How to use Google Duo, the video chat app that works like FaceTime for iOS and Android

• Google Duo is a free video chat app that lets you send video or voice calls and messages.
• Google Duo is available on the web and as an app on iPhone, iPad, and Android phones and tablets.
• Duo has features like "Knock Knock," which lets you see a video of the caller before you accept.

With so many video chat apps available today, it can be difficult to keep them all straight - especially when a single company like Google offers several different apps that serve similar purposes.

Introduced in 2016, Google Duo is unique from other Google video chat apps (like Google Hangouts, Google Meet, and the now-shuttered Allo) in that it's designed to be a fast and easy one-to-one video chat app like Apple's FaceTime.

But, unlike FaceTime, because it's cross-platform, Android and Apple users can video chat with one another.

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Here's everything you need to know about using Google Duo.

How to use Google Duo

First, you'll need to install Google Duo for iPhone or Google Duo for Android.

Note: Some Android models - such as Pixel, Nexus, and Android One phones - now come with Duo preinstalled, like FaceTime on iPhones.

After installing the app, follow the setup instructions by selecting your country, adding your phone number, and entering the confirmation code that will be texted to you.

Then, to make a call or send a message:

1. Open the Google Duo app.

2. On the app's homepage, swipe the contact list up and select a recipient. You can also type in a name or number at the top of the screen to quickly find someone without having to scroll through the whole list. To start a group call, click Create group at the top of your contact list.

Quick tip: Your contacts who use Duo will appear at the top of the list. Those who don't will appear at the bottom - tap Invite next to their name to draft an invitation message.

3. Once you've selected a recipient, you can choose Video call or Voice call at the bottom of the screen to start an immediate call.

4. You can also select Message in the bottom-right corner to create and send a Voice, Photo, Video, or Note message.

What you can do with Google Duo

Google Duo has a number of notable features, including:

• Wi-Fi calls or cellular network calls: The app automatically switches between your cellular network and Wi-Fi, and when your connection allows, it will use the highest quality video available - 720p HD on most devices and 1080p HD on the Samsung Galaxy S20 and above.
• Voicemail: If the person you're calling doesn't answer, you can leave a video message for them.
• Messages and calls: You can record short voice or video messages to send to select contacts, and you can choose to make audio-only calls as well.
• End-to-end encryption: All messages and calls on Duo are end-to-end encrypted, which provides an added layer of security.
• Special effects: During video calls, you can add augmented reality effects to your face, similar to Instagram. With Family mode, you can create on-screen doodles to share with others on the video call.
• Knock Knock: The Knock Knock feature lets the recipient of a call see a live preview of the caller before accepting the call - so you can see who is calling you, what they look like, and even where they are before you choose to answer. Google also provides the ability to turn off Knock Knock if you prefer not to use it.
• Group calls: Duo supports group calls of up to 32 people worldwide.