2 New updates

Unless 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.

Expanding row limits in Connected Sheets for BigQuery 

Last year, we increased the maximum number of rows of results returned from BigQuery to 50,000 for pivot tables and data extracts. This week, we’re excited to announce this has been expanded to 100,000 rows for pivot tables and 500,000 rows for extracts (with a cell limit of 5 million). This will allow you to analyze even more results in Sheets from the petabytes of data in BigQuery. | Rolling out to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains now. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more about analyzing & refreshing BigQuery data in Google Sheets using Connected Sheets, Google Sheets limitations, and getting started with BigQuery data in Google Sheets.

Custom text fields are now available for eSignature in Google Docs and Google Drive 

You can now input custom text fields when using eSignature. This gives you the flexibility to collect specific information as needed, including a phone number, job title, company name, and more. | Available to Google Workspace Individual users and other eligible Google Workspace customers who are on the eSignature alpha. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains and Scheduled Release domains now. | Learn more about sending signature requests & signing documents with eSignature.

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.

Filter, sort, and display your Google Meet hardware devices by product service status 

You can currently filter, sort, and display your Google Meet hardware devices by whether they are online, offline, or experiencing an application load-failure. This week, we’re expanding these parameters to include whether the Calendar and Jamboard services are turned OFF. | Learn more about filtering, sorting and displaying Meet hardware devices. 

Introducing adaptive audio in Google Meet: creating ad-hoc meeting spaces with multiple laptops 

With “adaptive audio,” you and your team can join Google Meet using multiple laptops in close proximity without awkward echos and audio feedback. | Learn more about adaptive audio in Google Meet. 

Send emails to spaces in Google Chat 

After a space manager generates an email address for a space, members (or anyone in your domain with the email address) can send or forward any email to that space. This provides a great way for teams to easily triage or discuss email content with stakeholders within the space. The email will appear as a clickable card showing a snippet of the email in the designated space. | Learn more about sending emails to spaces. 

Manage spaces at scale with new Chat API functionality 

We are pleased to announce the launch for additional features of Chat API via the Developer Preview Program, enabling space management at scale on behalf of admin users. These new features are available to all users currently enrolled in the Developer Preview Program. | Learn more about new Chat API functionality. 

Introducing Gemini offerings for Google Workspace for Education customers 

Beginning May 23, 2024, Google for Education customers will be able to leverage new and powerful ways of working, teaching and learning with Gemini for Google Workspace with two new paid add-ons. | Learn more about Gemini Education and Gemini Education Premium add-ons.

Expanding voice typing and automatic captions to additional browsers 

We’re expanding support for voice typing and captions features to additional browsers, such as Edge and Safari. When a user turns on voice typing or captions, the web browser controls the speech-to-text service, determines how speech is processed, and then sends text data to Google Docs and Google Slides. | Learn more about voice typing features in additional browsers.

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: 

• Updated keyboard shortcuts and first-letters navigation now available on Google Drive web
• Hide tiles without video during Google Meet calls
• Expanding Slides recordings to Microsoft Edge

Scheduled Release Domains: 

• Use annotations to enhance your presentations in Google Meet

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains: 

• Workspace Data Protection rules are now available for Gmail in Beta
• Breakout room information is now included in Google Meet attendance report

Paused rolloutsWe 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. 

• Set the default camera framing option for Google Meet hardware devices, and other framing updates

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

What’s changingCurrently users can edit their documents in Google Docs or edit speaker notes in Google Slides by using their voice. Users can also turn on automatic captions to display the speakers’ words in real time while presenting in Slides. These features have previously been available using the latest version of Google Chrome only. 

Starting today, we’re expanding support for voice typing and captions features to additional browsers, such as Edge and Safari. When a user turns on voice typing or captions, the web browser controls the speech-to-text service, determines how speech is processed, and then sends text data to Google Docs and Google Slides. 

Who’s impacted 

End users 

Why it’s important 

This launch leads to more inclusive and accessible user interactions within Docs and Slides for more users. 

