Google Workspace Updates

Create and edit calculated fields in Google Sheets pivot tables with an improved editor

2026-09-09T12:59:50.116-07:00

We are introducing a new, dedicated formula editor dialog for creating and editing calculated fields within pivot tables in Google Sheets. This update streamlines how you build custom formulas and derived metrics, making data analysis faster and more accurate.

Specifically, this new update introduces:

A dedicated formula editor dialog for creating and modifying custom calculations
Field selection menus to insert column names without manual typing
Real-time syntax and formula validation to catch errors before applying changes

Previously, creating calculated fields in Google Sheets required entering formulas into inline sidebar cards, which involved manual typing of exact field names and lacked live error checking. With this update, calculated fields can be created and managed with greater speed and accuracy, ensuring formulas remain consistent and easy to maintain across spreadsheets.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about creating and using pivot tables in Google Sheets.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) started on September 8, 2026
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 21, 2026

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google accounts

Resources

Google Docs Editors Help: Create & use pivot tables

Automatic room check-in for Google Meet available on mobile devices

2026-09-09T12:15:38.450-07:00

In January 2026, we introduced Automatic room check-in for Google Meet available on mobile to organizations on the Rapid Release track enrolled in Early Preview Rooms. We’re excited to announce that this feature is now rolling out to all Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware. This feature simplifies the process of joining meetings for those using companion mode on a phone or tablet within a conference room. We're introducing automatic room check-in via ultrasound proximity detection. To automatically check you in, the green room uses your phone or tablet’s microphone to detect an ultrasound signal from the conference room hardware, streamlining the process and eliminating unnecessary steps. This feature is available on Android and iOS devices.

Automatic check-in on Android, Right: on iOS

Additional details

Minimum Android build required:

Meet: 367.0 (Android Settings > Apps > Meet > [App Info > Version])
Gmail: 2026.06.29. (Android Settings > Apps > Gmail > [App Info > Version])

Minimum iOS build required:

Meet: 374.0. (Meet > Settings -> About, terms, and privacy > Version)
Gmail: 6.0.260824. (Settings > About Gmail > Version)

Getting started

Admins: Automatic check-in is on by default and can be enabled or disabled at the room level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning proximity detection on or off.
End users: The Companion mode entry point will be highlighted in the greenroom when the proximity detection signal is detected. After joining a meeting in Companion mode, the user will be automatically checked into the room. If proximity check-in isn’t working, visit the Help Center for troubleshooting tips. Users can still check in manually after joining the call.

Rollout pace

Android

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Rollout expected to complete by September 10, 2026

iOS

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on Sept 9, 2026

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers, and Workspace Individual subscribers with Google Meet hardware.

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Turn proximity detection on or off
Google Help: Use Proximity Detection with Google Meet

Create content, schedule events, and coordinate tasks across Workspace regardless of what app you are in

2026-09-09T10:42:25.904-07:00

Completing a single task shouldn't mean breaking your focus or switching apps. To keep you in the flow of work, Gemini can tackle complex tasks behind the scenes, working as an intelligent orchestrator across Workspace using the power of Workspace Intelligence. You can prompt Gemini to help from wherever you are working, including Google Chat, Drive, Docs, Slides, and Gmail*.

Before, you had to prompt within each individual app to get personalized AI help. For example, generating a personalized document with Gemini required being in Docs while building AI-powered spreadsheets required being in Sheets. Now, for example, with richer AI integrations across Workspace apps, Gemini can help you drive your work forward faster by creating personalized and formatted docs or beautifully designed slides without leaving Gmail. This functionality also will soon power the flows you build in Workspace Studio.

Now you can use Gemini across your Workspace apps to:

Create content: Generate formatted Google Docs, structured Sheets, or stylized Slides in the background, saved securely to your Drive.

Example prompts:

When in Gmail (via the side panel) to create a doc: “Create a strategy brief for this project with goals, milestones and next steps.“
When in Gmail (via the side panel) to create a spreadsheet: "Create a tracker for this project in a new spreadsheet"
When in Docs (via the side panel) to create a deck: "Turn this proposal into an easy to read slide deck for my director using @presentation as a style reference.”
When in Chat (via Ask Gemini in Chat) to create a document: "Create a deck outlining Project Zebra with the latest updates"
When in Drive (via Ask Gemini in Drive) to create a document: "Create a customer insights deck from project Zebra using my project files including sheets, reports, and emails”

Conduct deep research: Synthesize complex data scattered across large folders or long threads into a summary report, complete with clear source attributions.

Example prompts:

When in Docs (via the side panel): “Can you do deep research to see how this blog post compares to other content we have drafted internally and what competitors have published externally?”

Draft and send emails: Compose detailed emails based on meeting notes or active documents, open as a draft in Gmail or send it directly from the Workspace app you are in.

Example prompts:

When in Docs (via the side panel): “Send an email to my sales team for their review and feedback"

Schedule your meetings: Find open times, schedule meetings, or resolve calendar conflicts when communicating with your teams without switching to your calendar.

