Google Workspace Updates: 2020

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - December 18, 2020

Friday, December 18, 2020

New updates Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are fully launched or in the process of rolling out (rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete), 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), and available to all Google Workspace and G Suite customers.
Set as away available on AndroidYou can now set your status to "away" in Chat in Gmail on Android. This was previously available on iOS and the web. | Available to Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers only. | Learn more.
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.
Improved Google Meet experience on the Nest Hub MaxWe’re making several updates to improve the experience of using Meet on the Nest Hub Max smart display, available in beta. | Learn more.
New endpoint details view in Meet Quality ToolWe’ve added a new drill-down view in Meet Quality Tool in the Admin console that shows additional details on connection endpoint level. | Learn more.
Additional language support for live captions in Google MeetWe’re expanding live captions in Google Meet to French, German, Portuguese and Spanish (Spain and Latin America) speakers. They were previously only available in English. | Learn more.
Turn Google Meet Quick access on or off from Google CalendarMeeting organizers in G Suite for Education and Enterprise for Education domains can turn Quick access on or off for a meeting from the event in Google Calendar. | Learn more.
Adding more data sources and new OU controls to the security investigation toolWe’re enhancing the security investigation tool with new Google Chat, Google Meet, Google Groups, Google Voice, and Google Calendar logs and organizational unit (OU) filters so queries can be limited to specific OUs. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus and G Suite Enterprise for Education customers only. | Learn more.

Adding more data sources and new OU controls to the security investigation tool

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Quick launch summary The security investigation tool is a resource in the Google Workspace security center that can help you identify, triage, and take action on security and privacy issues in your domain. We’re now enhancing the tool with:

New Google Chat, Google Meet, Google Groups, Google Voice, and Google Calendar logs.
Organizational unit (OU) filters so queries can be limited to specific OUs.

We hope that this will help you understand important activity in your domain and take action from within the investigation tool.

Getting started

Admins: These enhancements will be available by default. Visit the Help Center to learn more about the security investigation tool.
End users: No end user impact.

You can now use Chat, Meet, Groups, Voice, and Calendar logs as data sources in the security investigation tool.

You can now filter by OU in the security investigation tool

Rollout pace

Available now

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus and G Suite Enterprise for Education customers
Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, and Enterprise Standard, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, and Nonprofits customers

Resources

Turn Google Meet Quick access on or off from Google Calendar

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Quick launch summary

Meeting organizers in G Suite for Education and Enterprise for Education domains can now turn Quick access on or off for a meeting from the event in Google Calendar. The Quick access setting helps organizers control if participants must ask to join the video meeting. By adding controls to calendar events, organizers can configure the setting appropriately in advance of the meeting. Previously, the setting could only be controlled via the Host controls menu during the meeting.

As announced last week, the Quick access setting is now “sticky” for recurring meetings. That means that if you change the setting—either before the meeting via Google Calendar or during the meeting via in-call settings—it will be saved for any future meetings that use the same meeting code.

Control Quick access from the event in Google Calendar

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: Quick access is turned ON by default for all meetings. It can be turned off or on for each meeting, and any changes will be saved for future meetings that use the same meeting code. Visit our Help Center to learn more about Quick access.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 15, 2020

Availability

Available to G Suite for Education and Enterprise for Education customers
Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, and Nonprofits customers

Resources

Google Help: Control access to a video meeting with Quick access

Additional language support for live captions in Google Meet

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Quick launch summaryWe’re expanding live captions in Google Meet to French, German, Portuguese and Spanish (Spain and Latin America) speakers. They were previously only available in English. Live captions allow deaf and hard of hearing users, users with different primary languages, and users in noisy environments to participate more fully in meetings.
During a Meet call, each video call participant will be able to select the meeting’s spoken language when enabling captions.

Choose your captions language in Google Meet.