Additional details 

These features are available only on desktop. 

Getting started 

• Admins: Admins can control which web browsers are supported in their domain. Certain browsers may offer browser level controls for disabling the Web Speech API. 
• End users: 
• When enabling this feature for the first time, you may see the following notice: 

• Visit the Help Center to learn more about typing with your voice and presenting slides with captions.

Rollout pace 

• Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 22, 2024 
• Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on June 11, 2024 

Availability 

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

Resources 

• Google Help: Type with your voice 
• Google Help: Present slides with captions

This announcement was part of Google I/O ‘24. Visit the Workspace Blog for more  about new ways to engage with Gemini for Workspace and the Keyword Blog for more ways to stay productive with Gemini for Google Workspace.

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What’s changing

Last year, we introduced AI-powered writing features that help you quickly refine existing work or get you started with something new in Google Docs and Gmail using Gemini for Google Workspace. 

Since then, Help me write has assisted numerous users in drafting content for things like emails, blog posts, business proposals, ad copy and so much more. In fact, 70% of Enterprise users who use Help me write in Docs or Gmail end up using Gemini's suggestions. Today, we’re excited to announce this feature is now available in Spanish and Portuguese. 

Help me write in Google Docs using Portuguese

Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 

Why it’s important 

Users who write in Spanish and Portuguese can now benefit from AI-powered creation in their own language. 

Help me write in Gmail using Spanish

Getting started 

• Admins: This feature will be ON by default and there is no admin control for this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more about Gemini for Google Workspace. 
• End users: 
• To use Help me write in Spanish or Portuguese, simply enter your prompts using one of these languages. Visit the Help Center to learn more about accessing any other Gemini for Workspace features that are currently supported in English only.
• Visit the Help Center to learn more about writing with Gemini in Google Docs and drafting emails with Gemini in Gmail. 

Rollout pace 

• Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 16, 2024 

Availability 

Available for Google Workspace: 

• Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, Education Premium 
• Google One AI Premium 

Resources 

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

4 New updates

Unless 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.

Banner alerts for Google Drive item capacity limits in shared drives 

To give users more visibility when shared drives in their domain are approaching the item capacity limit (400,000 items), we’re introducing banner alerts that identify current shared drive capacity. These banners will be visible when less than 20% capacity is left and will appear only for users who have edit access to add content to the specific shared drive. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for April 3, 2024. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Essentials Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits. | Learn more about item capacity limits in shared drives.

Input numbers into slider controls across Google Docs, Slides and Drawings
We’ve added a number input next to all slider controls used for image and shape adjustments in Google Docs, Slides and Drawings. With this update, we hope it is easier for you to make adjustments more precisely. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for April 2, 2024. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more about cropping and adjusting images.

Updated version history limits for Apps Script projects

Earlier this year, we announced that you can create and save up to 200 versions for newly created scripts. We’ve expanded this limit to all scripts. If needed, you can permanently delete multiple script versions at the same time from the project history page using the new “Bulk delete” feature. | This is available now to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more using our developer documentation on working with Apps Script versions.


Google Meet-certified Logitech Rally Bar Huddle room kits are now available
Logitech Rally Bar Huddle room kits for Google Meet are now available for purchase. These kits are optimized for small spaces that can accommodate 3 to 5 people. The device can be used as a meeting room appliance, in USB mode connected to a meeting room PC, or connected via laptop. | This is available now to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices. | Visit Logitech’s website for more information on purchasing a room kit.

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.

Application load failures are now captured for the Google Meet hardware devices 

Admins can now see when the Google Meet app fails to load for a device. | Learn more about application load failures.

Create fully customized email campaigns using new layout editor tool 

Starting this week, even more users across Google Workspace editions can now create customized email layouts using a new email layout editor that is accessible from the compose screen in Gmail or Google Drive. In the layout editor, you can create a new email layout from scratch or select from a predefined set of email templates, which include images, text elements and buttons. | Available to Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus and Workspace Individual subscribers only. | Learn more about customizable email campaigns.

