How To Test Camera In Google Hangouts

Given the ongoing health crunch and the need for social distancing, it'due south no surprise that there's been a huge surge in the utilize of video conferencing apps. Be it for work or to keep in touch with friends and family, Google Hangouts — in its classic form likewise as Hangouts Encounter for business — remains a popular option for many. Unfortunately, like whatsoever app or software, Hangouts has its fair share of problems. We take a look at some common issues that users have come up across and workarounds to prepare them.

Common Hangouts issues:

1. Can't send messages

Sometimes letters only can't seem to get through. Y'all could exist getting a scarlet error icon with an exclamation mark whenever you try to send a message. If you ever see this issue, there are a few things you can try.

How to set up message error problems:

Check to make certain y'all are connected to the internet, whether you are using data, Wi-Fi, or a physical connexion.
Endeavor signing out and in of Hangouts.

Encounter likewise: Zoom vs Google Hangouts: See which is improve for your needs

2. No notification sound when receiving a message or call

OnePlus Nord notification shadw holding the phone

Ryan-Thomas Shaw / Android Potency

Users aren't getting notification sounds when receiving a message or a call on Hangouts and accept missed of import messages because of this bug. People have come beyond this issue on both smartphones and on the PC or Mac when using the Hangouts Chrome extension. If you lot're seeing this problem on a smartphone, there's a simple workaround that seems to take worked for many.

How to fix notification sound consequence on Google Hangouts:

Open up the app and tap on the three vertical lines icon at the tiptop left corner.
Tap on Settings and and so the primary account proper noun.
Under the Notifications section, select Messages and open the Sound settings. You might accept to first tap on Avant-garde to get to it.
The notification sound may be set to "Default notification sound." If that's the case, open up this section and alter the alert tone to something else. You should now become notification alerts equally expected.
To set the trouble with incoming calls, repeat the aforementioned steps later on going to the Notification section and selecting Incoming calls instead of Messages.

Unfortunately, a similar workaround isn't bachelor if yous're facing this problem on a computer. Some users have found that simply removing and reinstalling the Hangouts Chrome extension seems to do the play a joke on.

iii. The camera isn't working

Sony Xperia 1 II macro of back cameras at angle

David Imel / Android Potency

Quite a few users are facing this problem where the laptop or PC camera isn't working during a video call. The app unremarkably gets stuck on the "photographic camera is starting" message. At that place are a bunch of workarounds that have worked for different people. Unfortunately, some continue to face up this upshot and the just real option is to wait for a software update.

How to set up camera issues during a Hangouts video call:

Fixes for camera issues have been a recurring part of virtually Google Chrome updates. Some have constitute that updating the browser to the latest version has helped.
A few users are facing this trouble because their PCs or laptops accept two graphics cards, both integrated and discrete. For example, if you have an Nvidia graphics card, open the Nvidia command panel and become to 3D settings. Select Chrome and enable Nvidia High-Performance GPU. Switching to the Nvidia graphics bill of fare seems to work.
Along the same lines, ensure that your video drivers (even if you don't have two graphics cards in your system) are updated.
A lot of users have found that Chrome is the culprit. It's not very convenient, but simply using another browser works. Firefox only supports Hangouts Meet and not the archetype extension anymore though. In the case of the latter, you will have to employ Microsoft Edge.

iv. Google Chrome causes sound and video issues

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Audio and video problems occur with whatever video chat app and Hangouts is no different. If you've faced such issues when using the Chrome extension, it might exist because of other extensions you lot've installed.

For instance, some users plant that while they could hear others on a call, no one could hear them. If you lot have a lot of extensions installed, remove them one by one to see if the upshot goes away. Unfortunately, y'all'll accept to choose between Hangouts and that extension if information technology turns out to be the cause of this trouble, until a software update is available.

In some cases, users have found that the mic and audio stop working five minutes into a call. Restarting the call just fixes the problem temporarily. This issue is caused by the Chrome browser and a future software update should address it. Some users have plant that switching to Chrome Beta does the flim-flam likewise.