Captions setting will also be “sticky.” This means that if you turn them on or off during a meeting, they will be saved, along with the chosen language, for future meetings.
Non-English captions are currently available on the web to APAC and EMEA countries only, with rollout to North America and Latin America coming in early 2021. Additionally we’ll also expand support to iOS and Android mobile apps in early 2021.
Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: This feature will be available by default in APAC and EMEA countries. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using captions in Meet.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 15, 2020

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers. Also available to users with personal Google Accounts.

Resources

Google Help: Use captions in a video call

New endpoint details view in Meet Quality Tool

Monday, December 14, 2020

What’s changingWe’ve added a new drill-down view in Meet Quality Tool that shows additional details on connection endpoint level. By clicking an endpoint in the meeting timeline, admins can now also view:

User video mute/unmute activity
Network protocol changes (UDP, TCP)
Network connection type (wired, Wi-Fi, cellular connections)
For participants admitted after knocking, who admitted them
For participants who were ejected from the meeting, who ejected them
End-of-call quality rating (when submitted)

For still ongoing meetings, the timeline and drill-down are loaded with near-real-time values.
Who’s impactedAdmins
Why it’s importantA combination of many technical factors and activities affect the perceived quality of a meeting. This additional level of information about meetings helps admins become more effective in improving the meeting quality for their users.
Getting startedAdmins: These new details are available by default when viewing any meeting in the Meet Quality Tool. You can click any connection endpoint in the timeline to bring up the endpoint details view.

Hovering over an event shows additional details and a timestamp for the event.

End users: This feature doesn’t impact end users.
Rollout pace

This feature is available now for all users.

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers

Resources

Improved Google Meet experience on the Nest Hub Max

Monday, December 14, 2020

Quick launch summary Earlier this year, we launched the ability to use Google Meet on Nest Hub Max in beta. Now, we’re making several updates to improve the experience of using Meet on this smart display. Specifically we’re adding:

An in-call clock to keep meetings on schedule. Just tap on the screen to see it.
Nameplates on user tiles to help you see who is in a meeting.
Tap-to-pin specific users, so you can make an individual video feed larger if needed. Double tap on a feed to pin or unpin.
2x2 grid view, so you can see up to 4 meeting participants at once, including your own video.
An overflow menu, so you can see call attendees not displayed in the grid view.

Pin a user to make an individual video feed larger

Use the overflow menu to see call attendees not displayed in the 2x2 grid

Getting started

Admins: These updates are available by default for any organizations in the Google Workspace with Google Assistant Beta program. Learn more and apply to join the beta.
End users: This feature will be ON by default for any users who have already connected their Google Workspace account to a Nest Hub Max. Visit the Help Center to learn how to have a video meeting with your Google Nest Hub Max or learn more about connecting your Google Workspace account to your Nest Hub Max.

Rollout pace

These features are already available for all users.

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers

Resources

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - December 11, 2020

Friday, December 11, 2020

New updates

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are fully launched or in the process of rolling out (rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete), 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), and available to all Google Workspace and G Suite customers.

Share a Google Meet video call link in classic Hangouts

You can now join or share a link to Google Meet video calls in classic Hangouts directly from the conversation view. | Learn more.

Office editing mode now default from Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides home screens

Last month, we made Office editing mode the default editing mode for Office files in Drive on the web. Now, it's also the default for Office files opened from docs.google.com, sheets.google.com, and slides.google.com. | Rolling out to Rapid Release now; launch to Scheduled Release planned for December 14, 2020. | Learn more here and here.

Google Meet hardware Series One now available

The next generation of meeting room hardware—Series One room kits for Google Meet—is now available for purchase. | Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits only. | Learn more. Purchase.

Take actions on unmanaged users in bulk using the unmanaged user transfer tool

You can now download a list of unmanaged users as a CSV file, then upload the same file with an action indicated for each entry (e.g. send/resend the invite, cancel the invite). | Learn more.

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.

Use the new Apps Script Integrated Development Environment (IDE) Script Editor

We’ve redesigned the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Google Apps Script. | Learn more.

