Google Chat, formerly known as Google Hangouts, is a great platform for both private and group chats, and even creating dedicated ‘Spaces’. If you’re a frequent user of any chat platform, you’d know that sometimes, you just need to save a specific message for later. It might be an important reminder, a useful list, or a sweet message you want to keep. Google Chat doesn’t have a ‘star’ option like some other platforms. Instead, it uses ‘forwarding’ to save important texts.
With Google Chat, you can send important messages straight to your Gmail inbox. This will save the message, along with any context, right in your inbox where you can keep it safe. Plus, you’ll get an email notification to make sure you know it’s there. From there you can also star that email for extra emphasis if required. Let’s explore how to forward messages to your inbox on both your computer and smartphone.
Method 1: Forwarding Messages on a Computer
To forward a message on your computer, find the message you want to save. When you hover over it, you’ll see a smiley face and an envelope icon with an arrow on the far right end of the message. This envelope icon is the ‘Forward to inbox’ button. Click on it.
You’ll then get a brief notification that says ‘Forwarding’ at the bottom right of your Google Chat window. After a moment it will change to ‘Message forwarded to inbox’.
That’s it, the message is now in your inbox!
Method 2: Forwarding Messages on Your Smartphone
The process is also really easy on smartphones, though it differs slightly.
First, locate the message you want to save. Tap and hold the message, which will open a context menu. From this menu, select the ‘Forward to inbox’ option.
Just like on your computer, you’ll see a ‘Forwarding’ notification at the bottom of your screen and it will quickly update to ‘Message forwarded to inbox’.
Your message has been successfully sent to your inbox.
Finding Your Forwarded Messages
If you have email notifications turned on for your smartphone, you’ll likely get a notification immediately when a message is forwarded. If you have email notifications enabled and loud on your computer, you might hear them there too.
Just log into the Gmail account you use for Google Chat. The forwarded message will be at the top of your inbox, since you are effectively emailing yourself the message.
You can even star the emails that contain these messages to give them extra attention.
The method to find these messages is the same on both your computer and phone.
And that’s it! Now you know how to save messages in Google Chat for easy access later. Though it works differently than a simple ‘star’ system, it’s just as effective.