Select App Access Controls can now be applied at the organizational unit 

Google Workspace Admins can now configure a number of App Access Control (AAC) policies at the Organizational Unit (OU) level. | Learn more about App Access Controls.

Import data from other messaging platforms using the Google Chat API is now generally available

Google Workspace developers registered in our Workspace Developer Preview program have been able to import user data from other messaging platforms into Google Chat using the Google Chat APIs. This functionality is now generally available to all Workspace developers and admins. | Learn more about importing data using the Chat API.

Subtly enhance your appearance with portrait touch-up when using Google Meet on the web

In October 2023, we introduced portrait touch-up for Google Meet on mobile devices. We’re extending this functionality to Google Meet on the web. Portrait touch-up can be used to lightly touch up your appearance before or during a meeting, helping you feel more comfortable and confident in your appearance during video calls. | Available to Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, Teaching & Learning Upgrade, Google One and Google Workspace Individual subscribers only. | Learn more about subtly enhancing your appearance with portrait touch-up. 

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 formatting sidebar in Google Docs, Slides and Sheets apps on Android Tablets (Docs and Slides only)

Scheduled Release Domains: 

• Share spaces smart chips in Google Chat
• Google Meet “companion mode” is now supported on your mobile device for great hybrid meetings
• Creating more immersive presentations in Google Slides
• Sort, filter and manage comments faster in Google Docs, Sheets and Slides
• Check in to your meeting room directly from the Google Meet green room

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains: 

• Updates for managed iOS devices with the release of Chrome 120 (admin console integration)
• Join meetings as a guest without a Google account on mobile devices (Android)
• Google Meet hosts can pin multiple tiles for all meeting participants
• Available in open beta: the Groups Admin role can now be provisioned for specific group types
• Now generally available: Import and convert sensitive Excel files into client-side encrypted Google Sheets
• Set client-side encryption as the default mode for new emails, events, and files on mobile
• Further extending long running queries within Connected Sheets
• Google Meet co-host support added for client-side encrypted meetings
• Remove the background from your images in Google Slides
• New Google Calendar lock screen widgets on iOS mobile devices
• Hovercards for group messages and spaces are now available in Google Chat
• Import data from other messaging platforms using the Google Chat API is now generally available

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

 

What’s changing 

Admins can now set client-side encryption (CSE) to be on by default on Android and iOS for: 

• Newly drafted Gmail messages and replies 
• Newly created Google Calendar events 
• Newly uploaded Google Drive files

Client-side encryption in Gmail

Admins can now set client-side encryption as the default mode for users on both web and mobile that regularly handle sensitive data. This allows organizations the flexibility to meet their compliance and regulatory requirements and reduce the burden on change management programs. Each new email, event and uploaded file on mobile is automatically client-side encrypted with customer managed keys meaning the user is compliant with their org’s policy from the outset. For organizations with strict regulatory or sovereignty requirements, this can help them close compliance gaps by defaulting users to the preferred mode for handling sensitive data while on the go. 

For more information, check out our original announcement.

Getting started

• Admins: This feature will be OFF by default and can be configured at an OU level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about client-side encryption.
• End users: Use our Help Center to learn more about working with encrypted files in Drive, Docs, Sheets & Slides.

Rollout pace

• Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 29, 2024

Availability

• Google Workspace Assured Controls is available as an add-on to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus customers only. For more information, contact your Google account representative.

Resources

• Google Workspace Updates: Set client-side encryption as the default mode for new emails, events, and files
• Google Workspace Admin Help: About client-side encryption
• Google Workspace Blog: Google Workspace expands data privacy controls to Gmail and Calendar with client-side encryption
• Google Help: Get started with encrypted files in Drive, Docs, Sheets & Slides
• Cloud Blog post: Announcing Assured Controls and expanded Data Regions coverage for Google Workspace 

Update

[May 8, 2024] Rollout to rapid release domains is complete. See the Rollout section below for more details on scheduled release domains.

