Google Workspace Updates: October 2024

Context Aware Access insights and recommendations are now generally available

Thursday, October 31, 2024

What’s changingWe’re making it easier to apply context-aware access (CAA) policies with new insights and recommendations. We’ll proactively surface potential security gaps and suggest pre-built CAA levels which admins can deploy to remediate the security gaps. These insights will be surfaced to customers, if they have not deployed any CAA policies to their users. When you deploy a recommendation, it will first be placed in Monitor Mode, so you can understand how the policy will block user access over time, and can be reviewed in the CAA audit logs. With this release, we’ve also added the ability for admins to customize the recommendations as they see fit before they’re applied broadly. Additionally, we’ll send primary admins an email on a quarterly basis with insights and actionable recommendations.

Who’s impacted

Admins

Why it’s important

Using Context-Aware Access, admins can set up different access levels based on a user’s identity and the context of the request (___location, device security status, IP address). This can help provide granular access controls without the need for a VPN, and give users access to Google Workspace resources based on organizational policies. Insights and recommendations help admins improve the cybersecurity posture of their organization by proactively identifying areas that need attention, significantly reducing the need for admins to identify these risks themselves. For example, if we detect devices with outdated operating system versions accessing corporate Workspace data, we can surface this as an Insight & pair it with a recommendation to block such devices from accessing Workspace data with a few clicks.

Getting started

Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about protecting your business with Context-Aware Access and applying recommended access levels.

End users: There is no end user impact or action required.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.

Availability

Available to Google Workspace

Enterprise Standard and Plus
Education Standard and Plus
Enterprise Essentials Plus
Also available to Cloud Identity Premium customers

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Protect your business with Context-Aware Access

New density setting in Google Chat

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

What’s changing To give users more control over how they see information in Google Chat, we’re introducing a new setting that allows you to control the visual density of screen elements. Choose between “Comfortable” or “Compact” on chat.google.com.

Comfortable mode, the default setting, reflects Chat’s modernized design, in line with Google Material Design 3, and clearly differentiates message bubbles.
Compact mode is for users who prefer to see more information at a time with less scrolling. With this option, you’ll notice:

Message bubbles that are aligned in the same direction for both sender and recipient
Wider message bubbles
Padding in the left bar, conversation list, and home.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users:

To modify density settings, go to chat.google.com > Settings > Density > Compact. Users can revert this to the default at any time by going to chat.google.com > Settings > Density > Comfortable.
Those who use Compact density setting in Gmail will also see Chat in Gmail in compact mode. Users can adjust their Gmail and Chat-in-Gmail density settings by going to Gmail > Settings > Density.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Compact mode in Google Chat.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 30, 2024
Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on December 2, 2024

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts on web

Resources

Google Classroom now supports exporting missing and excused grades to select Student Information Systems (SIS)

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

What’s changingLast year, we introduced the ability for teachers to mark an assignment for a particular student as “excused” instead of giving it a 0-100 score. We also added the ability to manually mark an assignment as “missing” or “complete” and automatically add a default draft score.
These updates give teachers even more flexibility when it comes to grading for assignments and classwork, and today we’re excited to announce that teachers can include missing and excused grades when exporting grades to their Student Information Systems (SIS).

Getting started

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on October 29, 2024

Availability Available for Google Workspace:

Education Plus and the Teaching & Learning Upgrade

Resources

Refine emails faster with updates to the “Polish” shortcut in Gmail

Monday, October 28, 2024

What’s changingIn August, we announced Help me write and Refine my draft shortcuts on mobile devices. Today, we’re excited to expand the Help me write shortcut to web and introduce a Polish shortcut on web and mobile that helps you refine emails even faster.

On web, the Help me write shortcut will now appear in the body of the email when an email draft is empty. The Polish shortcut will appear for drafts with 12+ words, and pressing the shortcut text or typing Option+H will automatically show a polished email output.

On mobile, the Help me write shortcut will continue to appear in the body of the email when an email draft is empty. The Polish shortcut will now appear for drafts with 12+ words. Swiping on the shortcut text will automatically show a polished email output. From there, users can tap a refinement chip (Formalize, Elaborate or Shorten) to edit the draft in place.

