How to Detect if a Gmail ID Is Online

You can chat with your friend online within Gmail

Gmail is a free popular email service provided by Google. Gmail maintains a list of contacts you've communicated with. You may also chat with your contacts online within Gmail. Inside the Chat module of your Gmail application, you may see a list of your frequent contacts. A small icon appears next to each contact name to indicate if the contact is presently online. If you would like to see other contacts not on the Chat list, you will need to invite them first.

Things You'll Need

• Gmail account

Instructions

How to Invite Your Contacts to Chat

1. Type your contact's name in the Search box inside the Chat module. A box opens up below the Search box with the details of your contact.

2. Click on "Invite to Chat," and your contact will appear in your Chat list with a grayed out "Invite" next to the name.

3. Wait for your contact to accept your invitation to chat. Once your contact has accepted your invitation, a status icon will appear to the left of your contact's name in the Chat list. A green status indicates the contact is online and available.

Tips & Warnings

• Gmail automatically places your frequent contacts in your Chat list without your needing to invite them. You can disable this functionality in your Gmail settings for Chat by selecting "Only allow people that I've explicitly approved to chat with me and see when I'm online."

References

• Google Chat: Who Can See When I am Online?
• Google Chat: Inviting Someone to Chat
• Google Chat: Gmail Automatically Invite Some Contacts