Vault for Google Voice now generally available

Google Vault now supports Google Voice. | Learn more.

Ending support for IE11 for all Google Workspace apps

Microsoft recently announced that they will stop supporting Internet Explorer 11 (IE 11). As a result, we recommend our own users switch to a different browser as soon as possible, to avoid any possible disruptions in service such as degraded performance or security vulnerabilities. | Learn more.

Increasing shared external contact limit to 200,000 contacts

Shared external contacts are users outside of your domain who you add to your company directory. Previously, there was a limit of 50,000 external contacts. Now that limit is 200,000. | Learn more.

Some Google Meet settings now “sticky” for Education users

Based on your feedback, we’re changing the behavior of some Google Meet settings for G Suite for Education and Enterprise for Education customers. Specifically, certain settings are now “sticky.” | Available to G Suite Education and Enterprise for Education only. | Learn more.

Improving search in Google Drive on Android and iOS

We’re launching new features for the Google Drive mobile apps that will help you search more quickly and efficiently. | Learn more.

Use Secure LDAP to log into macOS with Google credentials

You can now use Secure LDAP on macOS devices. | Available to Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, G Suite Education and Enterprise for Education, and Cloud Identity premium only. | Learn more.

Use Macro Converter add-on to convert Microsoft Excel files with macros to Google Sheets

We’ve launched Macro Converter for Google Sheets. This Google Workspace add-on will help convert Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code used in Microsoft Excel macros to Apps Script code that works in Google Sheets. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus and G Suite Enterprise for Education only. | Learn more.

Open Office attachments from Gmail in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides with one click

We’re making it easier to view, edit, and collaborate on Microsoft Office files sent and received in Gmail using Docs, Sheets, and Slides. | Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits only. | Learn more.

Create and work with documents that contain multiple page orientations in Google Docs

We’ve made it easier to create and work with documents that require multiple page orientations in Google Docs. | Learn more.

Create and work with documents that contain multiple page orientations in Google Docs

Thursday, December 10, 2020

What’s changing We’ve made it easier to create and work with documents that require multiple page orientations in Google Docs.
For documents created in Google Docs, you can now change the page orientation on a per-section basis. This will allow you to make room for wider content such as tables and images that can benefit from extra horizontal space. You’ll also be able to edit, import, and export Microsoft Word documents that contain both portrait and landscape oriented pages.

Who’s impacted End users
Why it’s important We know it’s important that your files and documents look consistent no matter the application you use. We hope these improvements make it easier for you to create and share rich documents that contain wide tables, charts, diagrams, and images.
Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: This feature will be available by default. Visit the Help Center to learn more about changing page settings on Google Docs.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 10, 2020
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on January 5, 2021

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers
Available to users with personal Google Accounts

Resources

Open Office attachments from Gmail in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides with one click

Thursday, December 10, 2020

What’s changing

Open Office files in Docs, Sheets, or Slides with one click: When you send or receive email with an Office file attached, you’ll see an edit icon that will open the file directly in Docs, Sheets, or Slides while preserving the original file format.
Easily reply to the email from within the file: Once the file is opened, you’ll have new options to respond to the email thread from the File menu in Docs, Sheets, or Slides.

See images below.

Who’s impacted End users

Why it’s important This provides a fast and convenient way to view, edit, and collaborate on emailed Office files directly in Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Previously, users would have to save a file to Drive before being able to use G Suite’s Office editing features. With this launch, they can open files more quickly and reply to email threads featuring Office files more easily.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: This feature will be ON by default. Use our Help Center to learn more about how to open an Office file in Docs, Sheets, or Slides from Gmail.

When you receive an Office file in Gmail, click the Edit icon to quickly open the file to view, edit, and collaborate.

After opening an Office file from Gmail, you’ll see new options in the Docs, Sheets, or Slides File menu to reply with a file, or open the original message.