Getting started

Rollout pace Web:

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 28, 2024

Android & iOS:

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.

Availability Available for Google Workspace customers with:

Gemini Business and Enterprise add-on
Gemini Education and Education Premium add-on
Google One AI Premium

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Gemini for Google Workspace
Google Help: Draft emails with Gemini in Gmail

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - October 25, 2024

Friday, October 25, 2024

New updates There are no new updates to share this week. Please see below for a recap of published announcements.

Previous announcements

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Preview summaries of unread conversations in the Google Chat home view with the help of Gemini

Gemini in Google Chat can now help you catch up on unread conversations in the Chat home view with summaries. | Learn more about summaries in Chat home.

Expanding Google Workspace extensions available in open beta for the Gemini app

Earlier this year, we launched Google Workspace extensions for Gmail, Google Drive and Google Docs in open beta for the Gemini app. Now, we’re pleased to announce that Google Calendar, Google Keep and Google Tasks are also available as Workspace extensions in the Gemini app. | Learn more about extensions in the Gemini app.

Improved comments experience in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides on Android tablets

Earlier this year, we introduced a new comments experience in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides on web. This week, we announced a similar update to Android tablets for viewing, navigating, and replying to comments, especially on-the-go. | Learn more about comments on Android tablets.

A smoother, more modern video player in Google Drive

We’ve introduced a new look and feel, and enhanced functionality for the video player within Google Drive that makes it easier and more enjoyable to watch your videos. | Learn more about the video player in Drive.

Introducing a new look and feel for Google Calendar on the web

This week, you’ll notice a refreshed user interface in Google Calendar that is in line with Google Material Design 3 and includes: 1) Controls (like buttons, dialogs, and sidebars) that are more modern and accessible, 2) Interface typography that uses Google’s custom-designed and highly-legible typefaces, and 3) Iconography that is legible and crisp, with a fresh feel. | Learn more about the new look of Calendar.

Audit security settings using the Policy API, now available in open beta

Simplifying the management of Workspace settings continues to be a priority for us. To that end, we’re introducing new tools to help streamline the process for admins. Launching to open beta this week, we’re pleased to introduce the Policy API, which will help super admins programmatically access information regarding how their Google Workspace environment service level settings and rules are configured. | Learn more about the Policy API beta.

The Gemini app is now a core service with enterprise-grade data protection for more Google Workspace editionsThe Gemini app is now available as a core service with enterprise-grade data protection for even more Google Workspace users. | Learn more about the Gemini app and enterprise-grade data protection.

Completed rollouts

The features below completed their rollouts to Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog posts for additional details.

Rapid Release Domains:

New design and accessibility improvements for embedded Google Calendars

Scheduled Release Domains:

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains:

For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

The Gemini app is now a core service with enterprise-grade data protection for more Google Workspace editions

Friday, October 25, 2024

What’s changingAs we recently announced, driven by our belief that generative AI can be transformative for every user, the standalone Gemini app (gemini.google.com) will now be included as part of most Google Workspace editions. With enterprise-grade data protections built in, users can now save time and deliver higher quality work — securely and compliantly — with an AI-powered assistant at work.Beginning today, the Gemini app is now available as a core service with enterprise-grade data protection for Google Workspace users with the following editions:

Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus

Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus

Frontline Starter, Frontline Standard

Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus

Education Standard, Education Plus

Google Workspace for Nonprofits

Additional details

As a core service, the Gemini app will be covered under your existing Google Workspace or Google Workspace for Education agreement and will include the same technical support as other Workspace services. Gemini prompts, data, or generated responses won’t be reviewed by human reviewers or otherwise used to improve generative AI models without permission. More information on how we’re protecting your Google Workspace data in the era of generative AI can be found here.

Note: For Education customers, added data protection is available in the Gemini app as either a core or additional service.

