Isolation is a fact: we must be confined at home in order to end the transmission of the covid-19. It can be hard, but there are tools that can help us make isolation more bearable.
If you've never tried it, now is the best time ever: group video chat gives you the opportunity to catch up with friends, family and friends without any risk of infection.
The functionality is available in a variety of applications that allow you to make group video calls, and one of the most popular right now is Google Duo.
But although Google offers the possibility to make group video calls through Duo, the support is limited to a maximum of 8 users, which makes it quite limited compared to the 32-person limit of the functionality of FaceTime group calls.
But while it could be argued that you probably don't want to chat with more than 8 friends at once, that's not the only warning from Google Duo. Although you can access Google Duo on Android and iOS smartphones as well as on the web – an advantage compared to some services – the functionality of group calls is limited only to smartphones, so keep this in mind when setting up your group chats.
With this in mind, here is what you need to do to make a group video call on Google Duo.
Video group chats on Google Duo
If this is your first time making a group call on Google Duo, the first thing you will need to do is create a group.
Create a group
The first step is to create a group with all your friends on Google Duo. To do that:
- Open the Google Duo app.
- Slide your hand across the screen to access the menu.
- Tap Create group.
- Select the contacts you want to add to the group and to the video call.
- Tap the Video call button to start the call.
- Your friends will receive a notification about the group call; just tap on that option and they will join the group Duo session.
It should be noted that you have the option to save the group after the call ends, which facilitates the creation of video conferences in the future. Just give the group a name to save and use in the future – just be aware that all group members can see the name!
Join an ongoing call
If you accidentally declined the notification to join a video call on Google Duo, don't worry, there is an easy way to join an ongoing group call.
- Open the Google Duo app.
- Swipe your hand up to access the menu.
- Under Groups, look for the Live icon, which indicates that a group video conference is in progress.
- Tap the group, and tap Join video call to join the chat.
Ah you got it! If you prefer to chat with more people at the same time, we also have tutorials on how to use group video calls in Snapchat or WhatsApp.
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