until you've added the people you want for your group, and click
    Android 7 Done
    in the top-right corner of the pop-out menu. This will allow you to chat with multiple people at once.
  10. Image titled Chat in Gmail Step 10
    10
    Use Gmail to make a voice call. If you want to call a local number (e.g., not an international line) without using your phone, you can use Gmail's chat feature to make the call:
    • Click the phone-shaped icon below the chats section.
    • Type in the phone number you want to call.
    • Click Call [number] in the resulting drop-down menu.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Someone is sending invitations to me but I am not able to see them. Where will those invitations be stored?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    They are not stored anywhere. You have to enable the chat settings to be able to see the invitations.
  • Question
    Where are the chats stored?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Select "Other" on the side of your inbox and then select "Chats." This is where your previous chats are stored.
  • Question
    How do I enable chat on settings?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Press the Settings icon in Gmail, select Settings from the menu that drops down, select Chat on the ribbon and click Enable chat.
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Warnings

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About This Article

Jack Lloyd
Written by:
Jack Lloyd
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jack Lloyd. Jack Lloyd is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. He has over two years of experience writing and editing technology-related articles. He is technology enthusiast and an English teacher. This article has been viewed 255,987 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 16
Updated: November 1, 2019
Views: 255,987
Categories: Gmail
Article SummaryX

1. Go to Gmail.com.
2. Click + next to your chat name.
3. Select a contact.
4. Enter an invitation message.
5. Click Send Invite.
6. Click your friend's name to start chatting.

Did this summary help you?
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