What you need to know
- The original Google Meet app officially runs on Android devices.
- A pop-up invites users to download the latest version, which has new features such as reactions and direct calls.
- The original app has been removed from the Play Store, so no one can download it or find any information about it anymore.
The original Google Meet app reportedly no longer works completely on Android smartphones.
The original Google Meet app, formerly Hangouts Meet, debuted in April 2020. In 2022, Google also switched the name of the Duo app to Meet. To clarify things, the company labeled the first version as “original” and shifted its focus to the new Meet, which attracted a larger group of users.
However, with two Google Meet apps running, things are starting to get a little messy. So Google sent a warning to users of the original app, urging them to uninstall it and switch to Meet, formerly Duo.
Google chose to retire the original Meet app, giving users enough time to get used to the changes. Former users will be directed to download Meet, which has evolved from Duo and been rebranded.
According to 9to5Google, the original Meet app is now officially retired. Users will be prompted to download the latest version. The old app pop-up introduces the new Meet and introduces fun features like reactions and the ability to call other Meet users.
Android Central also confirms that Google has taken the initiative to remove the original Meet app from the Play Store, meaning users will no longer be able to download it or find information about it.
Considering that the new app has over 5 billion downloads, it makes perfect sense to retire the old app, which only had 500 million downloads.
Additionally, retiring the original Meet app is not an easy task for Google as they are committed to making newer, more popular versions even better.
