Earlier this year, Google launched a new Google Chat standalone app. The app is a Progressive Web Application (PWA), which provides the ability to use Chat on any desktop device with the Google Chrome web browser.
Once installed, the app integrates with your device’s operating system to function like a built-in app (similar to the previous Electron-based Chat desktop app). The new app interface is the same, and all of your previous Chat history is preserved and accessible. To learn how to install the new app, see Google’s Install the Chat standalone app documentation article.
The new Chat app works on Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, and Linux devices. You must have Google Chrome version 73 or higher installed on your device to run the new app. (Enter chrome://version in your Chrome browser to find the version.) Additionally, the app is kept up to date with Chrome, so there is no need to update the app separately as you would with other built-in apps.
Important items to note:
- Chrome doesn’t have to be your default browser to use the app.
- The Chrome browser needs to be open to use the app.
- After the previous Chat app is disabled in January 2021, it will remain inactive (and unusable) on your device until you uninstall it.
- You can continue to access Google Chat via:
- The built-in interface within Gmail on the web.
- The Google Chat website (chat.google.com).
- The Google Chat mobile apps for iOS and Android.
To learn more about Google Chat at U-M, visit: