Android Police suggested a few temporary fixes for the chat glitch reported by users in the latest Google Hangouts 4.0. Many hope and expect that Google will soon fix this issue along with other bugs in the next Hangouts update.
Before the chat issue, an earlier bug was reported that made it hard to send MMS messages through Hangouts. Yet, another problem arises as Google receives reports and complaints from users who cannot chat with friends because of a bug in the system.
Neurogadget reports that the chat glitch prevents users from using chat under specific conditions. All Google accounts linked to Hangouts should be signed into which is technically impossible. A person using the app may still receive and reply to messages but will not be able to log in to or launch the app.
This problem has already reached Google since August 13 but the tech giant has still not offered the right fix for it. While waiting for Google's response, Android Police has suggested a few temporary solutions to go around the bug.
An apparent and effective solution for now would be to downgrade to Hangouts 3.3. This lets users keep their existing accounts without much loss. The app's automatic updates should also be disabled so that it will not go back to Hangouts 4.0.
Users can also try to remove the blocked account, only if the account itself is not that important. However, one can also try to activate Hangouts in the problematic account with Admin access. This is considered a much safer method than deleting the account since it does not require too much sacrifice on the part of the user.
If the device is running on Android M preview, one can try disabling the AppSync which can be found on the blocked account's settings page. However, only a few people have established that this method is effective.
Yet, a user can wait for Google's next Hangouts update which will likely include a fix for the chat bug. Google might also throw in additional features to make the app more efficient.
Hangouts 4.0 is the latest update to Google's instant messenger app. It runs on Android Lollipop up and features a new material design with a clean user interface according to The Next Web. The update also runs faster and has the capacity to consolidate several accounts.
Hangouts 4.0 for Android is available for download on Google Play Store. Users are advised to think twice before downloading the said app because of various bugs associated with it.
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