[April 24, 2024] We have updated the rollout information for this feature. See the Rollout section below for more details.

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What’s changing

We’re excited to announce a new feature, markups in Google Docs, which gives you more flexibility when providing feedback in a document. The new markups experience lets you add handwritten annotations to documents with a stylus or your finger when using an Android device. 

Markups can be useful in numerous scenarios, such as: 

• Colleagues giving each other handwritten feedback on diagrams, charts, reports or proposals. 
• Educators giving students feedback on their essays, reports, short stories and more. 
• A homeowner providing ideas or updates on construction plans from their contractor. 

In order to add annotations, you must use an Android device. From there, you can: 

• Enter the markups mode and annotate using pen or highlighter tools 
• Hide/show markups 
• Erase markups 
• Insert suggested markups 

On iOS devices, you can: 

• View a document with markups 
• Delete markups 
• Hide/show markups 

On desktop, you can: 

• View a document with markups 
• Delete markups 
• Hide/show markups 

Getting started 

• Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
• End users: To turn on markups, open a document > select the markups tool from the contextual toolbar > draw with your finger or stylus. Visit the Help Center to learn how to use drawings & markups.

Rollout pace 

• Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 27, 2024, with expected completion by May 8, 2024
• Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 20, 2024

Availability 

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

Resources:

• Google Help: Learn how to use drawings & markups

What’s changing

We’re introducing an improved comments experience in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides to help you find and take action on comments easier than ever before. While you will continue to see and interact with the comments experience you’re familiar with, you’ll also notice updates to our comment cards, icons, and more. 

You can explore new and familiar ways to interact with comments by going to View > Comments and selecting: 

• Show all comments: opens up a full-length view to deep dive into multiple comments more easily in Docs, Sheets or Slides. Now you can use updated search and filter functionality to focus on the most relevant comments. You will also notice a curated ‘For you’ list, which surfaces all the comments you need to take action on. 
• Expand comments (in Google Docs and Slides): shows comments next to the document or presentation content so you can review comments and content together. 
• Minimize comments (in Google Docs and Sheets): reduces comments to icons so you can have a more focused view of your work in Docs and Sheets. This setting provides a quick preview with high level information about who is commenting when you hover over the minimized icons. 
• Hide comments: hides comments from view when you want to focus solely on the content in Docs, Sheets or Slides. 

Who’s impacted 

End users 

Why you’d use it 

With this update, you can now find and organize comments more easily, enabling seamless collaboration with others on Google Docs, Sheets and Slides. 

Getting started 

• Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
• End users: This feature will be ON by default and cannot be disabled. To open the full-length panel, go to View > Comments > Show all comments. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using comments, action items, & emoji reactions 

Rollout pace 

• Rapid Release domains: Available now
• Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 1, 2024 

Availability 

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

Resources 

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

3 New updates

Unless 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.

New ways to work with filters in Connected Sheets for Looker and Connected Sheets for BigQuery 

• With Looker: Connected Sheets for Looker users will now be able to see whether Looker-defined filters, always_filters and conditionally_filters, are applied in their Google Sheets. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains and Scheduled Release domains now. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more about always_filter and conditionally_filter in Looker. 
• With BigQuery: Connected Sheets for BigQuery users can now right-click any value in the Connected Sheets preview and filter rows in the preview on that specific value. As a result, a new query will be sent to BigQuery to re-fetch the preview. This new option provides an additional way to easily explore data in the Connected Sheets preview for BigQuery. | This is now available to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more about sorting & filtering BigQuery data in Google Sheets.

Latest improvement for page setup in Google Docs 

We’re introducing a new menu item within the Format option that enables you to easily switch between pageless and pages mode in Google Docs. | Rollout to Rapid Release domains is complete; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for February 5, 2024. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more about changing a document’s page setup. 