Admin console service settings update

As part of this launch, we will be streamlining the Gemini app service settings in the Admin console. Specifically, we will be transitioning to a single checkbox for the user access setting:

The updated Gemini service setting (Admin console > Generative AI > Gemini app > User Access)

When the setting is unchecked (default state for most customers), the Gemini app as a core service with enterprise-grade data protection will be enabled only for:

Gemini for Workspace licensed users
Users with a qualifying Workspace edition

When the setting is checked, the Gemini app will be enabled for all users, specifically:

Gemini for Workspace licensed users
Users with a qualifying Workspace edition
Users without a qualifying Workspace edition can access the Gemini app as an additional service

Broader availability of Workspace extensions in Gemini

Expanding the Gemini app as a core service also allows these Workspace editions to leverage Google Workspace extensions in Gemini, which are currently available in open beta for users 18 and older. Once enabled by an admin, extensions allow Gemini to cross reference various Google Workspace apps, like Gmail, Drive, Docs, Calendar, Keep and Tasks, as data sources to better inform its responses. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Google Workspace extensions on or off for your organization.

Getting started

Admins:

For new Google Workspace Business, Enterprise, and Frontline customers: Access to the Gemini app as a core service with enterprise-grade data protection will be ON by default.

For existing Google Workspace Business, Enterprise, and Frontline customers: Refer to New core services coming to Google Workspace for the default service setting.

For new Workspace for Education customers: Access to the Gemini app will be OFF by default for Primary and Secondary (K12) customers, and ON by default for Higher Education customers.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning the Gemini app on or off for users.

End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about using the Gemini app.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 25, 2024

Availability

This update is applicable for Google Workspace:

Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus
Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus
Frontline Starter, Frontline Standard
Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus
Google Workspace for Nonprofits edition
Education Standard, Education Plus

Resources

Audit security settings using the Policy API, now available in open beta

Thursday, October 24, 2024

What’s changingSimplifying the management of Workspace settings continues to be a priority for us. To that end, we’re introducing new tools to help streamline the process for admins. Launching to open beta today, we’re pleased to introduce the Policy API, which will help super admins programmatically access information regarding how their Google Workspace environment service level settings and rules are configured. With the Policy API, customers gain a comprehensive view of all their settings, giving them a holistic view of Workspace security and compliance configurations. Admins will no longer have to navigate through numerous pages in the Admin Console.To start, the Policy API is available as a read-only API. In future releases, admins will be able to use the API to create, update, and delete their settings, as well as data loss prevention (DLP) rules. Admins will be able to use the API to audit certain settings in the following categories:

Authentication controls such as account recovery, advanced protection program, login challenges, passwords.

Chat

Classroom

Docs and Drive

Gmail

Groups

Marketplace

Meet

Sites

Takeout

The Policy API can also be used to read DLP rules, including the ability to:

Read all DLP rule configurations in the admin console, including: rule names and descriptions; applicable organization units (OUs) and groups; triggers and conditions; and app-specific alert actions.
Read existing DLP detectors available in the admin console including the detector name, description, and wordlist configurations.
Read admin-modified system defined alerts.

Who’s impacted

Super Admins

Why it’s important

With the increase in sophistication and scale of cyber threats, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency’s Secure Cloud Business Applications (SCuBA) project provides guidance to secure agencies’ cloud business application environments and protect federal information that is created, accessed, shared and stored in those environments.

The Policy API provides access to the settings that are part of these recommendations published in CISA’s Google Workspace secure configuration baselines. Customers who wish to evaluate their Workspace policies against these baselines can start testing using the Policy API. In future releases, we plan to expand support for additional policies described in CISA’s Workspace baselines.

Getting started

Admins: You must be a super admin to use the Policy API. Use our Developer Documentation to learn more about the Policy API.
End users: There is no end user impact or action required.

Rollout pace

Available now.

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers

Resources

Policy API Documentation

Introducing a new look and feel for Google Calendar on the web

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

What’s changingStarting today, you’ll notice a refreshed user interface in Google Calendar that is in line with Google Material Design 3 and includes:

Controls (like buttons, dialogs, and sidebars) that are more modern and accessible
Interface typography that uses Google’s custom-designed and highly-legible typefaces
Iconography that is legible and crisp, with a fresh feel

We’re also introducing the ability to toggle between light mode, dark mode or device default theme options. This will provide you with a more comfortable, customizable viewing experience and can also reduce battery usage.

