Google Calendar recently added a new “feature” so that every new event is by default a video call. Defaulting to a video call encourages the use of a Google+ Hangout, which is what Google wants.
Of course most calendar events are not video calls, so now for every event you create, you also need to remove the video call or else attendees will think the meeting is a video conference.
In the announcement “New Google Calendar events will now have a Hangout video call link“, Google claims this change will reduce confusion. I think it increases confusion.
Disable Google Calendar Default Video Call
In Google Apps
If you use Google Apps, only the administrator for your organization can change this setting.
1. Open the Google Apps setting for calendars.
2. Turn off the automatic video calls option.
In Gmail
If you use Gmail, you can change this setting yourself.
1. In Google Calendar, select Settings.
2. Turn off the automatic video calls option.
You might need to log out and in to your account for this setting change to take effect.
I agree that it increases confusion. I got sick of manually removing it, and looked up instructions for disabling.
Thanks for the help. Google really wants you to think the way they do. I do not like that.
I know this is an article from June of 2014, but I just found it today, October 14, 2014. I just wanted to say that I appreciated the quick instructions for turning the automatic video link off in Google Apps! That was annoying and confusing for sure.
Thanks to the team at Swamp-Side Studio for pointing that out!
This was driving me crazy. Thanks so much for publishing this!
Thank you for this! Some meetings started late for me a few times as it was confusing to attendees.
I don’t have that option “automatically add video…” This is so annoying. I just want it off of my phone so when I add a new calendar event it doesn’t always link to some video hangouts that I don’t even have. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
If you use Google Apps, only the administrator for your organization can change this setting.