Example prompts:

When in Chat (via Ask Gemini in Chat): “Schedule some time for me to discuss next steps with product around launch timelines for our new customer support tool“

Keep track of your to-dos: Instantly log a reminder or create a to-do list, mapping them straight into Google Tasks.

When in Slides (via the side panel): “Based on the presented strategy, can you remind me to follow up with the Marketing team next week to see how the social campaign went?”

Build branded decks without having to leave Docs

Enterprise security and compliance controls are built-in:

Data confidentiality: Your data is not reviewed by humans or used to train Gemini models.
Granular permissions: Gemini respects the authenticated user’s existing access permissions and sharing policies. If the user cannot access a document, neither can Gemini.
Human-in-the-Loop controls: For actions involving external communication or calendar commitments, such as sending emails or scheduling meetings, Gemini presents an interactive preview card, allowing users to review, edit, and confirm before execution.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) started on September 2, 2026

Availability

Business: Standard and Plus
Enterprise: Standard and Plus
Consumer: Google AI Pro (with the exception of scheduling functionality) and Google AI Ultra
Other Editions: Frontline Plus (only for scheduling functionality)
Education Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education
Other Add-ons: AI Expanded Access

Note: Usage of advanced AI features across Workspace apps is subject to usage limits. At launch, this feature will be supported in English only. Support for more languages will be added in the future.

Resources

Google Workspace Blog: Less switching, more flow: 5 new agentic capabilities across Google Workspace apps

Pick up where you left off with persistent drafts in Google Chat

2026-09-08T11:25:30.217-07:00

We are introducing persistent drafts in Google Chat. Unsent messages are now automatically saved so you can finish and send later, and are also synchronized across your devices, allowing you to start composing a message on one device and finish or send it from another.

With this update, you can start typing a message and finish later, even if you close Chat or reboot your device. If you start typing a message at your desk, you can finish and send the message from your tablet or mobile phone during your commute. Your unsent drafts will be waiting in the conversation compose box and the drafts shortcut.

Drafts are saved per conversation (DMs, group DMs, and Spaces).
You will find your drafts for a given conversation or thread stored in the compose box.
You will also find your drafts across all conversations in the drafts shortcut.
Unsent drafts are retained for up to 30 days.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more.

Rollout pace

Web

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility with expected completion by September 15, 2026) starting on September 8, 2026
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 22, 2026

Android & iOS

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 28, 2026

Availability

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

Resources

Google Help: Reply to a message in Google Chat

Context-aware access controls are available for Gemini Enterprise in the Admin console

2026-09-08T10:50:47.553-07:00

To help organizations elevate their security posture, we are introducing context-aware access (CAA) policies in the Admin console for Gemini Enterprise. Google Workspace administrators can select granular security attributes for Gemini Enterprise access, including device security and location settings that can be applied to personal and managed devices.

For example, an administrator can create a CAA policy that restricts access to Gemini Enterprise from specific geographic regions. Organizations can also reuse their existing policies that apply to Workspace apps by also applying them to Gemini Enterprise.

Context-Aware Access settings for Gemini Enterprise in Admin console

Getting started

Admins: Context-Aware Access for Gemini Enterprise can be configured at the organizational unit (OU) or group level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about Context-Aware Access, creating Context-Aware Access levels, and assigning Context-Aware Access levels to apps.
End users: If enabled by your admin, you can access Gemini Enterprise when authenticating using your Google sign-in. If your organization’s Context-Aware Access settings are not set to allow access, you may see a message letting you know that you cannot use Google sign-in to authenticate with Gemini Enterprise, or you may see remediation messages which will provide some options on how to unblock Gemini Enterprise.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 8, 2026, with expected completion by September 15, 2026

Availability

Enterprise: Enterprise Standard, and Plus
Education: Education Standard, and Plus
Other: Frontline Standard and Plus; Enterprise Essentials Plus; Cloud Identity Premium

Note: You will need to have purchased Gemini Enterprise to apply Context-Aware Access policies for your users.

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Assign Context-Aware Access levels to apps
Google Workspace Admin Help: Protect your business with Context-Aware Access

Introducing the new 1Password App for Google Chat

2026-09-08T09:02:56.244-07:00

The new 1Password SaaS Manager integration for Google Chat helps teams streamline IT and HR processes by bringing notifications, actions and approvals directly within Chat.

With this integration, teams can build automated workflows for common employee access scenarios, including provisioning and deprovisioning membership across Google Chat spaces. Managers and approvers can review requests and take action directly from interactive Google Chat messages, helping reduce delays and keeping access decisions moving without switching tools.

