Send and receive text messages in Gmail

Culture
Molly Wood shows you how to enable and use the SMS feature in Gmail chat.
[ Music ] ^M00:00:03 >> Hi, I'm Molly Wood from CNET.com, here with a quick tip on how to send and receive text messages from Gmail chat. Now, this feature comes to you from Google Labs that's actually not enabled by default, but it's super handy for those times that you know someone is not at their computer and you can certainly type an SMS on your keyboard faster that you can on your phone. Okay, so here's what to do. In Gmail click settings up here in the top right corner. You'll be in the general menu. So from the links at the top click Labs. Now there are ton of features here to choose from, but let's just scroll down or do a find for SMS. Now, click the Enable radio button here and then click save changes at the bottom. Okay, now head over to the Google chat menu on the left side of your inbox. Start typing the name of the contact and you'll see a new option here that reads, Send SMS. Click it and if you don't have a phone number for that contact just enter it and click save. Then a little chat box comes up and you just type a message and hit Enter and then here is the best part. The person can respond by text message and when they do, it will show up right here as if you were just chatting. There you have it, even more ways to communicate in Gmail. Enjoy. For CNET.com I'm Molly Wood and you're welcome. ^M00:01:12 [ Music ]

Up Next

Perform a factory reset on your Chromecast
Quick Tips: Perform a factory reset on your Chromecast

Up Next

Perform a factory reset on your Chromecast

Use a USB device to install PS4 updates
Use a USB device to install PS4 updates

Use a USB device to install PS4 updates

Stream PS4 games on the PS Vita
Stream PS4 games on the PS Vita

Stream PS4 games on the PS Vita

Setting up parental controls on the PS4
Setting up parental controls on the PS4

Setting up parental controls on the PS4

Schedule Do Not Disturb in iOS 7
Quick Tips:

Schedule Do Not Disturb in iOS 7

Samsung Galaxy S4 navigation secrets
Quick Tips:

Samsung Galaxy S4 navigation secrets

Hide embarrassing or private Facebook activity
Quick Tips:

Hide embarrassing or private Facebook activity

Access hidden Netflix streaming settings
Quick Tips:

Access hidden Netflix streaming settings

Boot directly to the desktop in Windows 8.1
Boot directly to the desktop in Windows 8.1

Boot directly to the desktop in Windows 8.1

Tips and tricks for using less data on iOS 7
Tips and tricks for using less data on iOS 7

Tips and tricks for using less data on iOS 7

Tech Shows

One More Thing
one-more-thing

One More Thing

All Things Mobile
all-things-mobile

All Things Mobile

What the Future
what-the-future

What the Future

Beta Test
beta-test

Beta Test

Expert vs. AI
expert-vs-ai

Expert vs. AI

Cover Story
cover-story

Cover Story

Latest News

What to Expect From Apple in 2025
241219-site-apple-products-coming-in-2025-3

What to Expect From Apple in 2025

Everything We Expect in Gaming in 2025
3

Everything We Expect in Gaming in 2025

Tech to Expect in 2025: Samsung Headset, iPhone 17 'Slim' and More
opt-1-clean

Tech to Expect in 2025: Samsung Headset, iPhone 17 'Slim' and More

I Got an Inside Look at Apple's iPhone 16 Audio and Video Labs
apple-lab.png

I Got an Inside Look at Apple's iPhone 16 Audio and Video Labs

Humanoid Robots to Watch in 2025
opt-2-r-clean

Humanoid Robots to Watch in 2025

Sony Walkman: New vs. Classic Models Compared
walkman-03

Sony Walkman: New vs. Classic Models Compared

Top Green Tech to Watch in 2025
green-tech-thumb

Top Green Tech to Watch in 2025

Bid Farewell to the Tech That Died in 2024
241219-site-tech-that-died-in-2024-1

Bid Farewell to the Tech That Died in 2024

Sora AI Video Generator Walkthrough Tutorial
Sora AI Video

Sora AI Video Generator Walkthrough Tutorial

Meta Ray-Bans Live Translation and Live AI Demo
scottmetaraybansdemo

Meta Ray-Bans Live Translation and Live AI Demo