Rollout pace

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 10, 2020

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers
Not available to Google Workspace Essentials and Enterprise Essentials customers

Resources

Use Macro Converter add-on to convert Microsoft Excel files with macros to Google Sheets

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Quick launch summary We’ve launched Macro Converter for Google Sheets. This Google Workspace add-on will help convert Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code used in Microsoft Excel macros to Apps Script code that works in Google Sheets.

Many organizations use macros in Sheets and Excel to automate processes. Google Workspace Enterprise Plus customers can use the Macro Conversion add-on to determine the compatibility of Excel files, and help convert them where possible. This can help teams to recreate Excel macros in Sheets, which can help teams save time through automation while reducing the work needed to convert files.

Getting started

Rollout pace

This is available now for all users.

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus and G Suite Enterprise for Education customers
Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, and Enterprise Standard, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, and Nonprofits customers

Resources

Use Secure LDAP to log into macOS with Google credentials

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Quick launch summary You can now use Secure LDAP on macOS devices. Once enabled, users can log in to macOS devices with their Google Workspace or Cloud Identity login credentials.
This can help simplify access management by using a single directory—the Workspace identity and access management (IAM) platform—to manage access to macOS devices. In turn, this can help improve security by providing a single place to set up identity and access policies, and reduce your dependency on legacy identity infrastructure.

Getting started

Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about the Secure LDAP service, and specifically how to configure macOS clients to the service.
End users: No end-user impact until enabled by an admin.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on Dec 10, 2020

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, G Suite Education and Enterprise for Education, and Cloud Identity premium customers
Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Enterprise Essentials, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, and Nonprofits customers

Resources

Improving search in Google Drive on Android and iOS

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

What’s changing We’re launching new features for the Google Drive mobile apps that will help you search more quickly and efficiently. Now, Android and iOS users with the latest versions of the Drive app will be able to:

See and re-run recent desktop and mobile searches.
View and select intelligent suggestions as they type, including suggestions for people, past searches, and keywords, as well as recently accessed files.

Who’s impacted End users

Why it’s important With changes in working patterns due to COVID-19, more people need to get work done even when they’re away from their desk. Finding files quickly and easily on your phone helps ensure you can still share, review, collaborate, and create, wherever you are.

Getting started

Rollout pace

Rapid and Scheduled release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 9, 2020 for users with the latest versions of the Drive Android and iOS apps

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers

Resources

Google Drive Help: Find files in Google Drive

Some Google Meet settings now “sticky” for Education users

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

UpdateDecember 10, 2020: We updated this post to reflect a change in the rollout timing for Scheduled Release domains. Rollout to these domains will now be at the same time as Rapid Release domains—full rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility) starting on December 9, 2020. We previously stated that it would be a gradual rollout starting January 5.

Quick launch summary Based on your feedback, we’re changing the behavior of some Google Meet settings for G Suite for Education and Enterprise for Education customers. Specifically, certain settings are now “sticky.” This means that if you turn them on or off during a meeting, they will be saved for any future meetings that use the same meeting code. Previously, all settings would return to their default state whenever a meeting was restarted.
This change will apply to these settings:

Settings are saved for each meeting code, not per user
Any changes will only be saved for the specific meeting code, and will not affect other meetings that the user owns with a different meeting code. Additionally, if you change these settings in a one-time, nicknamed, or instant meeting, the settings will not be saved, and will return to their default state after the meeting ends. Scenarios when meetings have the same meeting code include:

Some recurring meetings (including recurring meetings scheduled via Google Calendar)
A meeting owner joins, exits, then rejoins the same meeting

Getting started

Rollout pace

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on December 9, 2020

Availability

Available to G Suite Education and Enterprise for Education customers
Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, and Nonprofits customers

Resources

Google Help: Start a video meeting for education

Increasing shared external contact limit to 200,000 contacts

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Quick launch summary Shared external contacts are users outside of your domain who you add to your company directory. Previously, there was a limit of 50,000 external contacts. Now that limit is 200,000. Additionally, the total storage limit has been increased from 20MB to 40MB.
Shared external contacts help enable collaboration between users in your organization and any external users who they may need to communicate with frequently, such as consultants and partners. When a user is added as a shared external contact, users in your organization can find the profile information for them in many Google services, such as when they enter addresses in Gmail.