Getting started

Admins: Admins can install the 1Password Saas Manager Chat app on their users’ behalf. Visit the Help Center to learn more about installing Marketplace apps for your organization.
End users: End users need a 1Password SaaS Manager account to use this app. They can also search for the 1Password Chat App under Apps > Find apps. Visit the Google Workspace Marketplace to learn more and install the 1Password Chat app.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now

Availability

Available to all managed Google Workspace business or organizational accounts

Resources

Use custom web fonts in Google Sheets charts

2026-09-08T08:05:12.128-07:00

Google Sheets now supports the full Google Fonts web font library directly within charts. Users can now select “More fonts” from any font dropdown inside the chart editor sidebar to search, add, and apply custom web fonts across key chart text elements. This expanded font support is available for:

Chart titles and subtitles
Horizontal and vertical axis titles and labels
Data labels
Legend text

Additionally, this launch enhances import and export compatibility with Microsoft Excel to preserve a wider range of fonts across both platforms. Previously, importing Excel files containing charts with custom fonts would result in missing or fallback font substitutions. Now, custom fonts present in both platforms are seamlessly preserved during file import and export, ensuring visual consistency and brand fidelity when moving spreadsheets between Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel.

User selecting a custom web font in the Google Sheets chart editor

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about adding and editing a chart in Google Sheets.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 1, 2026
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 21, 2026

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google accounts

Resources

Google Docs Editors Help: Add & edit a chart or graph

Google Workspace Weekly Recap - September 4, 2026

2026-09-04T12:08:03.615-07:00

Add co-presenters in Google Meet with one click

Previously, adding a co-presenter in Google Meet required multiple manual steps. Now, Gemini will intelligently suggest a co-presenter in the Ask Gemini in Meet panel, and with just one click, a user can allow another user to co-present their Google Slides presentation. | Learn more.

Transitioning Google Meet room hardware to focus on Android (AOSP), ongoing ChromeOS support unchanged and up to September 2030

We're transitioning our Google Meet hardware portfolio from ChromeOS to Android to deliver features faster, broaden device choices, and increase flexibility. We're working closely with hardware partners, including Logitech, Neat, and HP Poly, to offer Google Meet-certified devices for spaces of any size, with several exciting Android devices intended for large-format spaces planned for 2027. | Learn more.

Google Pics brings pro-level AI image creation and editing to Google Workspace

Automate Drive, Gmail, and Google Chat actions with new steps in Workspace Studio

To help teams automate everyday work and seamlessly connect tasks across Google Workspace, we are introducing four new automation steps in Workspace Studio Flows: Move Drive file, Copy Drive file, Send a Chat reply, and Reply to email. | Learn more.

Custom instructions for Gemini in Workspace now available in more apps

Earlier this year, we introduced the ability for Workspace users to set persistent custom instructions for Gemini in Google Docs. We're now expanding support for these custom instructions to additional Gemini in Workspace surfaces. | Learn more.

Turn Google Docs, PDFs, and Word files into video summaries in Google Vids

Google Vids now allows you to transform static Google Docs, PDFs, and Word files into engaging video summaries. This new feature leverages AI to generate scripts and narration while providing custom visuals to bring your documents to life. | Learn more.

New built-in interoperability between Google Meet and Microsoft Teams on Android (AOSP) devices, now in Early Preview

We’re introducing video conferencing device interoperability between Google Meet and Microsoft Teams. | Learn more.

Introducing comprehensive audit logs for Gemini Notebook in the Workspace Admin console

Google Workspace administrators can now access comprehensive audit logs for Gemini Notebook in the Admin console, providing greater insights into how the application is used across their organizations. This update introduces full visibility into Gemini Notebook actions, allowing administrators to review usage and audit data access in the security investigation tool and audit and investigation tool. | Learn more.

The announcements above were published on the Workspace Updates blog over the last week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Introducing comprehensive audit logs for Gemini Notebook in the Workspace Admin console

2026-09-03T14:48:05.341-07:00

Gemini Notebook log events in the ‘Audit and Investigation’ tool in the Admin console.

Additional details

Administrators can track a wide range of user actions across multiple categories, including notebook visibility, user identity, IP address, and resource context. These audit logs can be exported and reviewed using BigQuery or accessed directly within the Admin console using the security investigation tool. These monitoring capabilities help administrators meet regulatory compliance requirements, understand collaboration patterns, and protect company data within their digital environments.

Note: While audit log storage itself follows standard Workspace regional routing policies, Gemini Notebook user data—such as notebooks, sources, and chat histories—is stored globally and does not currently support data regionalization.

Getting started

Admins: Gemini Notebook audit logs will be available by default in the Workspace Admin console, but exporting audit logs to BigQuery will be disabled until turned on. Visit the Help Center to learn more about Gemini Notebook log events, schema in BigQuery and setting up service log exports to BigQuery.
End users: There is no end user setting for this feature.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) started on September 3, 2026

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers that have access to the security investigation tool and audit and investigation tool

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Gemini Notebook log events

New built-in interoperability between Google Meet and Microsoft Teams on Android (AOSP) devices, now in Early Preview

2026-09-02T10:50:51.548-07:00

We’re introducing video conferencing device interoperability between Google Meet and Microsoft Teams, which will allow you to:

Join Microsoft Teams meetings from Android (AOSP)-based Google Meet hardware devices
Join Google Meet meetings from Android (AOSP)-based Microsoft Teams Rooms devices

Please note that this interoperability feature was previously launched on Chrome OS-based Google Meet Rooms and Windows-based Microsoft Teams Rooms. This launch extends conferencing capabilities to Android devices enrolled in our Early Preview Program for users in domains on the Rapid Release track. For instructions on how to set up Google Meet on Microsoft Teams Rooms devices, consult the admin documentation provided by Microsoft.

