Google Hangouts is a famous communication app to send messages, share content like files, pictures, and videos. The screen sharing and video call options in this application make it popular among its users.

The application can be installed on all operating systems and is also available on mobile phones. To make phone calls, users might need to buy monthly packages.

Yakyak is a Desktop chat client for Google Hangouts with prebuilt binaries for macOS, Linux 32 / 64 and Windows 32 / 64.

Here at LinuxAPT, as part of our Server Management Services, we regularly help our Customers to setup Yakyak chat client on your Linux Server.

In this context, we shall look into how to set up and install the YakYak Google Hangouts client on an Ubuntu 20.04 system.

Features of yakyak Desktop chat client for Google Hangouts:

Below are the top features of yakyak Desktop chat client for Google Hangouts.

1. Easily send and receive chat messages.

2. You can create and change conversations – i.e. rename, add people e.t.c.

3. You can leave or delete conversation.

4. Support for drag-drop/copy-paste or attach-button for images uploading.

5. You get notifications via the default OS notification.

6. Toggle notifications on/off.

7. Hangupsbot sync room aware (no bot name, proper user pics).

8. Show inline images.

9. Send presence/focus/typing/active client to behave like a proper client.

10. History scrollback.

11. Video/audio integration (open in chrome).

12. Focus/typing indications (mainly a design issue. keep it clean).

13. Offer alternative color schemes.

14. Translations in 22 languages so far.

How to install Google Hangouts/YakYak on Ubuntu ?

Google Hangouts cannot be installed directly on the Linux platform-based desktop, we require to use YakYak a third-party application. 

This open-source client allows users to download Google Hangouts in their systems.

Now let's proceed with the methods to do this installation and setup of YakYak.

Method 1. Install Google Hangouts using Snap package

The first method discussed will use the snap package for the installation of Google Hangouts.

Follow the steps given below.

1. Install snap package

We can install Google Hangouts using YakYak in an Ubuntu system. To do so, make sure you already have installed the snap package within your system. If you do not have the package in the system, install it before moving to the next steps. 

To do so, open up the terminal window by using the Ctl+Alt+T shortcut or you can simply go to the ApplicationsTerminal of the system. 

When opened, type this command in the terminal window of your computer system:

$ sudo apt update && sudo apt install snapd

The moment you press the enter key from the keyboard, the apt updates and installation will begin.

2. Install core

After the successful configuration of snap within the system, you need to install core of the snap. Type the following mentioned command in the terminal window:

$ sudo snap install core

Once you hit enter an output similar to the one displayed below will confirm the installation process.

3. Restart snapd services

After that, restart the snapd services by typing the following:

$ sudo systemctl restart snapd

This will restart the snapd services in your system.

4. Install YakYak

The next step is the installation of YakYask within the system. 

To do so, type the following command within the terminal window and press the enter key:

$ sudo snap install yakyak

Method 2. Download and install the YakYak deb package

The second method requires user to download the YakYak deb package.

Follow all of the steps mentioned below.

1. Download the deb package

Download the latest deb package for YakYak in your system from the link. 

Download the highlighted deb package by clicking on it.

A dialog box will appear.

Click on Save File option then press the OK button.

Once the deb package is saved, you need to access the Downloads directory. 

Type this command in the terminal window:

$ cd Downloads

Then list all of the downloaded files in the system. For this, use the command mentioned below:

$ ls

The deb package will be listed.

2. Install the deb package

Now, you have to install YakYak using the command given below:

$ sudo apt install ./yakyak-1.5.9-linux-amd64.deb

The system will ask for the password of the user, provide it, and then press the enter key to proceed.

How to access YakYak application ?

Once the application is installed in your system, go to the Applications and type YakYak, the application can now be seen in the available options.

Double click on it.

The Google Account will ask for the credentials. If you already have an account, then proceed by providing the user credentials, otherwise, you need to create an account.

How to uninstall Google Hangouts / YakYak from Ubuntu ?

To uninstall YakYak from the system, type the following command in the terminal window:

$ sudo apt remove yakyak

As soon as you press the enter key, the system will ask for the password of the logged in user.

This way, users can smoothly uninstall the application from their system based on their necessity.

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