• Up to 150 people can participate in a Google Hangout, though a video call is limited to 25 participants.
  • The 10 participants who are currently most active on a group Hangout will be displayed at the bottom of the Hangout screen.
  • People can join a Hangouts session via Gmail, the Hangouts mobile app, the Hangouts site directly, and with a Chrome extension.
  • Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

With Google Hangouts, a large group of people can be connected despite the distance and via multiple different types of hardware.

A Hangouts session can consist of chatting, audio calls, live video, or a blend of all these options.

Video Hangouts calls can be shared by up to 25 people, while as many as 150 participants can come together for a text-based meeting.

To start a Hangouts session with a group of people from your computer, follow these steps.

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How to start a Google Hangout

1. Go to https://hangouts.google.com on your Mac or PC.

2. Click on the Contacts icon at the left side of your screen.

How many people can be in a Google Hangout

Foto: You can save a group you create in Google Hangouts for quick access later. Source: Steven John/Business Insider

3. Click "New conversation," then click "New group."

4. Add each contact you want included, then click the checkmark icon to create the group.

You will now have a text Hangouts window created. At the top of that window is a camera icon which can be used to initiate a video call with the group.

During a Hangouts call, you can add new participants by sending an invite via the icon with a plus symbol (+) beside a little person.

How many people can be in a Google Hangout

Foto: You can invite people from this window. Source: Steven John/Business Insider

On mobile, you can start a Hangout by tapping the plus symbol in the green circle at the bottom right of the app, and then reach out to a single contact or create a group. The plus symbol person icon can also be used to add people to the session in real time when using the app.

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