Google Chat is a communication tool that allows you to send messages to individuals or groups. Google Chat Spaces, a feature within Google Chat, offers virtual spaces where teams or groups can communicate, share files, and manage tasks related to a specific topic or project.
This article covers the following topics:
To use Google Chat, make sure you're logged into your St. Edward's University email account. You can access Google Chat in a few ways:
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From Google Email: Look for the Chat icon (often a speech bubble) below the Mail icon on the left side of your Gmail screen.
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From Google Apps (on a computer): Click the 3x3 square grid icon in the top right corner of any Google page, then select "Chat" from the list of apps.
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On a Mobile Device: Download the free Google Chat app from your device's app store (App Store for iOS, Play Store for Android).
Spaces help you organize conversations and work with others.
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To view the contents of a space, click on the space name (e.g., TLTR in the example below).
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Chat will display the message stream, allowing you to read, post or reply to messages.
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Shared will list any files or links shared in the space.
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Tasks show any assigned tasks.
If you have been directly added to a Google Chat Space, the space will appear in your list of spaces. The space owner may also share the URL for a space with you. Tip: To join a space within your organization through a link sent to you (if you have not already been added), click the link Request to join. Your username, email address, and avatar are shared with the space manager once they receive your request.
To find and join existing Spaces from Google Chat:
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In the "Spaces" section on the left side of Google Chat, scroll to the bottom of the list.
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Click on Browse Spaces.
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You'll see a list of available Spaces. You can search or filter this list.
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If you're already a member of a Space, you'll see "Joined" below its name.
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If a Space is open for new members, you'll see a Join button next to its name.
Everyone in a Space can post, react to, and reply to messages.
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Send a message to the whole group: Type your message in the main conversation window at the bottom of the screen.
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Reply to a specific message (create a thread): Hover over a message and click the "Reply in thread" icon. This keeps related conversations together.
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Go to Google Chat.
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Select a space.
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To reply to a message, hover over the message and on the right, click Reply in thread.
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Tip: If a thread already has replies, you can click the message to open the thread panel.
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In the thread panel to the right of the space, enter your message in the message window at the bottom.
1. Click the A to open the formatting menu.
2. Click the Upload icon to upload files or images.
3. Click the Send button to post your reply.
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To clarify that a message is replying to an earlier message in the main chat window or in a thread, hover over the message and on the right, click Quote in reply.
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The first few lines of the previous message will be included at the start of the reply.
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Click on the previous message excerpt to jump to the full previous message.
To get someone's attention or include them in a conversation, use an @mention:
How to @mention someone:
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Start typing your message.
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Type "@" followed by the person's name (e.g., @janeSmith).
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Google Chat will suggest matching contacts from your list as you type.
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If the person isn't already in the conversation, you'll have the option to either mention them (they’ll get a notification) and add them, or just mention them.
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Once you've mentioned the person, complete your message and send it.
To quickly see only the messages you haven’t read:
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Move your mouse to the right of Spaces
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Click on the Unread Messages filter (which looks like a toggle switch).
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The button will turn blue with a checkmark and the only unread messages will appear.
Pinning a Space means you're attaching it to the top of your chat list. This makes it easily accessible and ensures you can quickly find important discussions without having to scroll through all your other spaces.
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Open Google Chat and Locate the Space: Find the Space you want to pin in your list of conversations.
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Click More Options: Hover your mouse over the Space name. Click on the More options icon (three vertical dots) appear to the right of the Space name.
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Select Pin: From the drop-down menu, click on Pin.
The Space will immediately move to the top of your Spaces list. If there are unread messages in a pinned Space, a small dot will appear next to its name.
You can "star" important messages to easily find them later. To find starred messages, go to the "Starred" shortcut.
To Star or unstar a message
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On your computer, open a conversation or space in Google Chat.
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Hover over a message you want to star.
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Click the More icon and then select Star.
To find your starred messages
You can search for a specific contact or keyword and also filter your search results by @mentions, images, links, file type or contact.
To search within a specific Space:
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In Chat, select the space you want to search.
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At the top right, click the magnifying glass to “Search in this chat.”
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Enter your search text.
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Click on a result to open it.
To narrow your search results
If you don’t immediately see your desired result, use the Search filters to narrow your search.
You can filter by
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Spaces
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Date
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File type
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Links
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@mentions
You can control when and how you receive notifications from Google Chat and individual Spaces. Note: Space notifications must be set for each individual space.
To set up notifications for Chat
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Click on the Active button in the top menu.
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In the menu, you’ll see options to set “Do not disturb” to mute all chat notifications or “Set as away.”
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To see all settings, select Chat Notification Settings from the menu.
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On this screen, you can
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Turn off or on all desktop Chat notifications
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Change the sound for notifications (including to None)
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Choose to receive email notifications of direct messages or @mentions
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Set up "Do not disturb" times to temporarily disable notifications during specific hours or on specific days.
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Click on the 3 dots to the right of a Space Name.
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From the menu, click on Notifications
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You can set notifications to
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None: No notifications from this Space
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For you: Only get notifications of @mentions and replies to threads you follow,
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Main conversations: Get notified of new messages in the main conversations and replies to threads you follow
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All: Get notified of all new messages and threads.
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If a topic isn’t interesting to you, select Mute conversation, which will move the conversation to the bottom of your list and italicize the name.
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Click on Save.
When you follow a thread, you'll receive notifications for new replies or mentions within that specific thread, even if you don't have "All" notifications turned on for the entire Space.
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Open the Space: Go to the Space that contains the thread you want to follow.
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Access the Threads Panel: In the top right corner of the Space, click on the "Threads" icon. This will open a panel on the right side of the screen listing all the threads in that Space.
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Find the Thread: Scroll through the list of threads to find the one you want to follow.
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Click "Follow": Click the "Follow" button next to the thread.
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You can also follow a Thread while you are reading it. Click on the Follow link at the top of the thread.
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From the "Threads" Panel: In any Space, open the "Threads" panel by clicking on the Threads icon. Any threads you are following in that space will be marked as “Following” and will appear at the top of the list.
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From "Home": On the left sidebar of Google Chat click on "Home". Select the Thread button from the top menu to see all your followed threads across all your Spaces.
