Looking for new ways to find friends on the internet? Are you a student looking to meet peers? Or are you just interested in exciting and anonymous conversations on the net? Omegle, a free and anonymous chat application offers you all this (and more)! This is a service open to all, no registration is required. Start meeting new people today!
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Chat on Omegle
Step 1. Visit the Omegle home page
Getting started with the site is very simple; you just need an internet connection! To get started, visit Omegle.com. On the page you will see several options for chatting. In the next few steps we will explain how to start a new chat with a stranger. Before getting started, read the terms of use at the bottom of the home page. By using Omegle, you confirm that:
- You are over 13 years old;
- You have the permission of a parent or guardian if you are under 18;
- You will not post obscene materials on Omegle and you will not use the service to harass other users;
- You will not behave illegally under local or national laws.
Step 2. Choose whether to start a text or video chat
At the bottom right of the home page, you should see the message "Start chatting:" with two options under it "Text" and "Video". The choices are self-explanatory: "Text" allows you to converse with a stranger via text, while "Video" allows the stranger to see your image and hear your voice (and vice versa). Choose the option you prefer to start chatting.
Note that you need a working webcam and microphone for video chat. Most modern computers have a microphone and webcam built into the monitor, but that's not always the case. If your system does not have these devices, you will need to purchase the necessary peripherals (read our articles on how to set up a webcam and computer microphone for more information)
Step 3. Start chatting
Once you have chosen the type of chat, you should immediately be connected with a stranger. You can communicate with him or her by typing your messages in the chat bar and pressing the Enter key on your computer, or by clicking on "Send" at the bottom right. If you have chosen video chat, you should also be able to see and hear the stranger and yourself in the video section on the left side of the screen.
If you have chosen video chat, a message may appear asking you for permission to access your webcam if this is your first time using the service. Click "Yes" or "Ok" to activate the camera and start chatting
Step 4. Once you are finished chatting, click "Stop"
When you are tired of talking to a stranger, click the "Stop" button in the lower left corner of the screen. The button text will change to "Really?". Press it again to confirm your decision and end the chat.
- At any point in the conversation, you can quickly press this key twice to immediately close the chat. This can be useful if you encounter objectionable content that you don't want to see.
- Note that it is quite common for Omegle users to end chats very quickly (even before sending a message). Don't take it personally; some people prefer to scroll through many strangers before choosing one to talk to.
Part 2 of 3: Using Optional Features
Step 1. Enter your interests to meet people like you
If you return to the Omegle home page (you can do this at any time by pressing the "Omegle" banner in the upper left corner of the chat screen), you can type keywords in the text field under "What do you wanna talk about?" " and describe what you like and your interests. Once done, click "Text" or "Video" and Omegle will try to connect you with strangers who want to talk about similar topics.
If Omegle can't find other users who want to talk about the same topics, it will simply connect you to a random user, as it normally does
Step 2. Save the log of your best conversations
From time to time, you may have a dialogue that is so hilarious, bizarre, or enlightening that you decide to save it! There is no need to manually copy and paste text, as Omegle offers a built-in chat log export feature. Once the conversation is over, you should notice the orange "Great chat?" followed by a series of links. Click "Get a link" to open the chat log in a new tab, or press "Select all" to highlight all the dialogue text, so you can easily copy it.
You should also see links to Facebook, Twitter, and some other social sites. Clicking on one of these links will create a pre-formatted post that you can post on your profile - it's the perfect tool for sharing really funny chats
Step 3. Enter your university email address to chat with other students
Omegle offers a private chat service dedicated only to college students. To access it, you must click on the "College student chat" button on the home page of the site, then enter a valid e-mail ending in ".edu" in the text field.
Once done, you need to search your inbox for the verification message from Omegle. Confirm that it is your email and you will be able to use the student chat service
Step 4. Try the spy / question mode
In some cases, it can be fun to watch or listen as strangers talk about a topic of your choice! To do this, click the small "Spy (question) mode" button at the bottom right of the home page. You will be asked to enter an open-ended question to start a discussion. Type your question, then click "ask strangers" to find out what other people have to say!
Alternatively, if you'd rather be the one to answer a question, you can click on the "discussing questions" link below. Note that in this mode, if the other person disconnects, the chat will end for you too, so write your response quickly
Step 5. Try Adult / Unmoderated Chat (if you are over 18)
There is no nice way to say this - some people use Omegle to have sex chats. If you're interested in it too, try clicking the "Adult" or "Unmoderated Section" links on the home page. The rest you can figure out for yourself!
It may seem trivial to say, but it's worth mentioning explicitly: in the adult and non-moderate sections of Omegle, you'll see adult pornographic content. Enter at your own risk
Part 3 of 3: Follow the Omegle Rules
Step 1. Don't take things too seriously
Omegle is a site that empowers people from all over the world to meet, share their stories and create ephemeral connections. Even if the service in some cases performs its task perfectly, it often does not allow to reach such ambitious goals, so do not give too much weight to what happens. Because platform users enjoy anonymity, they often don't follow high standards of behavior (note that this is a common trend across online communities). If you are insulted, offended or disgusted, don't worry; just end the call!
Step 2. Don't write or show information that could lead to your identification
As with all anonymous online experiences, even on Omegle it's important to take some simple precautions to protect your identity. Never share your real name, location, or other personal information with strangers you meet, even if you've had a friendly conversation. You don't have the ability to really know who is talking to you, so take no chances and remain anonymous. While most Omegle users are normal people who behave well, there are some "bad apples" that have predatory or malicious intent.
If you are participating in a video chat, make sure you are not showing anything that can be used to identify you. This includes financial information, identity documents, recognizable geographic locations, and so on
Step 3. Avoid obscenities in non-adult chats
Omegle has a section dedicated to adult chats, so if you want to use the platform for that purpose, show adult content only in the appropriate sections. Do not write sexually explicit content in text chats and do not show it to the webcam. This type of behavior is not only contrary to the spirit of the non-adult sections of the site, but is also offensive to other users, who do not want to see certain types of material (otherwise they would be in the adult section).
It is also worth noting that Omegle chats outside the "unmoderated" section are moderated. While the site hasn't made it clear exactly what that means, it is believed that there are human moderators or automated programs that are meant to keep pornographic or inappropriate materials out of the clean section
Step 4. Be nice to beginners
Omegle is for everyone - even those who don't know what they're doing. Now that you have some experience with the platform, take the opportunity to help other users who don't know how to use the site. For example, if the person you're video chatting with can't get their webcam to work, instead of ending the link to find a more interesting user, you can write them a message telling them to click "Yes" in the authorization window (or just send them a link to our article on how to set up a webcam).
Be patient - even if the other person has a hard time understanding, remember that with your effort you are making Omegle a friendlier and more welcoming place
Step 5. If in doubt, don't hesitate to end a conversation
If something goes wrong during a chat, for example, if the other person worries you and asks you for personal information, immediately double click the "Stop" button. With around 6.5 million users per month, there are literally thousands of people on Omegle to talk to at any given time, so don't waste your time with those you disrespect.
Advice
- Use a fake name to avoid stalkers.
- End the conversation if the conversation becomes too personal.
- If you meet someone you like, try asking for their email address to keep in touch.
- If you are under 18, you must ask your parents for permission.
Warnings
- Do not disclose personal information on the internet.
- Children under 13 cannot use Omegle.
