Announcements
Quicker access to more Workspace integrations in Google Chat
While you’re having a conversation in Google Chat, you can now more easily take actions in other Google Workspace products. Simply hover over the + icon to the start of the text box to quickly see and access the menu of options. These options vary by context, and can include Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Photos, and Calendar. This will make it easier to take action across Google Workspace and enable a faster and more seamless workflow. This feature will be initially available on the Web and Android, with iOS available in early 2022. Read more.
Manage Gmail IMAP controls by group in the Admin console
You can now configure Gmail IMAP settings at the group level in the Admin console, giving you more granular levels of control to define trusted mail clients within your organization.
Manage Gmail IMAP settings in the Admin console. Earlier this year, we announced additional enhanced Gmail IMAP controls. With this launch, we’re further ensuring that your users’ communication is secure and reliable. Gmail IMAP was previously only configurable at the domain or OU level. Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Nonprofits, Education, and Enterprise for Education customers. Not available to Google Workspace Essentials customers. Read more.
Set user language programmatically with the Directory API
You can use Google Workspace Admin SDK Directory API to customize a per user language preference via the user create/update flow.
Previously, the AdminSDK only allowed one customer level language setting that applied to all users, which could then be changed individually via the Admin console, or by the user. We hope this will make it easier to set up and manage your users at scale. Read more.
Admins can install Google Workspace Marketplace applications for specific groups
Admins can now install Google Workspace Marketplace applications for specific groups in their organization using the new “admin-install” functionality (formerly known as “domain-install”). Previously, admin-installing applications from the Google Workspace Marketplace was only possible for organizational units or an entire domain. Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers. Not available to Google Workspace Essentials customers. Read more.
Updated user interface for the App Access Control panel in the Admin console
We’ve updated the user interface for the App Access Control portion of the Admin console. This update makes it easier for admins to: view which applications are configured as trusted or blocked, view a list of all applications being accessed by users and view a list of Google Services within their organization. Additionally, you’ll notice faster loading times for the app access list. Read more.
More details on migration of existing multiple-location Drive files to shortcuts and other improvements for shortcuts
Last year, we announced improvements for shortcuts in Google Drive. Shortcuts simplify file and folder structures in Drive by creating pointers to items, rather than having items which existed in multiple locations. At that time, we also mentioned that we would be migrating existing files in multiple locations to shortcuts in 2021. This migration will now happen in 2022. Before the migration begins, admins will be able to control when to create shortcuts in shared folders with a new admin setting. See below for more information. Google Drive end users will begin seeing a banner in Google Drive on web and mobile notifying them of the migration. No additional action is required, the migration will take place automatically. This applies to all Google Workspace users and users with personal Google accounts. Read more.
Google Forms API now available in open beta
At Google Cloud Next 2021, we announced the Google Forms API Beta, which provides programmatic access for managing Google Forms and acting on responses— empowering developers to build powerful integrations on top of Forms. The API is useful for a variety of tasks such as: creating and modifying forms or quizzes, retrieving form responses or quiz grades, reading form content and metadata and receiving push notifications for form or quiz responses and updates. Developers can apply to join our Early Adopter Program and begin developing using the Google Forms API by filling out this form. Read more.
Enhanced content classification, governance, and DLP with Google Drive labels
Earlier this year we announced a beta for three features which can help categorize content and enhance content protection at scale. Drive labels are now generally available, and automated classification with Workspace data loss prevention and labels-driven sharing restrictions will become generally available in the coming weeks. Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus and Education Plus customers. Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Education Fundamentals, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers. Read more.
New ways to customize tables in Google Docs
We’re adding several new ways to customize tables in Google Docs. You can now pin a table header row to repeat on each page, designate that a row should not be split across pages, quickly add and arrange columns and rows, sorting tables to better organize data and use a new table sidebar to manage table properties. Read more.
New built-in interoperability between Google Meet and Cisco Webex
We’re introducing video conferencing interoperability for Google Meet with Cisco Webex, which will allow you to join Webex meetings from Google Meet hardware devices and join Google Meet calls from supported Cisco Webex devices. Read more.
Set tasks to repeat in Google Calendar
You can now set tasks to repeat in Google Calendar and customize the recurrence schedules, similar to other entry types in Calendar. This means you can: Create tasks with recurrence rules, edit the recurrence rule of an existing task and set an “end condition” for a recurrence rule. Read more.
Lock audio and video during a Google Meet meeting from iOS devices
Google Meet hosts and co-hosts can now lock all participants’ audio and video from iOS devices, which locks all participants’ audio so they’re muted or prevents participants’ from using their camera respectively. These settings can help prevent disruptions, keeping your meetings on track and productive. Previously, it was only possible to use these locks when using Google Meet on a computer. We anticipate this feature to be available for Android in early 2022 — we will provide an update on the Workspace Updates Blog once available. Read more.
Start and join meetings and audio calls from 1:1 chats using Google Chat in Gmail on mobile
You can now start or join meetings and audio calls from 1:1 chats in Google Chat in Gmail on Android and iOS. At the moment, this feature will be available for 1:1 chats only. To ring someone directly, select the phone or video icon in the top right corner of a 1:1 chat. To join a call, select the phone or video chip within the 1:1 chat. While on a call, you’ll see a banner of the person you’re on a call with, the call duration and a Meet icon in the chat roster. Missed calls will be indicated with a red phone or video icon within the conversation and the chat roster. Read more.
Control the display of user availability across Google Workspace products with a new admin control
We’re introducing a new Admin setting that controls whether a user’s Google Calendar status is displayed across Google Workspace products. For example, when the setting is turned OFF, end users will no longer see if their colleagues are out of office in products such as Google Chat or Gmail. Available to Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, and Education Plus. Not Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Enterprise Essentials, Education Fundamentals and Nonprofits, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers. Read more.