Getting started

Admins: You can manage shared external contacts via the Domain Shared Contacts API. Visit our Help Center to learn more about shared external contacts and the external contacts directory.
End users: Additional shared external contacts will automatically appear in autocomplete surfaces.

Rollout pace

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on December 9, 2020

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers

Resources Google Workspace

Google Workspace Admin Help: Add shared external contacts to the Directory

Ending support for IE11 for all Google Workspace apps

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

will stop supporting Internet Explorer 11 (IE 11)

Over the next few weeks we’ll start showing a banner to all Google Workspace users still using IE 11 that informs them of the need to upgrade their browser by March 15, 2021.

We’ll publish an additional reminder on the Google Workspace Updates blog as we approach the end of support for IE 11.

Check out the Help Center for more information on supported browsers for Google Workspace.
Getting started

Availability

Impacts Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers

Resources

Google Help: Supported browsers for Google Workspace

Vault for Google Voice now generally available

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Quick launch summary Google Vault now supports Google Voice. This means you can use Vault to retain, hold, search, and export Google Voice data including text messages, call logs, voicemails, and voicemail transcripts.
This provides you with expanded control over your organization’s data, and can help you meet regulatory or legal obligations for your Google Voice data.

Getting started

Example of creating a custom retention rule for Google Voice in the new Vault interface

Example of creating a custom retention rule for Google Voice in the classic Vault interface

Example of searching for Google Voice data in the new Google Vault interface

Example of searching for Google Voice data in the classic Google Vault interface

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 8, 2020

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace and G Suite customers with Google Voice standard and premier licenses

Resources

Use the new Apps Script Integrated Development Environment (IDE) Script Editor

Monday, December 7, 2020

UpdateThis post has been updated to reflect a change in rollout pace. It is now an extended rollout (longer than 15 days for feature visibility), which we expect to complete in January 2021. We previously stated it would be a gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 7, 2020.

What’s changing We’ve redesigned the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Google Apps Script. The new IDE offers a more modern and simplified development experience which makes it quicker and easier to build solutions that make Google Workspace apps more useful for your organization.
You can learn more about these improvements in this video from our Next OnAir session earlier this year.

Who’s impacted Developers

Why it’s important Apps Script is a rapid application development platform that makes it fast and easy to create custom business solutions that integrate with Google Workspace and that increase the power of apps including Calendar, Docs, Drive, Gmail, Sheets, and Slides. With this launch, we’ve revamped the cloud-based IDE that helps you create, edit, and manage projects. The new IDE simplifies the experience of developing for Google Workspace and offers:

A state of the art code editor, which uses Monaco and that offers advanced autocomplete, auto-formatting, and more.
An enhanced troubleshooting experience by improving the debugger and adding real-time streaming logs.
Integration between the IDE and the Google Workspace Developer hub to provide a seamless, end-to-end experience to design, develop, deploy and manage Apps Script projects in one place.
Updated look and feel, with a user-friendly interface which is more similar to other Google Workspace apps that use the Material Design framework.

Getting started

Admins and developers: This feature will be ON by default for all users. However, users can opt out to use the legacy IDE by clicking on “Use legacy editor” in the toolbar next to the Execution log button. Use our developer documentation to learn more about working with Apps Script.

New Apps Script IDE

Improved code editing experience

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 7, 2020.

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers

Resources

Roadmap

This feature was listed as an upcoming release.

Improving multiple domain setup in the Admin console

Friday, December 4, 2020

Quick launch summary We’ve improved the interface you use when you set up multiple domains via the Admin console. Multiple domains can be set up as secondary domains or domain aliases, and can help you manage multiple businesses or brands, each with their own domain. With this launch, we’ve redesigned the interface and setup flow to make it easier and quicker to verify multiple domains.

