Google Hangouts for Android tips and tricks

While Hangouts still feels like a work in advance's, despite everything it Google's primary informing program crosswise over Android, iOS and the web. It can now deal with your SMS messages also, and there are signs its going to assume a major part in Google's Project Fi arrange once it takes off all the more broadly. Here are our Google Hangouts for Android tips and traps.

To help you get more from this broadly functional, cross-stage informing project, we've set up together an accumulation of the best tips and traps for the application on Android — read on to figure out how to nap notices, blend your SMS messages, shield your record from outsiders and that's just the beginnin

Hide sensitive content

If you're using Hangouts on Lollipop then anyone who gets hold of your phone might see snippets of new conversations on the lock screen. To stop this from happening, go to Settings, tap Sound & notification then choose App notifications — choose Hangouts then toggle the Sensitive switch.

Add SMS capabilities

You can use Hangouts as your default SMS client on Android if you wish to, with text messages mixed in with standard IM conversations where applicable. From the app menu choose Settings, SMS and tap the top option to activate the feature (a confirmation dialog appears on screen too).

Change who can contact you

Trying to get your head around you can send you a Hangout isn't always easy — there's probably a message icon on your Google+ profile, for example. Go to Settings, tap your email address then choose Customize invites to decide who can message you directly and who can only invite you to chat.

Snooze notifications

There might be times when you don't want to be disturbed by Hangouts conversations — if you're heading into the cinema, for example, or about to go to sleep. From the main app menu, tap Snooze notifications and you can choose a 'do not disturb' period from one hour to three days.

Set up the widget

The Hangouts home screen widget might look fairly ordinary but it's a handy way of being able to view your conversations and check up on any new messages without opening up the app. As usual, tap and hold on a blank area of the home screen, choose Widgets and then tap Hangouts.

Send messages to your circles

Hangouts is tightly integrated with Google+ on mobile and the web and one way you can take advantage of this close union is by sending out a message to all of the contacts in one particular circle. Open the messages tab, tap the plus button (top right) and then start typing the name of a circle.

Delete messages as you go

By default, Hangouts keeps a copy of all your messages, which can prove helpful. If you'd rather clear up after yourself, delve into one of your conversations, tap the menu button (three vertical dots) and choose Turn history off. Messages are erased automatically after a certain time period.