Calendar on web in light mode

Calendar on web in dark mode

Additional detailsThese updates are applicable across the entire calendar web experience, including the task list view. When using the tasks.google.com URL, you will be redirected to the refreshed user interface and have the ability to choose between light or dark mode.

Getting started

To turn on dark mode in Calendar, go to the settings icon in the top right corner > Appearance > select Light, Dark or Device default.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Dark theme in Calendar.
Given this launch is a visual refresh to Google Calendar, it may impact the experience of installed Chrome extensions that are active when using Google Calendar. As a result, these extensions might not work as expected. We recommend contacting the developers of those extensions to report any potential issues.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 23, 2024
Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 2, 2024

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts

Resources

A smoother, more modern video player in Google Drive

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

What’s changing Starting today, you'll notice a new look and feel, and enhanced functionality for the video player within Google Drive that makes it easier and more enjoyable to watch your videos. More specifically, this update includes:

Getting started

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 22, 2024
Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on November 18, 2024

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts

Resources

Google Help: Store & play video in Google Drive

Improved comments experience in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides on Android tablets

Monday, October 21, 2024

What’s changing

Earlier this year, we introduced a new comments experience in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides on web. Today, we’re announcing a similar update to Android tablets for viewing, navigating, and replying to comments, especially on-the-go. In addition to improved design and filtering functionality to match the web experience, you’ll now be able to easily:

Keep a pulse on the latest updates: now you’ll see the first comment and the two most recent replies from a comment thread, with the option to show all comments within a discussion.
Review comments with full context: enjoy familiar, in-context commenting, similar to the web experience, while taking advantage of larger screen real estate on tablets.
Navigate and filter comments: navigation tabs and filters within the comments panel help you easily find relevant comments, without having to switch to a separate view.

Comment experience in Docs

Comment experience in Sheets

Comment experience in Slides

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: Access the comments panel by tapping on the comment button on the top app bar. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using comments, action items, & emoji reactions.

Rollout pace

Google Slides & Sheets:

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.

Google Docs:

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on January 27, 2025
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 10, 2025

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts

Resources

Google Help: Use comments, action items, & emoji reactions

Expanding Google Workspace extensions available in open beta for the Gemini app

Monday, October 21, 2024

What’s changingEarlier this year, we launched Google Workspace extensions for Gmail, Google Drive and Google Docs in open beta for the Gemini app. Beginning today, we’re pleased to announce that Google Calendar, Google Keep and Google Tasks are also available as Workspace extensions in the Gemini app.Who’s impactedAdmins and end usersWhy you’d use itExtensions allow the Gemini app to interact with other Google apps and services, helping to provide more contextual and relevant responses to your prompts and take certain actions across apps. For example, you can use extensions to:

Calendar

Create an event in Google Calendar based on specific details or based on your conversation with the Gemini app
Find events for a specific day, date range, or based on event details
Edit or cancel events in Calendar

Tasks

Add reminders and tasks, including those based on your conversation with the Gemini app
View a list of your tasks and update your tasks

Keep

Create notes and lists, including those based on your conversation with the Gemini app
Add an item to your existing list
Find content from your notes and lists
Reference your notes and lists in your conversation with the Gemini app

Additional details

Getting started

Admins:

Google Workspace extensions in Gemini are OFF by default and can be enabled at the OU or Group level.

If Google Workspace extensions are already enabled, then the Workspace extensions for Calendar, Keep and Tasks will show up automatically for your users.

Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Google Workspace extensions on or off for your organization.

End users: If enabled by your admin, connecting Google Workspace allows users to summarize, get quick answers, and find information from Calendar, Keep and Tasks in addition to Gmail, Docs, and Drive directly in Gemini. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Google Workspace extensions.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 21, 2024

Availability

Available for Google Workspace customers with these add-ons:

Gemini Business
Gemini Enterprise
Gemini Education
Gemini Education Premium

Resources

Preview summaries of unread conversations in the Google Chat home view with the help of Gemini

Monday, October 21, 2024

What’s changing We’re excited to announce Gemini in Google Chat can now help you catch up on unread conversations in the Chat home view with summaries.
Upon navigating to an unread conversation in home, click the “Summarize” button to see a quick, bulleted synopsis of the message content. This enables you to quickly review recent activity across all active conversations to determine where best to focus your time and attention.