Run into as well: The best video conference apps for your phone

v. Browser freezing when you share screen

Many users have faced this issue. Imagine trying to share your screen to evidence someone what you are seeing in a web browser only to find out the web browser has frozen for an unknown reason. This can happen for a plethora of reasons, but it's most commonly a video/audio driver or adapter trouble. You can try updating your drivers.

To update your drivers on Windows go to Get-go > Device Manager > Display Adapters > Update Driver.

6. A light-green screen replaces video during a call

Some users have complained nearly seeing the video replaced with a green screen during a phone call. The audio remains stable and usable, just neither party can see the other. This problem is but seen by people using Hangouts on a calculator. Luckily, in that location's a workaround bachelor that has worked for nearly.

How to solve the green screen issue during a Hangouts video call:

Open up the Chrome browser. Tap on the 3 vertical dots icon at the meridian right corner and open the Settings folio.
Gyre downwards and click on Advanced.
Scroll downwards and search for Employ hardware acceleration where available and disable this feature.
Alternatively, or if yous're using a Chromebook, blazon chrome://flags into the Chrome address bar.
Scroll down or search for Hardware-accelerated video encode and disable information technology.

A lot of users take come across this trouble recently on a Mac. It seems similar a Mac Os update has caused the trouble, and the only option may is to await for a software prepare.

7. Guide: How to articulate app cache and data

Clearing the app enshroud, information, and browser cookies is a good beginning pace for general troubleshooting. You tin solve a lot of Hangouts problems by doing this.

How to clear Hangouts cache and data on a smartphone:

Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > All apps. Proceed in listen that the steps mentioned may be dissimilar depending on the phone you have.
Whorl down or search for Hangouts and tap on it.
Tap on Storage & cache and and then select both Clear storage and Clear cache i afterwards the other.

How to clear the cache and data on Chrome

Open up the browser and click on the three vertical dots icon at the elevation right corner.
Go to More tools > Articulate browsing data.
Yous tin can choose a time range, but information technology might be a good idea to select All fourth dimension.
Check the boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
Click on Articulate data.
In this instance, you're clearing cache and data for the Chrome browser and non just the Hangouts extension. You might have to re-enter passwords and log in to certain sites again.

eight. "Trying to reconnect" error

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authorization

There'southward a mutual effect in which sometimes Google Hangouts shows a consequent "Trying to reconnect" error message.

How to fix "Trying to reconnect" error:

Bank check to brand sure y'all are connected to the internet, whether yous are using information, Wi-Fi, or a physical connectedness.
Try signing out and in of Hangouts.
Make sure these domains aren't blocked by the administrator:
- *.client-channel.google.com
- clients4.google.com

Ready it to the lower setting if the Internet connectedness is poor or you desire to save data. Users may not see the best video, but the audio will be stable and the video won't lag or be choppy.

Read also: What to do if your telephone won't connect to Wi-Fi

9. Hangouts not working on Firefox browser

Mozilla Firefox Preview Android Authority website photo on the Honor View 20.

If you are having Google Hangouts bug with Firefox browser, you lot are non solitary. In fact, this is the but problem that has no existent solution. Plainly, Firefox has stopped supporting certain plug-ins required to utilise Google Hangouts. Your only solution would be to download a supported browser like Google Chrome.

10. Can't install Hangouts plugin

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authorization

Wondering why you are seeing an image of a Windows computer? That'south because those using Chrome don't demand a Hangouts plugin. And as mentioned above, Firefox is not supported by Google's messaging service. The available plugin is only for Windows computers, but sometimes people have issues trying to get information technology working. It may simply not function, just some users get a recurring message telling them to re-install the plugin. Hither are some fixes yous can effort!

How to install Hangouts plugin on Windows:

Download and install the Hangouts plugin. So make sure it's enabled past going to going to Cyberspace Explorer > Tools (gear icon) > Manage add-ons > All add together-ons, find the Hangouts plugin and plow it on.
If you lot're using Windows viii, turn Desktop Way on.
Check your browser's extensions and plow off whatsoever that employ "click to run".
Refresh the browser page.
Quit and re-open your browser.
Restart your computer.
Download and use the Chrome browser, which doesn't require a plugin.