An example of the new interface Getting started

Admins: You’ll see the new interface when you go to Admin console > Domains and add a domain/domain alias. Visit our Help Center to learn more about how to add multiple domains or domain aliases.
End users: No end user impact.

Rollout pace

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 4, 2020

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers

Resources

Workspace Admin Help: Add multiple domains or domain aliases

New interface for Google Vault

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Quick launch summary We’ve designed a new interface for Google Vault. The new interface makes it easier to navigate, and includes new productivity features for faster task completion. To use the new interface, visit vault.google.com and sign in with your Google Workspace admin account.
The new interface includes all the core functionality from the classic interface, and there’s no impact on your existing Google Vault setup. The main interface improvements include the following:

When you first sign in, you’re directed to a home page with up to three options (depending on your permissions): Retention, Matters, and Reporting.
When you set up retention rules and holds, step-by-step flows with more tooltips guide you through the process.
Custom retention rules, holds, and search results are listed in sortable, filterable tables. This helps you more easily understand the scope of your information governance policies and search results.
When you explore search results and hold reports, you keep your context. Clicking an item opens a side panel instead of taking you to a new page.

The classic interface is still available at ediscovery.google.com. Matters, retention rules, and audit log data will sync between the interfaces and be available in both places until ediscovery.google.com is shut down. We’ll provide more details regarding this turndown on the Workspace Updates blog at least three months in advance.

Getting started

Admins: The new interface is available at vault.google.com. Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing Google Vault for your organization. Note that users in the classic interface may see a banner inviting them to try the new interface starting on December 3, 2020.
End users: No end user impact.

When you first sign in, you’ll now see a home page with up to three options: Retention, Matters, and Reporting.

Custom rules are now listed in a sortable, filterable table.

You’ll see a new interface for creating and managing rules.
Rollout pace

This feature is available now for all users.

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus customers, G Suite Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofit customers, and customers with the Vault add-on license
Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, and Business Standard customers, as well as G Suite Basic customers.

Resources

Control access to AppSheet with a new Admin console setting

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

UpdateFebruary 25, 2021: This rollout for this feature is complete.
January 26, 2021: This feature will resume a gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) beginning on February 8, 2021.
January 12, 2021: We've paused the rollout of this feature while we work to improve performance. We apologize for the delay — we'll provide an update here once rollout has resumed.
December 7, 2020: Primary domain administrators will receive an email no later than January 5, 2021, outlining the specific impact to their organization and who to contact for more info. Please note that you will not receive an email if:

See the Additional Details section below for more information.

What’s changing

On December 14, 2020, Google Workspace admins will begin seeing a new control for AppSheet in the Additional Google services section of the Admin console.

AppSheet is available to all Google Workspace customers; this new setting simply gives admins the ability to enable or disable user access to AppSheet at the domain, organizational unit (OU), or group level.

Who’s impacted

Admins

Why you’d use it

AppSheet allows users to maximize the power of Google Workspace by building custom applications on top of Workspace applications and other services and applications in their environment, all without writing any code.

Additional Details

Setting defaults

The default for the new control will be based on your setting for managing access to services that aren’t controlled individually, combined with additional factors.

If your setting for managing access to services that aren’t controlled individually is ON for everyone, the new AppSheet control will also be ON for everyone.

If you currently pay for an AppSheet subscription and your setting for managing access to services that aren’t controlled individually is OFF for everyone, or ON for some OUs and OFF for others, the AppSheet control will be ON for everyone. This is to ensure that your AppSheet services continue to run without disruption.

If you do not currently pay for an AppSheet subscription and your setting for managing access to services that aren’t controlled individually is ON for some OUs and OFF for others, the AppSheet control will automatically align to those settings at an OU level.

If you do not currently pay for an AppSheet subscription and your setting for managing access to services that aren’t controlled individually is OFF for everyone, the AppSheet control will be OFF for everyone.

