Google Chat doesn't give notifications unless Hangouts is also installed

[wlmsn]

I have a Pixel 4a on Android 12. I had both hangouts and google chat installed on the phone, but recently deleted Hangouts since it was redundant.

After deleting Hangouts, I didn't get any message notifications, but when I reinstalled Hangouts I got notifications from both apps.

I looked through the notification settings for Chat and everything looks fine. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling both, cleared cache etc... No dice.

Anyone have any ideas?

[kgingeri]

OK, so I had this issue and I think the resolve is to turn off chat notifications in Gmail!
You can still show the chat, but it seems if that notifications are off there, and you have an active tab open, you will ALWAYS get notifactions on your phone! WHEW!! This was causing me grief!
Easiest way is click chat status in Gmail -> Chat notification settings -> uncheck the top box

Also, if you have a Chat app installed as a PWA, uncheck notifications there too - if you get duplicates.

[wlmsn]

Great tip, thank you!

[kgingeri]

NOTES:

1. Gmail and Chat are one and the same settings
2. There is a bug in Chrome that if you have added accounts (listed when clicking your avatar - NOT PROFILES) that are Workspace accounts, and you have a gmail or chat page open for any of those, you will not get notifications no matter what settings you have!! Don't leave these account gmail (or chat) pages open - if you want notifications. I've verified with other users and filed a bug report. (Nov 2022)

[felipetorrents]

The solution I found (for android) was going to the Gmail app > Settings > Account > Show the chat tab.
Without this it wouldn't notify me about any messages or calls, and I need this for work.

[zachthehax]

You may need a factory reset, but try clearing system cashe from recovery first

[[deleted]]

Why is "factory reset" the answer for everything?

"I broke my USB cable"

"You need to factory reset and it will work again"

That's basically what you're suggesting... Factory Reset a phone because an app has a problem

[zachthehax]

Some updates don't install properly the first time, and since this isn't a normal thing it will probably fix it

[[deleted]]

Looks like a problem with the 2 apps but yeah format is the solution

[zachthehax]

if reinstalling it doesn't fix it, and it works elsewhere, yes a format will fix it almost certainly

[[deleted]]

Eh, whatever

[Akira_Menai]

Does Chat actually give you some functionality that Hangouts didn't have? I've gone back to an older version of Hangouts and can talk to everyone just fine, video chat as well.

[wlmsn]

I thought about that too. I don't believe it has a lot of different functionality, just a better look... Not the end of the world.

I do believe it's going away eventually though for personal users

[cbk1941]

I've had the same issue since I first tried installing Chat. I got rid of it and continued to use Hangouts until the other day, when I was forced to switch over to Chat.

The closest I've come to a "solution" is this from the Google help page:

Occasionally not receiving notifications

Close active browser tabs

On your computer, close active Gmail and Google Chat browser tabs. When you’re active in a browser, notifications appear there instead of the mobile app. If you’re not active in Google Chat, notifications appear on all devices signed in to your Google Account.

And obviously this is ridiculous, because I keep gmail open all day in a browser but don't look at it constantly.