Developers can now choose which calendar events to be notified about 

Developers using the Calendar API can now subscribe to specific changes in users’ calendars — this includes event types such as working location, out-of-office, or focus time. This update reduces the amount of notifications down to those that are most relevant to the developer. | Use our Developer Documentation for more information about subscribing to alerts for specific calendar event changes. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release domains and Scheduled Release domains. | The Calendar API is available to all Google Workspace customers, however Calendar features may vary across Google Workspace editions.

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.

For Google Meet Hardware, ‘Auto-Update Expiration (AUE)’ will now be referred to as 'end of Meet support' 

We’re making changes to the terminology that refers to when a Meet hardware device is no longer supported. | This update impacts all Google Workspace customers with Meet hardware devices. | Learn more about 'end of Meet support'.

Local data storage exports your organization's Workspace data into the geographic location of your choice, launching in beta 

We’re introducing Google Workspace’s new feature, local data storage. This feature allows admins to export their organization’s Workspace data into the geographic location or locations of their choice. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus customers with Assured Controls add-on only. | Learn more about the local data storage exports beta.

Improving the Google Calendar appointment scheduling experience with new features 

We’re improving upon the current appointment scheduling experience with four new features. | Co-hosts, secondary calendars and delegate access features are available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits only. Check Calendars for availability feature is available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Nonprofits, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts only. | Learn more about the appointment scheduling features. 

Shareable class templates and classwork in Google Classroom are now generally available 

Last year, we announced a Google Classroom beta that simplifies lesson planning with shareable class templates and classwork. We’re excited to announce that this is now globally available for Google Workspace for Education Plus customers in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese. | Available to Education Plus only. | Learn more about shareable class materials. 

Pin chat messages in Google Meet 

You can now pin messages to the top of the meeting chat. Pinned messages will appear for all users, even if they join the meeting after the message was initially sent. | Learn more about messaging pinning.

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: 

• Improving the Google Calendar appointment scheduling experience with new features

Scheduled Release Domains: 

• Adding timezone support for existing smart chips in Google Docs
• Combining multiple video effects (Web & Mobile availability)
• Studio lighting (Web availability)

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains: 

• Updates for exporting Google Meet hardware fleet data and bulk device configurations (Alert silencing)
• Expanding message bubbles in Google Chat to iOS devices
• Record and share your name pronunciation across Google Workspace products
• Google Meet hardware devices from Poly now support interoperability with Cisco Webex and Zoom
• Updated List / Grid toggle now available in Google Drive
• Local data storage exports your organization's Workspace data into the geographic location of your choice, launching in beta (beta sign-up available)

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

What’s changing 

You can now collaborate with others on client-side encrypted Google Docs to add, edit, reply, filter, or delete comments. You can also assign action items to yourself or others. This added functionality helps bring parity to unencrypted docs while also ensuring your data is behind encryption keys you control, including the identity provider used to access those keys. 

This feature is available as an open beta, which means you can use it without enrolling in a specific beta program. 

This feature is currently only available for Docs —support for Sheets and Slides will be coming in the future.

Additional details

Note that when sharing encrypted files, you can only assign “viewer” or “editor” permissions. “Commenter” permission is not supported. Viewers can view comments.

Comments are saved each time the document is autosaved. If you restore the document to a previous version, the comments added to the document in that version are also restored.

Getting started

• Admins: Client-side encryption can be enabled at the domain, OU, and Group levels (Admin console > Security > Access and data control > Client-side encryption). Visit our Help Center to learn more about client-side encryption.
• End users: If client-side encryption is enabled by your admin, use our Help Center to learn more about working with encrypted files in Drive, Docs, Sheets & Slides.

Rollout pace

• Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on January 16, 2024
• Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 1, 2024

Availability

• Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard and Education Plus customers

Resources

• Google Workspace Admin Help: About client-side encryption
• Google Help: Get started with encrypted files in Drive, Docs, Sheets & Slides 
• Cloud Blog: New zero trust and digital sovereignty controls in Workspace, powered by AI

4 New updates

Unless 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.