Getting started

Admins: This feature will be ON by default and can be disabled at the organizational unit (OU) level. This new functionality will not replace existing Pexip settings for any OU that already has them in place. Visit the Help Center to learn more about allowing Meet hardware to join third-party video conferencing services.
End users: Visit the Help Center to learn how to join Microsoft Teams meetings with Google Meet hardware.

Rollout pace

Admin console setting

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on August 31, 2026

End user visibility

Rapid Release domains: Rolling out now to Meet hardware devices enrolled in Early Preview, with expected completion by September 7, 2026

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices running Android/AOSP

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Allow Meet hardware to join third-party video conferencing services
Google Workspace Admin Help: Join Microsoft Teams meetings with Google Meet hardware
Workspace Updates Blog: New built-in interoperability between Google Meet and Microsoft Teams

Turn Google Docs, PDFs, and Word files into video summaries in Google Vids

2026-09-02T10:23:48.682-07:00

Whether you are catching up on training material, meeting notes or reviewing lengthy documentation and reports, this tool is designed to make the process of digesting information effortless. By converting text-heavy files into concise videos, users can quickly grasp key takeaways through a more dynamic medium.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more or try it today at vids.new

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Available now
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 5, 2026

Availability

Business: Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
Enterprise: Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
Education: Education Plus
Consumer: Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra
Other Editions: Nonprofits
Education Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education; Teaching and Learning

Resources

Google Help: Create summary videos from documents in Google Vids

Custom instructions for Gemini in Workspace now available in more apps

2026-09-02T09:22:23.482-07:00

Ask Gemini in Drive
Ask Gemini in Chat
Gemini side panel in Slides, Sheets, and Gmail

These instructions help personalize your interactions with Gemini and ensure that Gemini adapts to your style, tone, and formatting preferences without needing to repeat them in every conversation, ultimately saving you time and ensuring consistency.

With this update, users can build a set of custom instructions that Gemini respects across these Gemini surfaces. The update ensures that users have a consistent personalization experience across the platform based on their individual needs or preferences.

You can declare preferences in any Gemini in Workspace Surface

All saved instruction can be viewed and managed in the Personalization Setting tab

These instructions are then used to personalize Gemini’s responses across Workspace

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: Get started by opening the side panel, Ask Gemini in Drive, or Ask Gemini in Chat. You can then prompt Gemini to store a specific instruction. You can also access the ‘Your Instructions for Gemini In Workspace” Menu by selecting the hamburger menu > Settings > Personalization. Visit the Help Center to learn more about customizing Gemini in Workspace's responses with your instructions.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 2, 2026

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers with access to Ask Gemini in Drive, Ask Gemini in Chat, and/or the Gemini side panel in Gmail, Sheets, and Slides. See more details on feature availability here.

Resources

Google Help: Customize Gemini in Workspace's responses with your instructions

Automate Drive, Gmail, and Google Chat actions with new steps in Workspace Studio

2026-09-02T09:18:26.530-07:00

These new steps give end users greater control over document management and cross-channel communications, enabling end-to-end automated flows directly from Workspace Studio. Admins will have settings to disable individual steps and to require end-user approval when these actions may share data with audiences outside of their organization.

Copy Drive file or folder: Make a copy of Google Drive files and folders when a flow runs to streamline template generation and intake processes.
Move Drive file or folder: Automatically move Google Drive files and folders, keeping project folders organized without manual file management.
Reply to email: Automatically send email replies within existing threads, preserving contextual conversation history for support, triage, and task tracking workflows.
Send a Chat reply: Post targeted, formatted replies into specific Google Chat spaces and threads, now complete with Markdown support for enhanced text styling, lists, and code blocks.

Getting started

Admins: This step is available by default if you allow Gemini for Google Workspace steps. Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing access to steps and starters in Workspace Studio.
End users: Try the feature in Google Workspace Studio. Visit the Help Center to learn more about these steps.

Rollout pace

Drive/Chat steps – Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains:

Admin controls: Full rollout (1–4 days for feature visibility) starting on September 1, 2026
Features: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on September 8, 2026

Gmail steps – Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains:

Admin controls: Full rollout (1–4 days for feature visibility) starting on September 8, 2026
Features: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on September 14, 2026

Availability

Business: Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
Education: Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus
Education Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education; Teaching and Learning
Other Add-ons: AI Expanded Access

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Workspace Studio
Workspace Studio Help: Get Started with Workspace Studio
YouTube: Workspace Studio Playlist
Discord: Workspace Studio Channel

Google Pics brings pro-level AI image creation and editing to Google Workspace

2026-09-01T09:03:37.526-07:00

We are thrilled to announce that Google Pics is generally available starting today, bringing advanced AI image generation and precise, object-based image editing directly into your Workspace creative workflow. To get started, open Pics and simply type in a prompt to generate any image using Google’s best AI imaging models, or import an image from your computer, Google Drive, or Google Photos to edit with AI.