Summarize conversations in Google Chat on web

Who’s impacted End users

Why it mattersSince introducing a more streamlined user experience in Chat to help you find what you need much faster, we’re adding more ways to help you prioritize the most important conversations. This new summaries in home feature does just that by helping you catch up more quickly.

Summarize conversations in Google Chat on mobile

Additional details Summaries in the home view are available for any group conversation, space, or thread in home that contain unread messages.

Getting started

To see summaries on web, hover over an unread group conversation, space, or thread from home in Chat and click “Summarize.”
To see summaries on mobile, long press on an unread group conversation, space, or thread from home in Chat.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about summaries in home.

Rollout pace Web, Android & iOS:

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 21, 2024

AvailabilityAvailable for Google Workspace customers with these add-ons:

Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, Education Premium
AI Meetings & Messaging

Resources

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - October 18, 2024

Friday, October 18, 2024

1 New updateUnless otherwise indicated, the features below are available to all Google Workspace customers, and are fully launched or in the process of rolling out. Rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete if launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time. If not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete.

Pronouns are now displayed in Google Meet

If you have set your pronouns from your Google Accounts settings (myaccount.google.com/profile/pronouns) and set the visibility to ‘Anyone’, they will now be displayed on your personal video tile during meetings. This update is available when using Google Meet on the web. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for October 24, 2024. | Available to all Google Workspace customers. | Admins can use this Help Center article to learn more about enabling pronouns in Workspace apps for their users. If enabled by their admin, end users can use this Help Center article to learn more about setting their pronouns in Google Meet.

Pronouns are now displayed in Google Meet

Previous announcements

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Import data from Meta Workplace to Google Chat using CloudFuze

Earlier this year, we introduced a new migration solution from Google Workspace partner CloudFuze that enables customers to import data from Slack into Google Chat. This week, we announced an additional solution from CloudFuze that enables companies using Workplace for Meta to migrate their data to Google Chat. | Learn more about importing data from Meta Workplace to Google Chat.

Now generally available: Migrate users’ emails from Google Workspace, Gmail and other IMAP enabled mail servers

In March 2024, we launched an open beta for the ability to migrate your users’ email data from Google Workspace, Gmail, or IMAP enabled mail servers to another Google Workspace account. Beginning this week, this data migration experience is now generally available, helping admins migrate email data in a more secure, reliable, and efficient manner. | Learn more about migrating users’ email data.

Google Drive inventory reporting is now generally available

Earlier this year, we launched Google Drive inventory reporting in beta — beginning this week, this feature is generally available. | Learn more about Drive inventory reporting.

Available in alpha: use Gemini in the side panel of Workspace apps in seven additional languages

You can now use Gemini in the side panel of Google Docs, Google Sheets, Gmail, and Google Drive in seven additional languages: German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and French. | Learn more about additional languages.

Completed rollouts

The features below completed their rollouts to Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog posts for additional details.

Rapid Release Domains:

Scheduled Release Domains:

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains:

Paused rollouts

We have paused the rollout for this feature while we evaluate performance and quality. We will provide an update with new rollout information as soon as possible.

Reply to emails in Gmail faster on Android devices

For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

Available in alpha: use Gemini in the side panel of Workspace apps in seven additional languages

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

What’s changingYou can now use Gemini in the side panel of Google Docs, Google Sheets, Gmail, and Google Drive in seven additional languages:

German

Italian

Japanese

Korean

Portuguese

Spanish

French

The additional languages are available in alpha for Workspace customers with a Gemini Business, Gemini Enterprise, Gemini Education, and Gemini Education Premium add-on. Admins can use our Help Center to learn more about turning access to Gemini for Google Workspace Alpha features on for your users.With Gemini in the side panel of your Workspace apps, you can get help summarizing, analyzing, and generating content by utilizing insights gathered from your emails, documents, and more—all without switching applications or tabs. For more information, please refer to our original announcements for Gemini in the side panel of Docs, Sheets, and Drive, as well as Gmail respectively.

Getting started

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.

