Desktop Client for Google+ and Hangout

Question

Is there any app that I can use to do Google Hangout from within my Ubuntu Desktop like Skype?

Also, How can I integrate Google+ account with Ubuntu?

https://github.com/xmikos/qhangups. For some strange reason I cannot post an answer. — marczellm, Mar 03 '15 at 16:40
In order to help/ease the search process you could add some other tags like `google-hangouts` or `gtalk` — Paulo Oliveira, Mar 27 '15 at 09:36
Pidgin has a hangouts plugin that is usable it isn't amazing but it gets the job done. i.e. the libpurple-hangouts addon. — ScottZ, Apr 06 '16 at 23:32
gmail has a chat interface to hangouts. Works reasonably well. — Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen, Oct 20 '16 at 14:37

score 43 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 19 '13 at 19:43

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There is currently no desktop native app for Google Hangouts. As far as I am aware all usage for Google Hangouts is done through a web browser.

answered Jun 19 '13 at 19:43

Frai7ty

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The hybrid desktop-plugin + browser combo provides the desktop style experience, as noted in several of the other answers. Specifically, William Hilton's and Dean Rather's. – starlocke May 26 '14 at 16:05
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For all those who look at my answer, the one below by lacexd is now the most accurate. You can get it here http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/hangouts/ – Frai7ty Nov 23 '14 at 19:10
Technically, yes, though if you have Chrome installed and allow it to run in the background, then you can have Hangouts running without any browser windows open. – It's Willem Jun 01 '15 at 17:32
only one issue, each hangouts window - it is chrome window, so i have alot problem with window focus on hangouts. it is always catch focus when i pres Alt+ tab and choose chrome – Yevgen Kulik Jun 09 '15 at 16:08

score 37 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 12 '20 at 14:37

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How to install Google Hangout:

Go to the Google+ Hangouts page and click in the Download Plugin button.
Then you will see a list containing options with binary files, this page will read your system information and select automatically the best option for you. Click in the Download Link button and save the file in your computer.
When the download is complete, open the file (double click over it).
It will be open with the software-center, click in the Install button. If it request for your password, enter it.
The installation will start there and, in the Progress label you will see a progress bar.
After a seconds the install will end and you will see the status of this applications as Installed.

Now, in the previously visited download page, you will see that it's installed on your system and you can start to use Google+ Hangouts!

web_confirmation

edited Jun 12 '20 at 14:37

Community

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answered Feb 26 '13 at 04:14

Lucio

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Its again browser based. I was looking for a desktop app. Anyway, thanks for your help. Is it possible to use `Hangout` like `Skype`, I mean like a desktop app? – TheKojuEffect Feb 26 '13 at 16:07
Oh, well.. I did never see that it could be used like an app. Let see if someone knows if its possible. And, when you say *integrate Google+ account with Ubuntu* do you mean like [this](http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/07/google-unity-launcher) or how? – Lucio Feb 27 '13 at 20:12
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Possibly adding the account the same way you'd add a facebook or twitter account to Online Accounts to use G+. @TheKojuEffect Why don't you make it a Web App?. – Uri Herrera Feb 27 '13 at 20:23
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@UriHerrera I'm agree with you. Also, the OP could install the [Gnome Gmail](https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/applications/gnome-gmail/) and/or [Gmail Notify](https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/applications/gmail-notify/). – Lucio Feb 27 '13 at 20:32
Does this need Chrome? It won't open for me – It's Willem Jun 01 '15 at 17:38
In the time, I tested this on Firefox as you can see by the screenshoot. No idea the current status. – Lucio Jun 03 '15 at 00:13

score 24 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 19 '13 at 06:27

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The instructions listed are good, but if what you are looking for is the desktop version of Hangouts, then I recommend installing the Google Chrome extension. Go to http://www.google.com/hangouts/ and click the "Available for your computer" link at the bottom. Despite being a Chrome extension, it makes Hangouts live in their own windows outside of the browser.