Most admins will receive an email no later than January 5, 2021, detailing the specific impact to their organization in these cases. Please note that you will not receive an email if your setting is OFF for everyone and you don’t currently have an AppSheet subscription.

Unless you want to make changes to the configurations described above, no additional action is required.

Disabling AppSheet

If your users are already using AppSheet, turning the additional service off will disable access for all app creators and users, and will stop applications from running.

To find out who in your organization is using AppSheet, use the Token Audit Log in the Admin console at Reports > Audit Log > Token. Select “+ Add a filter” and choose “Application name,” then enter “AppSheet”. You’ll then see a list of users in your organization who have used AppSheet.

Getting started

Admins: In the Admin console, go to Apps > Additional Google services > Settings for AppSheet. There, you can enable or disable AppSheet for your entire organization or specific OUs, groups, or users. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning AppSheet on or off for your organization.

End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. Visit the AppSheet Help Center to learn more about getting started with AppSheet.

Rollout pace

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 14, 2020

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers

Resources

Improving originality reports in Google Classroom and Assignments to better detect potential plagiarism

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Quick launch summary Originality reports in Google Classroom and Assignments are now better at detecting potential plagiarism by alerting you when a document contains symbols from different alphabets or other writing systems.
Students sometimes swap out specific characters with similar looking symbols in order to trick plagiarism detection technology. For example, if the letter “a'' is replaced with the Greek symbol “⍺” or Cyrillic symbol “α,” a plagiarized assignment may not be detected as such.
Originality reports will now alert you when a document contains symbols from another alphabet or writing system. Educators can then review it and determine whether the student had a legitimate reason for using those different symbols. Note that students who use originality reports will not see this feature.
Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: This feature will be automatically available to educators when originality reports are turned on for an assignment. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using originality reports.

Rollout pace

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 2, 2020

Availability

Available to G Suite for Education and Enterprise for Education customers, as well as standalone Classroom and Assignments users
Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business and Nonprofits customers

Resources

Customize text style and appearance in Google Sites

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Quick launch summary You can now adjust text size, color, font, spacing, and more while typing in a text box in Google Sites. This significantly expands control over how individual words, paragraphs, pages, and sections look. We hope this will help you make your site look and feel just the way you want it to.
In 2021, we will add the ability to create themes, which will allow you to easily set fonts, colors, and styles across your whole site. We'll announce on the Google Workspace Updates blog when that's available.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: This feature will become available automatically. Visit the Help Center to learn more about how to change how your site looks.

Rollout pace

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers

Resources

Google Help: Change how your site looks

New comment interface for Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides rolling out to more devices

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Quick Summary We’re updating the user interface for comments and action items in the Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps for iOS. These improvements include:

Larger, clearer interface to make it easier to see comments and their context in a document.
Shortcuts and gestures to help you quickly scroll through and respond to multiple comments.
Quick access button to reply, “@” mention someone, and assign action items.

These updates were previously made available on the Docs, Sheets, and Slides Android apps; they’re now rolling out to the Drive Android app and the Docs, Sheets, and Slides iOS apps.

They’ll be made available on the Drive iOS app in the future. See below for more details on the rollout.

Getting started

Rollout pace Docs, Sheets, and Slides on iOS

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: This feature is available with the latest version of the Docs, Sheets, and Slides iOS apps.

Drive Android app

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: This feature is available with the latest version of the Drive Android app.

Drive iOS app

Stay tuned to the Workspace Updates blog for information on when this will launch to iOS devices.

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers

Resources

Google Help: Use comments & action items

Improvements to PDFs imported to Google Docs

Monday, November 30, 2020

Quick launch summary We’re making a range of updates that will make PDFs converted into Google Docs better. Specifically, you may notice improvements in:

Image imports, including the image itself and text wrapping related to images.
Text styles and formatting, such as importing underline and strikethrough, background color, and more fonts.
Layout conversion, including support for multi-column layouts, custom page sizes, tables with borders, and improved content ordering.

