What is Google Hangouts and why it is still found on Xiaomi
If you own a Xiaomi smartphone (especially the 2018-2022 model), you might have noticed in the list of pre-installed apps Google Hangouts — messenger from Google, which has not been updated or advertised by the company. Why is it still “live” on some devices Redmi, Poco or Mi, and whether it should be used in 2026?
Google Hangouts was launched in 2013 as a universal platform for messaging, video calls and even corporate correspondence. However, since 2020, Google has gradually “curtailed” the project: first moved the functionality to Google Meet and Google Chat, and then completely closed support for ordinary users.
In this article, we will discuss:
- 🔍 What exactly does Hangouts do on your Xiaomi (and why it can’t be removed)
- 📱 What Xiaomi models are still working on (spoiler: few of them are left)
- ⚙️ How to set up Hangouts if you suddenly need it (for example, for work correspondence)
- ⚠️ Why You Should Not Use It: 3 Critical Reasons
- 🔄 How to replace Hangouts with Xiaomi in 2026 (5 best alternatives)
Google Hangouts vs. Google Meet vs. Google Chat: What’s the difference?
Many users confuse Hangouts with other Google services, especially after the company shared its functionality.
| Service | Principal appointment | Available on Xiaomi? | Supported in 2026? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Hangouts | Universal messenger (text + video calls) for personal and corporate use | Yes (on old models) | No (only for Google Workspace) |
| Google Meet | Videoconferencing (analogue of Zoom) | Yes (via browser or app) | Yes. |
| Google Chat | Corporate chat (replacing Hangouts for business) | Yes (for work accounts only) | Yes. |
| Google Messages | SMS and RCS-Messages (alternative to Hangouts for personal communication) | Yes. | Yes. |
On Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI 12-14 Hangouts can appear as “Google Hangouts” or “Hangouts Meet” – these are the same app, just with different names depending on the firmware version.
If you see a Hangouts icon on your Redmi Note 10 or Poco X3, but can’t sign in, chances are you have a stripped-down version for Google Workspace that only works with corporate accounts (for example, if your company uses Gmail for business).
What smartphones Xiaomi still has Google Hangouts
Hangouts was pre-installed on Xiaomi devices from 2018 to 2021 as part of Google’s service package, and can now be found on the following models (unless they received a global MIUI update after 2022):
- 📱 Xiaomi Mi 9, Mi 9T, Mi 10, Mi 10T
- 📱 Redmi Note 8, Note 8 Pro, Note 9, Note 9S, Note 10
- 📱 Poco F1, Poco X2, Poco X3, Poco F3
- 📱 Xiaomi Mi A2, Mi A3 (Android One lineup)
On newer devices (Redmi Note 11, Xiaomi 12, Poco X5 and later), Hangouts is missing initially. If you see it on a fresh model, it’s likely the remnant after manually transferring data from an old phone or installing it via APK.
⚠️ Attention: Starting with MIUI 13 Google Hangouts has disappeared from the official list of pre-installed apps.If it's on your smartphone with MIUI 13+, So you either upgraded to save data or you installed it manually, and in both cases, the application won't update and may not work smoothly.
How to check out the Hangouts version on Xiaomi?
How to use Google Hangouts on Xiaomi in 2026: Step-by-step instructions
If you need to start Hangouts (for example, to contact colleagues who still use it), follow this instruction. Please note that personal Google accounts (@gmail.com) are no longer supported - only the enterprise Google Workspace will work.
Make sure that Xiaomi has MIUI 12 or older installed
Update Google Play Services to Settings → Apps → Google Play Services
Connect to your Google Workspace account (not your regular Gmail!)
Check your internet connection (Hangouts requires a stable connection)-->
Step 1 Authorization
Open the Google Hangouts app. If it's not on the menu, check the Google folder or search the system.
- Select Log in to the account.
- Enter your corporate account details (e.g. your name@your company.com).
- Confirm access if you need two-factor authentication.
Step 2: Set up notifications
To avoid missing messages:
- Go to Hangouts Settings → Notifications.
- Turn on the option to display notifications.
- Select sound and vibration (on Xiaomi, also check the permissions in Settings → Apps → Hangouts → Notifications).
Step 3: Video calls
Hangouts supports video communication, but with reservations:
- 🎥 It only works between Google Workspace users.
- 🔇 Xiaomi may not have a microphone – check the permissions in Settings → Confidentiality → Application authorizations.
- 📶 Requires high-speed internet (3G Not enough, you need 4G/Wi-Fi).
💡
If Hangouts isn’t sending messages, try clearing the app’s cache in Settings → Apps → Hangouts → Storage → Clear the cache. This often solves sync issues.
3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Use Hangouts on Xiaomi
While the app can still be launched, there are good reasons to drop it:
- Lack of support for Google officially shut down Hangouts for personal accounts in November 2022: ❌ No security updates (risk of data leakage). ❌ No new features added. ❌ Technical support does not respond to requests.
Problems with MIUI
On Xiaomi Hangouts, it conflicts with MIUI optimizations:
- 🔋 The application can be arbitrarily closed due to auto-cleaning memory.
- 🔔 Notifications are delayed or not coming at all.
- 📱 On some models (Poco) X3, Redmi Note 9) Hangouts incorrectly displays the interface.
- Even for corporate communication, there are more modern and secure tools (see the next section).
⚠️ Note: Removing system applications through ADB It can lead to unstable work. MIUI, Especially if Hangouts is integrated with other Google services!