ChatDock – Notifications, Unread Badge & Popup Window for Google Chat

Google Chat alerts and unread count with no Chat tab open, plus a small Hangouts-style chat window. Unofficial, no servers.

Google Chat in Chrome without keeping a Chat tab open: an unread count on the toolbar, desktop alerts in the background, and one small chat window in the corner of the screen, like a desktop app. If you miss the old Hangouts extension for Chrome, this is the closest thing to it. WORKS IN THE BACKGROUND • The toolbar button shows how many messages are waiting, and turns grey when you are signed out. • Desktop notifications for new messages arrive even when no Google Chat tab is open, with the sender's photo and the latest lines. • One alert per conversation: a quick run of messages updates the same alert instead of stacking up. • Direct messages can stay on screen until you dismiss them, and Chrome's taskbar icon blinks when Chrome is in the background. • Starts with Chrome, and alerts keep arriving after you close all Chrome windows (when Chrome's "Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed" setting is on). • Your own alert sounds for direct messages and for spaces, or none. No alerts for emoji reactions (optional). • Mute a person or a space right from the alert, or pause all alerts for an hour, 4 hours or until tomorrow morning. • Optional on Windows: an icon in the system tray with the unread count (a small free helper, installed separately). A HANGOUTS-STYLE CHAT WINDOW • Click the button and Google Chat opens in a small popup window in the corner of the screen. Click again to hide it. • Every conversation opens in that one window, so only one copy of Google Chat runs and memory stays low. • Clicking an alert opens that conversation at once, already loaded. • Google Chat links from Gmail, email or other pages open in the ChatDock window instead of another tab. • Closing the window keeps a ready copy, so it opens again instantly. • Optional classic look: a green title bar, a conversation list with "New conversation", a column of round photos to switch conversations, and message cards. • The window sits in the bottom-right or bottom-left corner, in the size you choose. HOW TO START 1. Install. The options page opens: choose your Google account and the look. 2. Click the ChatDock button to open Google Chat in the small window. 3. Right-click the button to open Chat in a normal tab, reconnect, pause alerts, or open the options. It uses the Google Chat you already have: the same account, conversations and spaces as Chat in Gmail or on your phone. Works with personal Google accounts and Google Workspace. In English and Hebrew. PRIVACY ChatDock has no servers, no analytics and no ads. Your messages and account details never leave Chrome and Google Chat. Settings are kept in Chrome's own storage. ChatDock is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Google. Google Chat, Gmail and Hangouts are trademarks of Google LLC.