Version history limits for Apps Script projects 

For all new scripts, you’ll be able to create and save up to 200 versions of your script. If needed, you can permanently delete a script version from the project history page. | This is available now to all Google Workspace customers. | Learn more using our developer documentation on working with Apps Script versions. 

Share a link to a specific time in a Google Drive video 

We’re adding new functionality to the Drive sharing button that lets you share timestamped links to specific parts of a video. On web, simply navigate to drive.google.com > find and open a video file > play the video (you can pause the playback before performing the following steps) > select the dropdown on the “Share” button in the top-right corner > select “Copy link to this time” > send the link. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts. | Learn more about copying a specific time in the video. 

Introducing dropdown options on the sharing button in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Drawings

We’re adding a new feature that ensures a seamless sharing experience across Workspace. In Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Drawings, you will now see a dropdown on the Share button that surfaces quick actions, such as pending access requests and the “Copy link” option. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts. 

Using functions in Connected Sheets for BigQuery 

Today, Connected Sheets for BigQuery supports 23 Sheets functions, such as AVERAGE and XLOOKUP. However, all of these functions behave somewhat differently than their native counterparts. Thus, to help Connected Sheets users write better functions, we now display context-aware Help Center content in Sheets. The ‘formula help’ shows descriptions for Connected Sheets functions when writing a formula that would query BigQuery, and otherwise shows descriptions of native Sheets functions. | This is available now to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts. | Learn more about the XLOOKUP function.

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.

Updates to metrics in Google Drive Apps Reports and Reports API 

We’re making some updates to the Google Drive metrics in the Admin Console Apps reports and the Reports API. As a result of these improvements, admins who analyze metrics will have more reporting clarity and can better understand activity trends within their domain. | Learn more about metrics in Drive Apps Reports and Reports API. 

Easily share Google Drive files to Google Calendar meeting attendees 

We’re introducing the option to share any file with all meeting participants on a Google Calendar invite via the sharing dialog within a file. | Learn more about sharing Drive files to Calendar. 

Google Meet is now available on Logitech Android appliances 

Google Meet is now supported on Logitech’s Rally Bar and Rally Bar Mini Android-based appliances for collaboration rooms and spaces of just about any size. After initial setup, admins can easily enroll, manage, and monitor these devices using the Google admin console. Google Meet on Logitech Android-based devices is supported on CollabOS v1.11 as a video conferencing provider | Learn more about Meet on Logitech Android appliances. 

Google Meet hardware devices from Poly now support interoperability with Cisco Webex and Zoom 

We’re expanding the existing interoperability between Google Meet, Cisco Webex, and Zoom to include Android-based Meet hardware devices from Poly. Specifically, these devices include: Poly Studio X30, X50, X52, and X70. | Learn more about support interoperability with Cisco Webex and Zoom.

Extending Trusted Types to Gmail

We’re excited to announce the expansion of Trusted Types to Gmail. This will provide a defense against DOM XSS and further enhances our advanced data protection controls to keep users and data safe across more of the apps they use everyday. | Learn more about Trusted Types.

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: 

• View documents in paginated mode on Android devices 
• Adding timezone support for existing smart chips in Google Docs 

Scheduled Release Domains: 

• Take Google Meet on-the-go with ease (iOS) 
• 1:1 video calling in the Google Meet mobile app is now available (Android & iOS) 
• Streamlining the user experience in Google Chat to help you find what you need much faster 
• Star important messages in Google Chat 
• Additional enhancements to the search results page in Google Chat 

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains: 

• Upcoming changes to third party cookie requirements in Google Drive 
• Solve math equations easily with Smart Compose (Drawings)
• Report sharing and comment push notifications for abuse on Android devices 

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

Update

[January 30, 2024] We have rolled this feature back for Rapid Release domains while we evaluate performance and quality. We will provide an update with new rollout information for Rapid & Scheduled Release domains when possible.

[January 24, 2024] Rollout to Rapid Release domains has completed. We have paused rollout to Scheduled Release domains for this feature while we evaluate performance and quality. We will provide an update once rollout resumes.