Pics provides a range of precision AI-powered image tools to help you refine your images to perfection. Users will be able to:

Generate or refine images using text prompts—Pics offers multiple variations to ensure you always capture the perfect visual
Hover over and select specific elements for precise, local editing
Edit, reformat, or even translate individual text elements
Crop your image for web, social media, print, or digital
Upscale your image to 2K or 4K
Maintain a persistent version history so you can easily revert unwanted changes, and more.

With Pics, you can also edit visuals in the tools you’re already using. Simply select an image in Google Docs or Slides, and a single click lets you edit it using Pics' full suite of precision AI tools without having to switch apps or tabs. Pics also provides the collaboration features you know from other Workspace apps: you can invite teammates to collaborate, share images via a link, and create or open Pics images in Google Drive. And, in the coming weeks, you’ll also be able to use Pics to open and edit nearly any image you’ve saved in Drive with a single click.

Getting started

Admins: This product will be ON by default and can be disabled at the domain/OU/group level. Visit the Help Center to learn more.
End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Google Pics.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 1, 2026
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 15, 2026

Availability

Business: Business Standard and Plus
Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
Consumer: Google AI Pro and Ultra
Education Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education
Other Add-ons: AI Expanded Access

Usage of generative AI features in Google Pics is subject to usage limits. At least through February 28, 2027, your users will have higher access to generative AI features in Google Pics. Access to these generative AI features may be limited afterward. We’ll notify you of any changes before they take effect.

Usage of Google Pics from other Workspace surfaces (such as Google Slides) is subject to existing image generation limits.

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Turn Google Pics on or off for users
Google Help: Learn about Google Pics availability
Google Help: Get started with Google Pics
News from Google: Try Google Pics: Easy image creation and editing in Google Workspace

Transitioning Google Meet room hardware to focus on Android (AOSP), ongoing ChromeOS support unchanged and up to September 2030

2026-09-01T08:34:39.323-07:00

Support and transition timeline for ChromeOS

Existing investments in ChromeOS devices are protected. The support timelines for these devices have not changed and will continue to be fully supported through a multi-year transition period, extending up to September 2030 for recent models. We will continue delivering security patches, stability updates, and ChromeOS releases for all Google Meet hardware running ChromeOS.

To help you plan room refresh cycles, hardware partners will gradually end manufacturing and sales for ChromeOS-based hardware according to the following timelines:

Logitech / CTL Google Meet Compute System: February 2027
ASUS Google Meet Compute System: April 2027

For customers looking to purchase ChromeOS devices to complement their existing fleet, particularly for large event spaces, we encourage you to purchase devices as soon as possible.

Benefits of Android in meeting rooms

Adopting Android as the foundation for Google Meet hardware provides several benefits:

Device variety: Android-based room hardware offers a broader range of form factors, including compact all-in-one devices, video bars, and integrated room solutions. Whether equipping a focus room, collaborative huddle space, or boardroom, you have options to find the right fit.
Enterprise stability: Android-based devices deliver the performance, responsiveness, and stability you rely on with ChromeOS.
Hardware flexibility: Certified AOSP devices can run multiple video conferencing solutions, protecting your investment by allowing rooms to be repurposed without replacing equipment.
Long lifecycles: Devices certified for Google Meet are engineered for long-term reliability and predictable software support.

The portfolio of supported hardware is growing as we actively work with partners to certify additional next-generation devices and qualified peripherals.

Partner collaboration

Our partners already offer Google Meet-certified AOSP options. Together, we're simplifying deployment, accelerating AI features like Take notes for me, and making meeting rooms more collaborative. Explore devices options and find contact information for our partners on the links below.

Getting started

Admins: Use our Help Center to learn more about supported devices for Google Meet hardware.

Resources

Hardware for Google Meet from our partners

Google Help: Google Meet hardware certification program
Google Help: Compare Google Meet hardware options

Add co-presenters in Google Meet with one click

2026-09-01T08:28:33.593-07:00

Note that this “nudge” will only appear for the main presenter of a Google Slides presentation in Meet if they’re on a Chrome or Edge browser and if another participant uses a trigger phrase like, “Can you please add me as a co-presenter?” or “Next slide please.”

Getting started

Admins: This feature will be on by default for organizations with Ask Gemini in Meet enabled. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Ask Gemini in Meet on or off.
End users: Users will only see this “nudge” from Gemini if they’re the main presenter of a Google Slides presentation in Meet, on a Chrome or Edge browser, and hear a trigger phrase (must be said in English). Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Ask Gemini in Meet.

