Google Workspace Updates

View conference room and meeting location details directly on the Google Meet homepage

2026-09-16T08:09:16.595-07:00

Earlier this year, we introduced the refreshed Google Meet homepage on the web to help you stay organized and prepared throughout your entire meeting workflow. Starting today, we’re enhancing the Meet homepage experience by displaying conference room and physical meeting locations directly on upcoming meeting cards. For in-office users this update allows them to see where they need to go directly on their Meet landing page, streamlining their workflow before and between meetings.

Key capabilities of this update include:

Intelligent Room Prioritization: For meetings with multiple rooms across different buildings or campuses (such as all-hands or cross-functional team syncs), Google Meet automatically compares room metadata against the user's Working Location set in Google Calendar. The conference room located in the user's building is moved to the top and highlighted, saving users from having to search through remote room lists.
Wayfinding: Clicking or tapping on a conference room opens building wayfinding or campus map links (where configured by administrators), helping users navigate to unfamiliar rooms with ease.
Google Maps Integration for Physical Locations: For offsite meetings, client visits, or events that specify a street address rather than a conference room, clicking the location opens Google Maps directly for turn-by-turn directions.
Contextual Visibility: Room and location details are prominently visible on cards for meetings that are "Happening Now" and "Starting Soon" (< 10 minutes). For later meetings, location details appear on hover. If an event has multiple rooms or both a room and an address, hovering reveals an overflow button listing all locations.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. Conference room details are automatically populated from the building and room resources configured in the Google Workspace Admin console (under Directory > Buildings and resources).
End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. Go to the Google Meet homepage on the web to use the enhanced experience. To take full advantage of local room prioritization, users should ensure their working location is set in Google Calendar. Visit the Help Center to learn more about setting your working location.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) started on September 14, 2026
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 28, 2026

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers and Workspace Individual subscribers.

Resources

Google Meet: Google Meet Homepage
Google Meet Help: Use the Google Meet homepage
Google Calendar Help: Set your working location
Google Workspace Admin Help: Manage buildings, features, and resources
Google Workspace Updates Blog: A centralized hub for meeting resources on the new Google Meet homepage

Data regions support for Google Apps Script now generally available

2026-09-16T02:21:31.233-07:00

Data regions are critical for helping organizations meet internal compliance, legal, regulatory, and data sovereignty obligations by controlling the geographic location of covered data at rest and through data processing. Expanding these controls to Apps Script allows organizations—including those in highly regulated industries and the public sector—to build, deploy, and automate enterprise workflows with confidence that their script data and executions remain within designated geographic boundaries.

When a data regions policy is applied to an organizational unit or group, Apps Script data storage and runtime execution adhere to the specified region:

Data at rest: Script project files, code definitions, manifest configurations, trigger metadata, and key-value storage (such as Property Service and Cache Service) are stored within the designated geographic region.
Data processing: Script executions, container-bound automations, and associated runtime operations are processed within the selected region.

Note on non-regionalized services:

As Google Apps Script transitions to a regionalized data residency model, non-regionalized Apps Script services will be disabled starting in September 2026 for organizations that turn on the Drive and Docs disablement toggle in data regions advanced settings in the Admin console. Learn more about disabling non-regionalized services.

Enabling Data regions support for Apps Script (Under Drive & Docs)

Getting started

Admins: Apps Script automatically adheres to your existing organizational data location policies configured in the Admin console under Menu > Data > Compliance > Data Regions.

To manage advanced controls, such as allowing or disabling features that process data outside designated regions, navigate to Data > Compliance > Data Regions > Advanced settings.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about choosing a geographic location for your data, what data is covered by a data region policy, and advanced settings for data regions.

End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. Script project creation and executions will automatically follow the data region policy assigned to the user by their administrator. For custom cloud logging and external services, developers can review recommendations in the Apps Script Cloud Projects guide.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now

Availability

Enterprise: Enterprise Plus (provides in-region data storage and processing)
Education: Education Standard and Education Plus (provides in-region data storage only)
Other Editions: Frontline Plus (provides in-region data storage and processing)

Resources

Admin Help Center: Select geographic locations for data residency
Admin Help Center: Data covered by region policies
Admin Help Center: Configure advanced regional settings
Admin Help Center: Overview of Assured Controls add-ons
Developer Documentation: Apps Script overview and guides
Developer Documentation: Managing Google Cloud Platform projects

Connect to Google Meet hardware with room codes now generally available

2026-09-15T12:53:45.433-07:00

Google Meet users can now connect to nearby conference room hardware by entering a 5-character room code on their personal device. Building on the recent Connect Room launch that uses proximity-based detection to identify nearby hardware, this update provides a reliable manual fallback when ultrasound is unavailable or disabled. Users will see a "Connect with room code" button on their device’s pre-call screen, which allows them to enter the alphanumeric code displayed directly on the hardware’s screen.

See our Early Preview announcement for full details.

