How to make calls and video calls directly from the Gmail app

Gmail is an application well known by users, since it is the one that many people use to send and receive emails every day. But it can also be used for other tasks such as voice or video calls, as we are going to see right now.

Although we have used the Gmail application on our mobile device as our main tool to send and receive emails, the truth is that it can have other types of possibilities that are also extremely interesting.

We already know all its virtues as our favorite program to manage all the emails that arrive and that we send, having a good number of faculties in this sense, working really very well, especially when there is a high volume of receiving and transmitting emails.

Well, we are also talking about an application that allows us to make voice or video calls to any other person, a co-worker, a family member or a friend, to give you some examples.

This is a service that is offered through the chat function that is integrated into the program, and can even call a mobile, landline or VOIP number, in addition to the calls and video calls that we have already talked about.

We can find all this in the Gmail application that is valid for both phones with the operating system Android or iPhoneswhich have iOS as the main operating software, as you well know.

Another positive thing is that not only will it serve us as strict video calls, but we will also be able to apply effects, backgrounds, or filters to it to what we are broadcasting, something that will give a touch of personalization and a more fun appearance to the video.

This voice and video calling feature is available for Google Workspace, G Suite, and personal Google accounts. Being able to perform individual calls, but not group.

If we want to execute this type of calls, we must use Google Meet, an application that can be accessed from Gmail, although it requires that a link to the meeting be sent to the other participants.

This shows that it is faster to make calls or video calls direct than those that encompass several people.

Voice calls and video calls with Gmail

If we want to use the Gmail application to make voice or video calls, the first thing we will have to do is download the application for our operating system.

Those users who have Android on their terminal, almost certainly, will already be installed, but if not, it can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.

If we have a device with iOS or iPadOS, we can also install it from the AppleStore.

Once we have it on our smartphone or tablet, it’s time to find out how we can use it to have voice or video calls with whomever we want.

The steps to perform are the following:

• The first thing we have to do is open the app and enable the chat icon if we don’t see it in the bottom toolbar.
• To do this, we touch the icon of the three vertical stripes in the upper left and immediately select Settings.
• At that moment we click on the account in which we want to enable Gmail chat.
• Now we look for the tab that says General.
• Once we have found it, we will see that it appears as the first option chatmoment in which we must activate Show chat tab and spaces.

• When we have done this, we should return to the main Gmail screen and observe that we have the chat icon at the bottom with an image of a speech bubble.

• If we touch this icon, the first thing that will ask for permission to handle calls.
• Once you have the relevant permissions, if we want to call someone and we do not have any previous history, as would be normal, we will have to click on new chat.
• Now all we have to do is write the name or email address of the person we want to call.

• The contact screen displays a phone icon and a camera icon at the top.
• We touch the phone icon to make an audio call. The moment the other person answers, everything will be exactly the same as when we make a lifelong call.
• As soon as we finish, to hang up we must click on the red button and Gmail will immediately ask us to rate the quality of the call.
• If we want to execute a video call we must press the camera icon.
• Once the other person has answered, both can see each other and talk directly from each of the terminals.

• But not only can we do that, but if we click on the button with three vertical dots on the bottom right of the screen, we can access other options, such as the exchange messages, share the screen or show subtitles.
• We can also give it a touch of originality and click on the Effects icon on the thumbnail of the video we’re streaming. From there, we can apply background images, filters or other effects to the broadcast of our video. We will be able to explore the different effects that they offer us, to select the one that we like the most for that specific moment.

As you have seen, Gmail is not only used to manage all our emails, but it will also be useful to make calls and video calls to co-workers, friends or family.

It is extremely interesting to have another alternative to execute video calls, something that became very fashionable after the pandemic that we all had to suffer, since both at work and in personal relationships it was the closest thing to having the rest of people next to us.

Gmail joins other applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram, FaceTime, Skype, Zoom or Jitsi to offer the user another way to make voice calls or use video to communicate between people.

You can tell us on our social networks what you think about this Gmail function. We want to know if you knew it, if you are going to use it or, if you have already tried it, what your sensations and experience have been.