Bored? Curious who else is around? Whether you're at home or out traveling, Hangouts are your way to say "I'm free right now" and find other members nearby who want to do something too. Here's the full scoop.
What Is a Hangout?
A hangout is a real time thing you turn on whenever you're up for meeting people. Say what you're feeling like doing, and members nearby can ask to join in.
How Do I Start a Hangout?
On mobile:
- Tap the Hangout button in the top right corner of the Explore
or Events
page
- Choose what you want to do, like Up for Anything, Chill Outside, Explore Nearby, Go Out, Grab Food, or Watch a Game
- Want to get specific? Add a note under Anything Specific? (totally optional)
- Let us know if you're flexible on where to meet or already have a spot in mind
- Tap Join Hangouts and you're live
We never share your exact location unless you add a specific spot yourself.
Hangouts is a mobile only feature right now. If you click the Hangout button at the top of the Events page on the web, we'll show you a QR code so you can grab the mobile app and get going from there.
Where Do I Find My Hangouts and Ones I Can Join?
On mobile:
- Tap the map icon
- Tap the Hangouts tab
- Look under Your Hangouts to manage the one you started
- Look under Hangouts to Join to see what's happening nearby
- Tap View Map to see everything plotted out instead
How Do I Ask to Join a Hangout?
On mobile:
- Tap the map
- Tap the Hangouts tab
- Tap a hangout under Hangouts to Join that looks fun
- Tap Ask to Join
- Want to say hi first? Add a message, up to 1,000 characters
- Tap Send
Someone already in the hangout will need to give you the thumbs up before you're officially in.
Can I Change My Hangout After I've Started It?
Yep! You can add or update details anytime.
On mobile:
- Tap the map icon
- Tap the Hangouts tab
- Under Your Hangouts, tap Edit
- Add a location, add a time, or update what you're up for
- Save your changes
What Happens After I Ask to Join?
The people already hanging out get notified and decide whether to let you in. The second someone new gets the green light, a group chat pops up so everyone can start planning where and when to meet.
What's the Difference Between Leaving a Hangout and Leaving the Chat?
Leaving the hangout means you're out of the activity, but you're still part of the group chat if one's going. Leaving the chat is the full exit, you're out of everything.
Heads up: if you're the last person to leave the hangout itself, it wraps up right away and can't be restarted. The chat sticks around until everyone in it has left.
Can People See My Exact Location When I'm in a Hangout?
No. Your pin shows up near your actual location, not at it, so other members can tell roughly where you are without ever seeing your exact address or coordinates. You're only visible to other members who have also joined a hangout themselves.
While you're in a hangout, other members can see a preview of your profile: your photo, name, a short bio excerpt, your interest tags, and what you selected as your activity. They can message you from your profile, but you're never required to respond, and you can block anyone at any time.
A Couple Things to Know:
- You'll need an active membership to join a hangout.
- Your profile needs to hit our profile completeness bar before you can join in.
- No group chat pops up until a second person joins, so flying solo means no chat yet.
- Joining a hangout requires your device's location permission to be turned on. Leave the hangout anytime to take your pin off the map.
Need more help? Get in touch. You can also reach us anytime through Settings → Contact Support.