Google Duo's fate takes an unexpected turn, but hold your horses before getting too excited!
Google has granted Duo a temporary reprieve, pushing back its demise by a few months. Originally scheduled for a September 2025 shutdown, the video calling app now has a new lease on life until January 2026. But here's where it gets controversial: this extension might just be a temporary stay of execution.
In 2022, Google merged Duo into Meet, its video calling platform for Workspace accounts. This move was typical of Google's approach, leaving users with multiple similar apps to navigate. So, when Duo's end date loomed, Google set a deadline to remove its legacy calling features and delete all older messages by November 2025.
However, a recent update to the Google Meet app on Android revealed a new timeline. While the support page still displays the older schedule, the updated timeline is expected to take effect soon. Existing users who haven't updated to the newer Meet app will lose their call history and messages starting in January 2026.
To safeguard your data, navigate to Settings within the app, select 'Calling (legacy)', choose your Google account used for Duo, and tap 'Manage legacy calling history'. Here, you can export your call history as plain text or .CSV format. Unfortunately, there's no way to merge this with your new Meet history.
When the transition occurs, users will bid farewell to beloved features like Knock Knock, Family Mode, and Mirror mode. But the new Meet app promises enhanced features, including cloud encryption and live captions, to make up for these losses.
So, will Google stick to this new timeline, or will Duo get another chance? Only time will tell. And this is the part most people miss: Google's constant evolution often leaves users confused, but it also keeps us on our toes, anticipating the next move.
What are your thoughts on Google's app mergers and the future of Duo? Share your opinions in the comments below!
