Hangouts Not Working

To be fair with Google Hangouts, Skype also has its problems. But it is Google Hangouts that Keyquery publishers have tried for several years and have largely been unable to use for staff meetings with remote users. Just when we think we have solved all the problems, something else goes wrong. So we feel the pain of our readers in this case, and that is why we ask video conferencing expert Christopher Null how to cure five of his most notable headaches. Did we miss a Hangout Hangout that your hellish life is doing? Let us know in the comments.

1. Hangouts does not work in Internet Explorer from the Windows 8 start screen

Sorry, Metro fans! Start your browser from the Windows desktop to use Chrome.

If you are using the Start screen to start Internet Explorer, Hangouts may simply not work. This is because Hangouts requires an add-in to work in IE, and the full-screen version of the Metro-style IE does not allow any add-ons. To avoid this, you have a couple of options. You can run IE in Desktop mode when you start it from the desktop instead of the Start screen, and then install Hangouts, or you can simply switch to another browser.

2. If you run Hangouts on multiple devices, Hangouts sends notifications to everything that is running, causing an alert overload

Avoid the flood of notifications by closing the Hangouts application or logging out.

If you have Hangouts open on your desktop and on your phone simultaneously, notifications will appear on both devices, even if you are not actively involved with one of them.

Unfortunately, this is a known issue with Hangouts. It is a pain for some users, while other users prefer it to work this way.

If you receive too many notifications, there are some solutions available. First, you can log out of Hangouts on devices or browsers that you don't want to receive notifications from, or close the application completely.

On Android devices, you have some more options. You can use Menu> Postpone notifications to suspend alerts on that device. Notifications can also be suspended indefinitely by user by selecting the settings icon in a Hangout window and unchecking the Notifications box there.

3. Photos sent through Hangouts through MMS taken in portrait mode rotate automatically and become landscape photos.

This is a specific issue related to Hangouts on certain Android phones when images are sent through MMS. Many users report that the problem is erratic and that deleting the application data from the Android Application Manager can help, at least on some occasions.

The most reliable solution is not to use the camera inside Hangouts to take photos, but to take photos separately, using the standard Android camera. When you attach photos of portraits from your photo library, they appear to appear with the proper rotation intact.

4. Video calls do not work

While there are many potential reasons why Hangouts won't start a video call, these are some of the most common troubleshooting tips.

First, the Chrome browser does not require a plug-in for Hangouts to work ... unless your company uses Google Apps, in which case you will still have to install the Hangouts plug-in to make video calls. It's also a good idea to install the Chrome Hangouts application, which adds Hangouts to the Chrome Application Launcher, where you can start a new video call.

Keep in mind that Hangouts does not support a handful of webcams, microphones and audio devices. Assuming this is not your problem, be sure to select the correct audio equipment in the Hangout setup menu. To find this menu, start a new video, then click on the settings icon. Hangouts may work better if you select specific devices for each of the three options instead of "Default."

Finally, in general, restarting your browser and / or your computer is also a good solution for any problem related to video within Hangouts.

5. The Hangouts browser plug-in will not be installed (or will disappear)

Can't install the Hangouts plugin? First, make sure you are not running 64-bit Internet Explorer, since the add-in is not compatible with this browser. If you use Chrome, check chrome: // plugins / to see if the Google Talk plug-in is installed and enabled. (The name is a remnant of the previous incarnation of Hangouts).

You can also try to uninstall this plug-in (instructions can be found here) and reinstall it.