Rollout pace

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 31, 2026

Availability

Business: Business Standard and Plus
Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
Education: Google AI Pro for Education
Other Editions: Frontline Plus

Resources

Google Workspace Updates Blog: Ask Gemini in Meet: Your Personal Meeting Assistant
Google Meet Help: Ask Gemini in Meet
Google Workspace Admin Help: Turn Ask Gemini on or off
Google Workspace Help Center Article: Co-present Slides in Google Meet

Google Workspace Weekly Recap - August 28, 2026

2026-08-28T15:08:21.726-07:00

Now available: A refreshed user interface for Google Meet hardware touch controllers on Neat and Poly devices

On August 26, 2026, we are officially launching our updated user interface for Neat touch controllers and the Poly TC8. Overall, the design allows users to concentrate on their meetings rather than searching for controls, resulting in a more efficient and aesthetically pleasing experience. | Learn more.

Generate interactive simulations and models in the Gemini app

Gemini can transform your questions and complex topics into custom, interactive visualizations — directly within your Gemini app chat. | Learn more.

Restrict who can view the member lists in Google Chat spaces

Space owners and managers can now control who can view the full list of members in a Google Chat space, providing enhanced privacy and administrative control for sensitive, large-scale, or external collaboration spaces. | Learn more.

Introducing data import for Microsoft Teams: An easier, faster, and higher-fidelity migration to Google Workspace

For enterprise organizations, migrating communication history and collaboration channels to a new platform can feel daunting and risk interrupting daily business operations. To make this transition smoother, we are excited to announce that migrating chat data from Microsoft Teams to Google Workspace for large scale workloads is now generally available in data import. | Learn more.

Introducing data import for Microsoft OneDrive: An easier, faster, and higher-fidelity migration to Google Workspace

For enterprise organizations, migrating files along with their permissions to a new platform can feel daunting and risk interrupting daily business operations. To help simplify this transition, we are excited to announce general availability of Google Workspace data import (advanced mode) to support large-scale file migrations from Microsoft OneDrive. | Learn more.

Preserve and reuse grouped pivot table fields in Google Sheets

Control “Take notes for me” directly from Google Meet hardware touch controllers

On August 31, 2026, we’ll start rolling out the ability to start, stop, and manage the “Take notes for me” feature directly from the Google Meet Hardware touch controller for eligible meetings. This ensures in-room participants have direct control over Gemini note-taking without being in Companion mode. | Learn more.

Google Classroom now supports Context-Aware Access controls

Improving Google Calendar’s interoperability with third-party video conferencing solutions

We are introducing improvements to Google Calendar that make it easier to join third-party video meetings, including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Cisco Webex, when collaborating across different calendar and email clients. | Learn more.

Suppress email responses to calendar invitations and updates

We’re introducing a new per-event setting in Google Calendar that allows meeting organizers or their delegates to decide whether or not to receive RSVP emails and automatic responses, such as out-of-office messages and vacation responders. | Learn more.

Preview client-side encrypted PDF and image files directly in Google Drive, now available in beta

Previously, users needed to download encrypted non-native files to their local devices to view the contents. With this capability, authorized users can immediately preview encrypted content in their web browser without leaving Drive. | Learn more.

Gemini-based data classification in Google Drive is now available in open beta

The announcements above were published on the Workspace Updates blog over the last week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Gemini-based data classification in Google Drive is now available in open beta

2026-08-28T14:51:12.139-07:00

Gemini-powered AI classification in Google Drive is now available in open beta.

By automating file identification and labeling across Drive, AI classification helps organizations enforce granular data loss prevention (DLP) policies at scale, establish retention rules, and utilize label metadata during audit investigations. This also becomes a critical aspect in elevating an organization’s security posture in the agentic era, preventing agentic workflows from accessing and acting autonomously on sensitive data.

This feature leverages Gemini models to apply data classification labels to files in Google Drive. Previously, AI classification required admins to identify and manually label training files for the AI model to learn the types of data associated with each data classification level. With this new capability, Gemini models offer admins an alternative method for data classification that is faster and more efficient, eliminating the need for manual model training and replacing it with administrator-defined instructions.

In the Admin console, Gemini models interpret instructions, evaluate files, and apply appropriate data classification labels.

Administrators maintain full control of the Gemini-based data classification process. They select the label, provide Gemini with instructions, and scope the audience for the files being evaluated. For Gemini-labeled files, editors and owners of those files with the appropriate label permissions will have the opportunity to either review and accept, or modify the automatically-applied label. Audit logs capture when files are labeled, including any user acceptance or modification of a Gemini-applied label.

In the Admin console, once enabled, Workspace Admins can see metrics on the labels applied to files by Gemini.

Data classification is a critical activity for organizations that are conscious about data protection, compliance, and reporting. However, data classification can also be challenging to put into practice, particularly when it comes to accurately classifying files at scale. By using the new Gemini-based capabilities in AI classification for Drive, admins are able to achieve a higher degree of data classification accuracy at scale.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout to Open Beta — targeting completion by September 30th.

Getting started

Admins: For customers on a supported product license, the option for configuring Gemini-based AI classification instructions will appear in the Workspace Admin Console under the Data Classification option in the Security section (Security > Access and data control > Data classification). Use our Help Center to learn more.
End users: There is no end user setting for this feature.