Availability

Available for Google Workspace customers with a:

Gemini Business and Enterprise add-on
Gemini Education and Education Premium add-on

Resources

Google Drive inventory reporting is now generally available

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

What’s changing Earlier this year, we launched Google Drive inventory reporting in beta — beginning today, this feature is generally available. Compared to APIs, exporting inventory reports to BigQuery empowers admins to understand their data more deeply, providing insights into how their data is classified, accessed, and used. Understanding these metrics can help admins to identify security risks, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and more. For more information, please reference our original announcement.

Alongside general availability, we’re pleased to announce new functionality:

When generated, inventory reports will follow the data regions settings established by admins.
Within reports, you can now view the email address of the file creator, what organizational unit the file owner belongs to, and inherited permissions for shared drive items.
For greater admin visibility into inventory reporting related actions, audit events are now captured for configuration updates, configuration deletion & creation, as well as completed and failed reports.

Getting started

Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about Drive inventory reporting.
End users: There is no end user impact or action required.

Rollout pace

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.

Availability

Available* for Google Workspace:

Enterprise Standard and Plus
Education Standard and Plus
Enterprise Essentials Plus
Cloud Identity Premium

*Note that this availability refers to the ability to generate a report. All end users will be included in the report and are not limited to any specific Google Workspace edition.

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Export your organization’s Drive inventory
Google Workspace Updates Blog: Google Drive inventory reporting is now available in open beta

Now generally available: Migrate users’ emails from Google Workspace, Gmail and other IMAP enabled mail servers

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

What’s changing In March 2024, we launched an open beta for the ability to migrate your users’ email data from Google Workspace, Gmail, or IMAP enabled mail servers to another Google Workspace account. This includes the ability to run delta migrations, to smartly bring over newly generated or modified emails from the source without duplicating previously migrated content.
Beginning today, this data migration experience is now generally available, helping admins migrate email data in a more secure, reliable, and efficient manner.

Admin console > Data > Data Import & Export > Data Migration

Availability

Available to Google Workspace:

Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
Enterprise Standard and Plus
Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade
Essentials Starter, Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, and Enterprise Essentials Plus
Nonprofits

Resources

Import data from Meta Workplace to Google Chat using CloudFuze

Monday, October 14, 2024

What’s changingEarlier this year, we introduced a new migration solution from Google Workspace partner CloudFuze that enables customers to import data from Slack into Google Chat. Today, we’re announcing an additional solution from CloudFuze that enables companies using Workplace for Meta to migrate their data to Google Chat.

This functionality is particularly useful following Meta’s announcement that Workplace will be available in read-only mode starting in September 2025 and fully unavailable in June 2026.

With this integration, you can move existing communities, groups, individual members, and admins into Chat spaces. In addition, all of the community posts, attachments, reactions, and more will be moved into Chat with the original historical timestamps to ensure that your knowledge repository is available for users in Chat.

Import data from Meta Workplace to Google Chat using CloudFuze

Who’s impacted Admins and developers

Why you’d use it This CloudFuze solution imports your team collaboration data and knowledge repository from Meta Workplace into Google Chat.

Getting started

Admins, end users and developers: Visit the CloudFuze resource page to learn how to get started with migrating Meta Workplace data into Google Chat.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers. Note that a separate CloudFuze licensing is required to enable data migrations.

Resources

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - October 11, 2024

Friday, October 11, 2024

Earlier this year, we introduced a new feature that enables users to send emails to spaces in Google Chat. When this launched, existing Google Group policies determined by the ___domain admin were respected. For example, if the admin restricted group creation in their organization, users would also be restricted from generating emails for spaces in Chat. To improve upon this experience, we’re happy to announce that admins can now create an email for a space from the Admin console. To do so, navigate to Google Chat > 'Manage spaces' > select a space > 'Space settings' > click 'Generate email' to create an email address for the space. In addition, email conversations sent to spaces will now show replies in a thread instead of as separate cards in the message stream. | The Admin console update is rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. Threading for emails in spaces will rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains starting on October 17, 2024. | Available to all Google Workspace customers. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about sending emails to spaces in Chat.