answered Jun 19 '13 at 06:27

William Hilton

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And due to it being a Chrome extension, it requires Chrome constantly be running (that's bloat right there), will crash with Chrome, etc. – Jan 19 '14 at 22:35
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This is a good option, and I use it now. But the main problem I have is that I'm used to running a chat client like Pidgin, so ideally Hangouts would integrate with that. +1 nonetheless. – nicorellius Nov 06 '14 at 20:02
At the moment, the link is called **For your computer**. – Viacheslav Rodionov Apr 28 '15 at 07:34
Running Chrome as a background app does not make it bloatware if you are already using Chrome as your default browser. It's more like a service that allows you to launch lightweight apps instead of each plugin running as a standalone app. – Michael Yaeger Dec 13 '16 at 20:19

score 20 · Answer 4 · edited Feb 18 '16 at 17:24

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they made a desktop client for hangouts. its still a chrome extension but if you allow running chrome in the background hangouts will run like a standalone hangouts app. enter image description here

It can be tricky because there are two hangouts apps in the chromewebstore.

edited Feb 18 '16 at 17:24

RolandiXor

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answered Oct 20 '14 at 13:05

lacexd

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This is very close to what everyone is wanting. You can close Chrome (the browser window) and this will still run just fine. In addition, you can pin (lock) it to your launcher, and launch it independently of Chrome. Pretty cool. – nicorellius Nov 06 '14 at 20:09
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Finally, something I can get behind. How they just need to get rid of that white background. – Frai7ty Nov 16 '14 at 10:06
this white background is very annoying... – lacexd Nov 17 '14 at 16:34

score 6 · Answer 5 · answered Nov 16 '13 at 05:51

Is there any app that I can use to do Google Hangout from within my Ubuntu Desktop like Skype?

Try using Jitsi...

https://jitsi.org/Main/Download

You can use your google account and also make video calls to your friends from the list. Also, if the other person is using jitsi client, the calls can be encrypted. I tried this today with my friend who had a google account and was using jitsi. The performance was decent. Please try with some one who has a google account but not the jitsi client and let me know. I have not tried the video conference feature yet.

For the second question i have no answer as of now :(

Does it work with group chat? – Ken Sharp Apr 01 '14 at 14:14 — Ken Sharp, Apr 01 '14 at 14:14
Not a bad option, but it's java based... very slow to load. – elboletaire Oct 15 '14 at 13:31 — elboletaire, Oct 15 '14 at 13:31

score 4 · Answer 6 · answered Jun 22 '13 at 19:21

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You may use empathy as your Hangouts client for Google chat :-) I'm just using like that. simple n lovely. just Hangout smiley faces are missing which i think you can fix that with plugin (if someone made that)

answered Jun 22 '13 at 19:21

Mansoor

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Empathy, as far as I know, does not support group hangouts. It's more than just the hangouts emoji missing. – Jay Oct 07 '13 at 18:52
Yeah unfortunately the group chat doesn't work. It's fine for individual conversations but this is a sorely missing feature. – Ken Sharp Apr 01 '14 at 14:13

score 4 · Answer 7 · answered Feb 03 '14 at 06:01

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Google offers their own Ubuntu client, it's pretty good.

http://www.google.com/hangouts/

It is kind of a Chrome hybrid, in that it does require Chrome to be running, but does create its own Desktop windows.

answered Feb 03 '14 at 06:01

Dean Rather

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It's a Chrome app so Chrome continues running in the background, along with some of the awful plug-ins that are sadly necessary. It does work with group chat, however. Annoyingly, though, it cannot be maximised. – Ken Sharp Apr 01 '14 at 14:14
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Chrome is black-hole for memory usage, so I always avoid using Chrome or it's apps. I only use chrome just because of Postman app. – Ashwani Agarwal Oct 31 '15 at 07:29
now its a tab without installation. i like it very much – Aryeh Beitz Jan 11 '17 at 08:38

score 4 · Answer 8 · answered Mar 31 '14 at 20:21

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Take a look here Hangouts extension It adds a button to chrome and tray icon. Good luck

answered Mar 31 '14 at 20:21

Sergey Ponomarev

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score 4 · Answer 9 · answered Jun 20 '16 at 05:45

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YakYak

Cross platform desktop client for hangouts built in electron

Download

answered Jun 20 '16 at 05:45

Tachyons

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i've had problems with it lately. also the lack of PPA is troubling – Aryeh Beitz Jan 11 '17 at 08:38

score 2 · Answer 10 · edited Dec 23 '17 at 00:02

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You can try Franz, which is an app based on Electron. It lets you add a Google Hangouts account (and many other popular instant messaging platforms).

edited Dec 23 '17 at 00:02

Eliah Kagan

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answered Jun 20 '16 at 05:49

edwinksl

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Desktop Client for Google+ and Hangout

10 Answers10

How to install Google Hangout: