You can now make Google Duo video calls with up to 8 participants – Here’s how

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Google Duo can now support up to eight participants in a video call – if you’re using the mobile app. This new functionality comes as part of a bunch of new updates to Duo, as Google moves away from using Hangouts for video calling.

That mobile-first approach means that Google Nest Hub users, or webapp users, won’t have 8-way video calls at launch.

How to add up to 7 more people to a video call on Google Duo

If you want to start a group call on Duo, follow these steps:

• Open Google Duo on your mobile device and click Create Group near the bottom
• If they’re in your Contacts list and signed up for Duo, they’ll show up and you’ll see a check box beside their name
• If they’re not in your contacts, you can add them to the call using their full phone number (including country code)

What else is new?

Eight-way video calling is cool, but that’s not the only new trick coming to Google Duo.

• There’s a new Data Saving mode coming for some regions, including Indonesia, India, and Brazil. Turning on Data Saving will reduce both your consumption and the amount of data the person you’re calling is using. Google says this feature will roll out to more countries over time.
• You can now edit the Video messages left instead of voice ones if the person you’re calling isn’t able to answer. Edits include the ability to draw on the video, add text or emojiis

All video calls, including the 8-person ones, are secured with end-to-end encryption for your privacy.

I wonder if Google is going to have to drop the “Duo” name, now that it can support more participants?

What do you think? Do you see yourself ever using Google Duo’s new 8 person video call functionality? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Joe Rice-Jones

Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek with nearly half a decade of blogging experience at KnowTechie, SlashGear and XDA Developers. If it runs on electricity (or even if it doesn't), Joe probably has one around his office somewhere, with particular focus in gadgetry and handheld gaming. Shoot him an email at joe@knowtechie.com.