Generating a space email in the Admin console

Generating an email in the Admin console

Previous announcements

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

New document tabs in Google Docs provide a better way to organize your documents

We’ve introduced document tabs in Google Docs, a new feature to help you organize longer documents, centralize information, and make collaboration easier. | Learn more about tabs in Docs.

New and improved widgets for Google Chat app cards

This week, we introduced new and improved widgets for Chat app cards. | Learn more about widgets for Chat app cards.

Ask responders for a rating in Google Forms

To add to the list of question types that users can respond to in Google Forms and enable the collection of feedback in a more engaging way, we’re introducing a rating question type. | Learn more about rating questions in Forms.

Send video messages in Google Chat

We’re introducing video messages in Chat, a new capability that helps you save time, convey more information, add tone or emphasis, and can be useful in a number of scenarios. | Learn more about video messages in Chat.

Transcriptions now available for voice messages in Google Chat

Users will now be able to see an automatic transcription of voice messages in Chat on web and mobile. | Learn more about Chat transcriptions.

Automate meeting recording, transcripts and notes for your Google Meet meetings

Admins now have the option to configure meeting recordings, meeting transcripts, and “take notes for me” as on by default for newly created meetings. Meeting hosts and co-hosts can edit these settings in the Calendar invite, as well as turn these artifacts off during the meeting. | Learn more about automating meeting recordings, transcripts and notes for meetings.

Third-party smart chips now available in Google Sheets

Users can now add smart chips that pull information from third party apps into Sheets, and also paste third-party chips inserted in Docs directly into a spreadsheet. | Learn more about third-party smart chips in Sheets.

Easily find and connect to featured partner apps from the Google Workspace Marketplace

We’re adding a new category within the Google Workspace Marketplace: Featured partner apps. Here, you can quickly find and install the most popular Google Workspace apps. | Learn more about partner apps Marketplace.

Available in open beta: Easily migrate files from Microsoft OneDrive to Google Drive

Under the umbrella of our data migration services, we’re introducing a new file migration service for Admins to transfer files between OneDrive data to Google Drive for up to 100 users at a time. | Learn more about migrating files from OneDrive to Google Drive.

Improve Google Meet livestreaming experience with more insight on eCDN performance

We’re enhancements that will give admins greater insight to better optimize their eCDN configuration. | Learn more about Meet livestreaming.

Completed rollouts

The features below completed their rollouts to Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog posts for additional details.

Rapid Release Domains:

Scheduled Release Domains:

Request to join spaces in Google Chat (Web)
Access and sort shared files more easily in Google Chat conversations (Web)
Additional improvements to tables in Google Sheets

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains:

For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

Useful Links

Join the official community for Google Workspace administrators

In the Google Cloud Community, connect with Googlers and other Google Workspace admins like yourself. Participate in product discussions, check out the Community Articles, and learn tips and tricks that will make your work and life easier. Be the first to know what's happening with Google Workspace.

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Learn about more Google Workspace launches

On the “What’s new in Google Workspace?” Help Center page, learn about new products and features launching in Google Workspace, including smaller changes that haven’t been announced on the Google Workspace Updates blog.

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Updates

Context Aware Access insights and recommendations are now generally available

New density setting in Google Chat

Google Classroom now supports exporting missing and excused grades to select Student Information Systems (SIS)

Refine emails faster with updates to the “Polish” shortcut in Gmail

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - October 25, 2024

The Gemini app is now a core service with enterprise-grade data protection for more Google Workspace editions

Audit security settings using the Policy API, now available in open beta

Introducing a new look and feel for Google Calendar on the web

A smoother, more modern video player in Google Drive

Improved comments experience in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides on Android tablets

Expanding Google Workspace extensions available in open beta for the Gemini app

Preview summaries of unread conversations in the Google Chat home view with the help of Gemini

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - October 18, 2024

Available in alpha: use Gemini in the side panel of Workspace apps in seven additional languages

Google Drive inventory reporting is now generally available

Now generally available: Migrate users’ emails from Google Workspace, Gmail and other IMAP enabled mail servers

Import data from Meta Workplace to Google Chat using CloudFuze

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - October 11, 2024

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Useful Links

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Learn about more Google Workspace launches