Availability

Enterprise: Enterprise Plus
Education: Google AI Pro for Education
Other Editions: Frontline Plus

Resources

Google Drive Help: Label Google Drive files automatically using AI classification | Security & data protection

Preview client-side encrypted PDF and image files directly in Google Drive, now available in beta

2026-08-28T12:49:41.465-07:00

Client-side encryption (CSE) provides organizations control over access to their confidential data, with customer controlled encryption keys and data that is indecipherable to third-parties, including Google. Google Drive now supports direct file previewing for CSE files. Previously, users needed to download encrypted non-native files to their local devices to view the contents. With this capability, authorized users can immediately preview encrypted content in their web browser without leaving Drive.

This feature streamlines productivity and bolsters security by eliminating unnecessary downloads. At launch, preview is supported only on Drive, and for:

Encrypted PDF documents
Encrypted Image file formats

Admins with eligible Workspace licenses can sign up for the beta program, which provides access to the feature.

Preview of an encrypted PDF, accessible in Drive

Getting started

Admins: Admins with eligible Workspace licenses can sign up for the beta program. We’ll provide more information on how to get started if you’re accepted.
End users: This feature is ON for users in domains that have registered for the beta program.

Availability

Enterprise: Enterprise Plus
Education: Education Standard and Plus
Other Editions: Frontline Plus, Assured Controls, Assured Controls Plus

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: About client-side encryption
Beta Application: Registration form

Suppress email responses to calendar invitations and updates

2026-08-28T11:24:16.286-07:00

By default, this new setting, called “Get an email when guests respond,” is checked - ensuring organizers receive email responses for RSVPs. If the box is unchecked:

Organizers will not receive RSVP emails from attendees using Google Calendar, but their RSVP status will still show up on the Calendar event.
Organizers will not receive RSVP emails from attendees using third-party calendar tools (e.g. Outlook) and their RSVP status will not show up on the Calendar event.
Organizers will not receive any email auto-replies (like out-of-office messages and vacation responders).

This feature is beneficial for organizers of large meetings, who don’t need to be informed about individual RSVP responses. Please note that for recurring events, this setting can only be applied to the full series.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: By default, meeting organizers will get email responses for RSVPs. To stop receiving email responses, a meeting organizer must uncheck the box. Visit the Help Center to learn more.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 28, 2026
Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on September 10, 2026

Availability

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

Resources

Google Help: Track responses to your event

Improving Google Calendar’s interoperability with third-party video conferencing solutions

2026-08-27T11:01:47.905-07:00

Specifically, users may notice:

A better join experience for external recipients (for outgoing invitations): When you send a Google Calendar invitation containing a third-party video conferencing link to external recipients who use clients like Microsoft Outlook or Apple Calendar, Google Calendar now automatically includes the conferencing URL in the event's Location field. Because many external clients render links in the Location field as prominent, clickable buttons or chips in event previews, your guests can join calls with a single click without opening the full invite description.
Structured "Join" button in Google Calendar (for incoming invitations): When you receive a calendar invite from an external system (such as Microsoft Outlook) containing third-party conferencing details in the event description or location, Google Calendar now automatically identifies and extracts the meeting URL, meeting ID, and passcode/PIN into structured video conferencing data. Instead of searching through text descriptions, you will see a prominent "Join video call" button directly on the event across Google Calendar on Web, Android, and iOS.

In hybrid work environments, teams frequently collaborate across different organizations, calendaring platforms, and video conferencing providers. Previously, joining third-party meetings from external invitations required manually copying and pasting URLs or passcodes from text descriptions, while external recipients didn't always see conferencing links prominently in their event previews.

These improvements remove friction from the scheduling and meeting-join experience. Whether you or your external collaborators use Microsoft Outlook, Apple Calendar, or Google Calendar, joining video calls is now seamless and effortless.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: This feature will be available by default for all incoming and outgoing calendar invitations containing supported third-party conferencing links (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Webex). No additional action is needed.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 27, 2026

Availability

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

Resources

Google Workspace Learning Center: Add or remove a video conference from your Calendar event

Google Classroom now supports Context-Aware Access controls

2026-08-26T11:55:52.238-07:00

We’re excited to introduce the ability to specify Context-Aware Access policies to control access to Google Classroom. This update allows Google Workspace administrators to set granular security parameters for Classroom access directly from the Admin console. For example, an organization can create a policy that permits users to access Classroom only if they are connecting from a specific geographic region.

Expanding Context-Aware Access to Classroom gives administrators deeper control over their digital learning environments. Security policies can be tailored based on specific user attributes, including user identity, geographic location, device security status, and IP address.

By incorporating Classroom into broader organizational security frameworks, administrators can seamlessly manage access permissions across their Workspace apps. This ensures that sensitive school and student data remains protected, while making certain that only authorized users can connect to Classroom under secure, approved conditions.