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What’s changing

Building upon the recently introduced row of buttons at the top of your newly created Google Docs, we’re adding more ways to quickly find and insert relevant content directly into your document with an additional way to open the @-menu. This is another feature that boosts productivity and saves time by bringing smart canvas features to the forefront of your workflow.

When moving to a blank line within your Doc, you will see an “@” button with the option to select, search and insert smart chips, such as people, dates, timers, or files, building blocks, calendar events, groups and more. 

Getting started 

• Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
• End users: This feature will be ON by default and cannot be disabled by the user. Visit the Help Center to learn more about inserting smart chips & building blocks in your Google Doc.

Rollout pace 

• Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 11, 2023 
• Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on January 24, 2024 

Availability 

• Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

• Google Help: Insert smart chips & building blocks in your Google Doc

What’s changing

To build on our innovations in smart canvas that help you simplify workflows and complete common tasks with easy-to-use prompts in Google Docs, we’re introducing placeholder chips. 

When crafting content in Docs, a replaceable chip for people, dates, files, events, and places can be inserted and quickly filled in by collaborators. Upon hovering or clicking on a chip, a search menu opens and includes results filtered to the chip type. Placeholder chips are particularly useful in building blocks, custom building blocks, tables, and more. 

Getting started 

• Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
• End users: Placeholder chips are only editable on the web, but can be viewed on web and mobile. Visit the Help Center to learn more about inserting smart chips & building blocks in your Google Doc. 

Rollout pace 

• Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 8, 2023 

Availability 

• Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

• Google Help: Insert smart chips & building blocks in your Google Doc

What’s changing 

Earlier this year, we introduced eSignature for Docs and Drive in beta. Today, eSignature for Docs and Drive is rolling out in general availability for all Workspace Individual customers. 

Built directly into Google Docs, eSignature makes it easier for solopreneurs and small businesses to request signatures, keep track of and manage contracts like customer agreements, vendor contracts, stakeholder sign-offs and more. eSignature can be used to: 

• Request signatures, see the status of pending signatures, and find completed contracts. 
• Sign official contracts directly within Google Drive, eliminating the need to switch apps or tabs. 
• Create a copy of any given contract so it can be used as a template to initiate multiple eSignatures requests.

Since the last announcement, we’ve expanded functionality to include the following features:

• Audit trail: all completed contracts will automatically contain an audit trail report.
• Multi-signer: the ability to request a signature from more than one user.
• Non-Gmail users: the ability to request an eSignature from non-Gmail users.
• Initiating eSignature on PDF (beta): the ability to initiate an eSignature on PDF files stored in Drive.

We’ll also be introducing more features for eSignature in the next few months, including:

• PDF templates: the ability to easily reuse a PDF file as contract templates.
• Custom text fields: the ability to ask signers to add relevant information (e.g. job titles, email address) to the contract. 

Additional details

Select Google Workspace editions (see the “Availability” section below) can apply to beta test eSignature using this form. We will be accepting beta applications until December 18, 2023.

This feature will be available as part of a larger beta, which includes access to new custom email layouts in Gmail. These new email layouts allow users to customize existing templates, reuse a custom layout in multiple email campaigns, or create a brand new layout from scratch. Once you sign up for the beta you will see the eSignature and new Gmail features in the coming weeks.

Getting started

• End users: Workspace Individual subscribers: Visit the Help Center to learn more about sending signature requests & sign documents with eSignature.

Rollout pace

• Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 7, 2023

Availability

• Available to Google Workspace Individual Subscribers 
  
  
• Eligible for beta: Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus and Education Plus

Resources

• Google Help: Send signature requests & sign documents with eSignature
• Google Workspace Updates  Blog: Introducing eSignature for Google Docs and Google Drive: launching to open beta for Workspace Individual subscribers, launching to beta for Google Workspace customers

What’s changing

Admins can now set client-side encryption (CSE) to be on by default for:

• Newly created Gmail messages, Google Calendar events. 
• Newly created Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files.
• Newly uploaded Google Drive files.
  