Importing PDFs into Google Docs now supports more formatting options.
Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: This feature will be ON by default. Visit the Help Center to learn more about converting PDF and photo files to text.

Rollout pace

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on November 30, 2020

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers

Resources

Google Help: Convert PDF and photo files to text

Changes to Google Chat group conversations and classic Hangouts coming December 3, 2020

Monday, November 30, 2020

What’s changingStarting December 3, 2020, we’ll make three changes to how group conversations work in Google Chat:

Add and change members. You’ll be able to add and change members of new group conversations.
Different Google Vault retention policy. If you have a Vault retention policy set, the updated group conversations will respect a different retention policy.
Compatibility with classic Hangouts. Group conversations in Hangouts will begin to appear in Google Chat over the coming weeks.

See below for more information on each of these updates.
Who’s impactedAdmins and end users
Why you’d use itAs we announced earlier this year, starting in the first half of 2021, everyone can begin upgrading from Hangouts to Chat. To ensure a smooth transition, we will help automatically migrate your Hangouts conversations and saved history. These changes further ensure compatibility between classic Hangouts and Chat to make migrating your users as seamless as possible.
Additional detailsUpdated group conversationsWhen a new member is added to a group conversation, all members will see a message announcing the new member. The new member will be able to see the entire conversation, even messages sent before they entered, allowing them to catch up easily.

If you have a group conversation created before December 3, you can easily create an updated conversation with the same people using the “Start a new chat” option in the conversation settings menu.

History and retention settingsWhile end users can toggle history on and off at the conversation level, admins can control whether to keep chat history for users in their organization. They can set the default and also let users change their history setting for each conversation.
Note that these updated group conversations will also respect a different retention policy in Vault. If you set custom Chat retention rules in Google Vault, the scope of coverage will change. Rules set for “All Chat Spaces” (previously known as “All Rooms”) will apply to existing chat rooms, plus updated group messages and group messages that synchronize between Chat and Hangouts. Visit the Help Center for more details.
Compatibility with classic HangoutsGroup conversations in Hangouts—beginning with conversations, followed by message history—will begin to appear in Google Chat over the coming weeks. This will allow your users to move from Hangouts to Chat without losing context. In addition, 1:1 messages, updated group conversations, and unthreaded rooms from Chat will begin to appear in Hangouts (Note: this change will only be available for users with Hangouts enabled).Getting started

Rollout paceUpdated group conversations

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 3, 2020

Compatibility with classic Hangouts

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 3, 2020

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers
Not available to Google Workspace Essentials and Enterprise Essentials customers

Resources

Updates

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - December 18, 2020

Adding more data sources and new OU controls to the security investigation tool

Turn Google Meet Quick access on or off from Google Calendar

Additional language support for live captions in Google Meet

New endpoint details view in Meet Quality Tool

Improved Google Meet experience on the Nest Hub Max

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - December 11, 2020

Create and work with documents that contain multiple page orientations in Google Docs

Open Office attachments from Gmail in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides with one click

Use Macro Converter add-on to convert Microsoft Excel files with macros to Google Sheets

Use Secure LDAP to log into macOS with Google credentials

Improving search in Google Drive on Android and iOS

Some Google Meet settings now “sticky” for Education users

Increasing shared external contact limit to 200,000 contacts

Ending support for IE11 for all Google Workspace apps

Vault for Google Voice now generally available

Use the new Apps Script Integrated Development Environment (IDE) Script Editor

Improving multiple domain setup in the Admin console

New interface for Google Vault

Control access to AppSheet with a new Admin console setting

Improving originality reports in Google Classroom and Assignments to better detect potential plagiarism

Customize text style and appearance in Google Sites

New comment interface for Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides rolling out to more devices

Improvements to PDFs imported to Google Docs

Changes to Google Chat group conversations and classic Hangouts coming December 3, 2020

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