Starting November 1, 2022, Google Hangouts on web will begin redirecting to Google Chat on web and Hangouts will no longer be available.

What does this mean for End-Users?

In February 2022, Google had announced to make Google Chat the default chat application by turning on the “Chat preferred” setting for any customers who hadn’t already done so.

Since March 2022, Hangouts mobile apps, Hangouts in Gmail web, and the Hangouts Chrome extension have been redirecting to Chat. Starting November 1, 2022, visiting Hangouts on web will redirect you to Chat on web. This change is not optional.

Here are some additional changes to expect as part of this update:

Searching for Hangouts and Chat messages in Gmail

• Currently, when a Gmail user performs a search, they find results for Hangouts and Chat messages in two places—under the Mail taband under the Messages tab (previously displayed as Chat & Spaces tab).
  Starting November 1, 2022, Gmail users will only find results for Hangouts and Chat messages under the Messages tab.
• After January 1, 2023, all Hangouts and Chat search results will be removed from the Mail tab in Gmail. However, any messages under Vault retention or holds will continue to be available for admins in Vault.

Exporting Hangouts and Chat data

• Currently, Hangouts and Chat messages are available in the Data Export Tools for Hangouts, Chat, and Gmail (for admins).
• Starting November 1, 2022, interoperability between Hangouts and Chat will be turned down. As a result, new Chat messages will no longer be available in the Data Export Tools for Hangouts and Gmail. They will only be available in the Data Export Tool for Chat.
• After January 1, 2023, Hangouts data will be deleted. Hangouts and Chat messages will no longer be available in the Data Export Tools for Hangouts and Gmail. Old Hangouts data that is already available in Chat, will be available in the Data Export Tool for Chat.
• If your organization uses Vault, you can find and export Hangouts and Chat messages in Vault search results for Hangouts, Chat, and Gmail. Also, if your organization uses Vault, starting November 1, 2022, we recommend searching for Hangouts and Chat messages under Chat only.

Other changes

• Data Export Tool: Starting January 1, 2023, customers won’t be able to use the Data Export Toolto download Hangouts data and users will no longer be able to use Hangouts Takeout. Note that Data Export Tool for Chat for Google Chat does not include user’s messages from group conversations created by users from other organizations.
• Starting November 1, 2022, the Gmail API will no longer produce new Chat messages.
• The Apps Monthly Uptime Dashboardwill not list Hangouts starting November 1, 2022.
• Starting January 1, 2023, Hangouts data will be unsupported for Domain Transfer.