Getting started

Admins: Context-Aware Access for Google Classroom can be configured at the organizational unit (OU) or group level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about Context-Aware Access, creating Context-Aware Access levels, and assigning Context-Aware Access levels to apps.
End users: If enabled by your admin, you can access Google Classroom when authenticating using your Google sign-in. If your organization’s Context-Aware Access settings are not set to allow access, you may see a message letting you know that you cannot use Google sign-in to authenticate with Classroom, or you may see remediation messages which will provide some options on how to unblock Classroom.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now

Availability

Education: Education Standard and Plus

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Assign Context-Aware Access levels to apps
Google Workspace Admin Help: Protect your business with Context-Aware Access

Control “Take notes for me” directly from Google Meet hardware touch controllers

2026-08-25T12:55:42.213-07:00

On August 31, 2026, we’ll start rolling out the ability to start, stop, and manage the “Take notes for me” feature directly from the Google Meet Hardware touch controller for eligible meetings. This ensures in-room participants have direct control over Gemini note-taking without being in Companion mode.

Controlling “Take notes for me” from the Google Meet hardware touch controller

Historically, managing AI features during a meeting required a user to join from a laptop in Companion mode. This new update surfaces the necessary controls directly on the touchscreen hardware, making it easier for team collaboration. In particular, it offers the following:

Easy visibility & control

We are surfacing a dedicated badge on the touch controller screen, mirroring the web experience. Users can easily see if Gemini is taking notes and toggle its state between active and inactive.

Active and inactive states of “Take notes For me” on the Google Meet hardware touch controller

Off-the-record capability

Users can confidently pause note-taking during off-the-record discussions, then resume with the tap of a button.

Pause and continue taking notes when needed with “Take notes For me” on the Google Meet hardware touch controller

Note: This feature will be available on the touch controller only for meetings where “Take notes for me” is available.

Getting started

Admins: This feature is available on Google Meet hardware if “Take notes for me” is enabled for your organization.
End users: During a meeting on a Google Meet hardware device, tap the “Take notes for me” icon on the touch controller to start or stop taking notes. Visit the Help Center to learn more about “Take notes for me” in Google Meet.

Rollout pace

Early Preview devices: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 31, 2026
Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 8, 2026

Availability

Business: Business Standard and Plus
Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
Consumer: Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra
Other Editions: Frontline Plus
Education Add-Ons: Google AI Pro for Education

Note: The plans above include “Take notes for me,” but this feature only operates on Google Meet hardware, which requires a separate license. Some users on Google Meet hardware with licenses that do not include “Take notes for me” functionality may see this feature if they join a meeting that is “Take notes for me’“ capable.

Resources

Google Meet Hardware Help: Get support for Google Meet hardware
Google Meet Help: Use Take Notes for Me in Google Meet

Preserve and reuse grouped pivot table fields in Google Sheets

2026-08-25T11:14:02.405-07:00

Google Sheets now supports grouped field persistence for pivot tables. When you create custom groupings or work with grouped date, time, or numeric fields, these fields are now retained directly in the pivot table editor sidebar as reusable source fields. This allows you to unassign grouped fields from your active table layout without losing their underlying configuration, making it easy to re-add or modify them at any time.

Additionally, this update improves interoperability with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) files. Previously, when importing Microsoft Excel files containing pivot tables with grouped fields into Google Sheets, those custom groupings were dropped from the field list, requiring manual recreation. With this update, grouped field configurations are accurately preserved when importing/exporting spreadsheet files.

Grouped fields retained as reusable source fields in the Google Sheets pivot table editor sidebar

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about customizing pivot tables in Google Sheets.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 25, 2026
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 14, 2026

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google accounts

Resources

Google Docs Editors Help: Create & use pivot tables
Google Docs Editors Help: Customize pivot tables

Introducing data import for Microsoft OneDrive: An easier, faster, and higher-fidelity migration to Google Workspace

2026-08-25T11:11:43.518-07:00

This update allows IT teams to execute large migrations efficiently, as you can import multiple concurrent batches at a time. Data import automatically adjusts import speeds to match your Microsoft licensing tier, maximizing throughput without exceeding source quotas.

Data import provides:

Ease of use: A turnkey, scalable cloud-native service that can be accessed and used directly from the admin console.
Quicker speeds and accuracy: Finish importing data sooner with faster migration speeds from parallelization and improved algorithms.
No additional cost to use: No additional infrastructure costs during migration or licensing costs for third-party data migration tools.

Additionally, customers will be able to use the migration planning utility for file migrations that will help improve their change management and data migration forecasting. The migration planning utility is available to provide source data corpus details and migration timeline estimates. This offers customers no-friction discovery and data-driven planning when undertaking large scale enterprise migrations from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace.

Getting started

Admins:

Access data import within Google Workspace Admin console. Visit the Help Center to learn more about migrating files from an OneDrive account to Google Workspace via data import advanced mode. You must be a Workspace super admin to perform a migration.
Click here to access the migration planner tool.

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

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now

Availability

Business: Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
Education: Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus
Other Editions: Frontline Starter, Standard, and Plus; Essentials Starter, Enterprise Essentials, and Enterprise Essentials Plus; Nonprofit

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Use the advanced migration mode for OneDrive
Google Workspace Admin Help: Set up the Azure application for an advanced migration