  

Admins can set client-side encryption as default on for users in Organizational Units (OUs) that regularly handle sensitive data requiring additional encryption. This allows organizations the flexibility to meet their compliance and regulatory requirements and reduce the burden on change management programs. Users are prompted to create a CSE object natively in each app meaning their emails, events and files are encrypted by default with customer-managed keys and are private from Google. For organizations with strict regulatory or sovereignty needs, this can help them close compliance gaps by defaulting users to the preferred mode for handling sensitive data.  

Drive:

Gmail:

This is available on the web initially, with support coming for mobile apps in the future. 

Who’s impacted

Admins and end users

Why it matters

This feature is important for Google Workspace admins as it improves users compliance behavior without sacrificing productivity and increases control for admins implementing data control policies. It also includes improved audit logs, providing more detail for admins compiling regulatory compliance reports.

Workspace already uses the latest cryptographic standards to encrypt data by default, at rest and in transit between our facilities. Client-side encryption goes beyond this, giving organizations authoritative control and privacy as the sole owner of private encryption keys and the identity provider of the encryption keys. It gives organizations higher confidence that any third party, including Google and foreign governments, cannot access their confidential data. Users can continue to collaborate across their preferred apps in Workspace while IT and compliance teams can ensure that sensitive data stays compliant with regulations. 

Getting started

• Admins: This feature will be OFF by default and can be configured at the group or OU level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about client-side encryption.
• End users: Use our Help Center to learn more about working with encrypted files in Drive, Docs, Sheets & Slides.

Rollout pace

• Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 5, 2023

Availability

• Google Workspace Assured Controls is available as an add-on to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus customers only. For more information, contact your Google account representative.

Resources

• Google Workspace Admin Help: About client-side encryption
• Google Help: Get started with encrypted files in Drive, Docs, Sheets & Slides
• Cloud Blog post: Announcing Assured Controls and expanded Data Regions coverage for Google Workspace
• Google Workspace Blog: Google Workspace expands data privacy controls to Gmail and Calendar with client-side encryption

What’s changing

For years, users have written content and replied to comments faster and more easily using Smart Compose in Google Docs, Slides, Sheets and Drawings. Today, we’re excited to announce a new feature that extends the power of Smart Compose to help you solve simple math equations. 

Upon typing a math equation that ends with “=” into your document, presentation, spreadsheet comments, or drawing, solutions will appear as grey text suggestions. This new seamless mathematical experience will increase productivity and accuracy when solving math equations across Workspace. 

Getting started 

• Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
• End users: This feature will be ON by default and can be disabled by opening a file, clicking Tools > Preferences > deselect “Show Smart Compose suggestions”. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Smart Compose and Smart Reply. 

Rollout pace 

• Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 5, 2023 
• Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 18, 2023 

Availability 

• Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Essentials Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits 

Resources 

• Google Help: Use Smart Compose and Smart Reply

What’s changing 

In Google Docs, you can already insert smart chips for Docs, Sheets and Slides files, date chips, Calendar event chips, and more. Beginning today, you can now insert smart chips for AppSheet content. These smart chips allow you to access AppSheet data directly into Docs — you’ll be able to view and take action on the data, including triggering automations, without having to leave Docs.

Getting started

• Admins: AppSheet smart chips are included as part of the AppSheet product service entitlement in your Admin Console. Additional policies and settings can be configured directly in AppSheet
• End Users: All Workspace customers are entitled to use AppSheet smart chips in Google Docs once they are enabled. To enable them, you’ll need to install the AppSheet for Google Docs Add-On from Google Workspace Marketplace. Visit the AppSheet Help Center to learn more about getting started with AppSheet and inserting AppSheet smart chips into a Google Doc.

Rollout pace

• This feature is available now.

Availability

• Available to Google Workspace customers with AppSheet licenses.

Resources

• Google Help: Use AppSheet smart chips in Google Docs
• Google Workspace Marketplace: AppSheet for Google Docs
• AppSheet Help