Getting started

Admins: This feature will be ON by default and can be disabled/enabled at the device level. We have updated our admin settings for Connect room and related features, visit the Help Center to learn more.
End users: This feature will be ON by default. Your admin can turn this feature off for devices in your organization.

Rollout pace

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

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices

Resources

Google Meet Help: Use Connect room feature in Google Meet
Workspace Updates Blog: Seamlessly join meetings on Google Meet hardware with “Connect room”

Connect to more tools with Gemini in Google Workspace

2026-09-15T12:50:43.531-07:00

Users will now be able to use Gemini in Workspace to directly interact with Asana, Atlassian Rovo, HubSpot, Intuit Mailchimp, Intuit Quickbooks, Monday, and Salesforce through Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations. This will enable them to access information directly without needing to switch tabs, download files, or interrupt workflows across our Google Workspace apps including Sheets, Gmail, Drive, Docs, Chat, and more.

Getting started

Admins: This feature will be ON by default for users with Gemini for Google Workspace access, and can be managed at the domain, organizational unit (OU), or group level in the Admin console under Apps > Google Workspace > Gemini for Workspace > Third-Party Connectors. Admins can control which third-party connectors are enabled for their organization and manage access policies. Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing third-party connectors for Gemini.
End users: Once enabled by an admin, end users can access third-party connectors through the Gemini side panel in Docs, Sheets, and Slides, as well as in Google Chat. Visit the Help Center to learn more about third party integrations with Gemini in Google Workspace.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now

Availability

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

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Managing third-party connectors for Gemini
Google Help: Collaborate with Gemini in Google Sheets
Google Help: Get started with Ask Gemini in Google Chat

Gmail Search’s AI Overviews now available globally

2026-09-15T10:08:18.819-07:00

We recently announced the launch of AI Overviews in Gmail search which allows users to ask natural language questions in Gmail’s search bar and get concise summaries and answers without digging through emails. Starting today, we are expanding access to AI Overviews in Gmail search to global users (with paid plans) who have their Gmail language set as English. Previously, this was only available to users in the US with their language set as English.

Getting started

Admins: This feature will be ON by default if Gemini for Workspace in Gmail is enabled and Workspace Intelligence access to Gmail is enabled.
End users: This feature is available by default when smart features are enabled. Users must have both “Smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet” and “Google Workspace smart features” turned on to access AI Overviews in Gmail search.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) started on September 3, 2026
Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on September 21, 2026
Personal Google Accounts (Consumer): Gradual rollout started on September 3, 2026

Availability

Business: Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
Enterprise: Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
Consumers: Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra (excluding personal accounts in the EEA, UK, Switzerland, and Japan)
Other Editions: Frontline Plus
Education Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education
Other Add-ons: AI Expanded Access

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Manage access to Gemini features in Workspace services
Google Help: Get an AI Overview in Gmail search
Google Workspace Updates Blog: Search faster and smarter with AI Overviews in Gmail search
Consumer Launch Blog: Gmail is entering the Gemini era

Set up sharing boundaries for Google Drive with unified data protection rules

2026-09-15T09:52:47.357-07:00

We’re introducing a new capability that allows Google Workspace administrators to configure audience sharing and sensitivity-based data conditions in a single, unified rule. This unified rule flow helps organizations elevate their security posture to proactively mitigate insider risks, prevent data exfiltration, and safely unblock collaboration for high-sensitivity environments.

Previously, administrators managed user/group-based sharing controls with trust rules and data loss prevention (DLP) policies separately for Google Drive. With this launch, admins can now build granular, content-aware sharing boundaries that can evaluate data sensitivity (with classification labels or DLP conditions) and the audience with whom the data is being shared using trust rules criteria (such as organizational units, groups, or domains).

New granular admin policies that prevent sharing between audiences based on data sensitivity

Additional details

The feature supports three audience restriction options:

Block sharing with all external users: Prevents any file meeting the content criteria from being shared outside the organization
Block all internal and external sharing, except with specific users (Allowlist): Restricts access to a curated list of trusted internal organizational units (OUs), groups, or external domains
Block sharing with specific users (Denylist): Explicitly blocks sharing with specific internal organizational units, groups, or external parties (such as vendors or contractors) while permitting sharing with everyone else

Getting started

Admins: When configuring data protection rules in the Admin console, admins should select Google Drive as the app and the “block sharing” option to use this functionality. Visit the Help Center to learn more.
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) starting on September 14, 2026

Availability

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

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Set up sharing boundaries in data protection rules

Google Workspace Weekly Recap - September 11, 2026

2026-09-11T12:19:37.819-07:00

Use custom web fonts in Google Sheets charts

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. | Learn more.

Introducing the new 1Password App for Google Chat

Introducing the new 1Password App for Google Chat Google Chat Rapid Release Scheduled Release 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. | Learn more.

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

Context-aware access controls are available for Gemini Enterprise in the Admin console Admin console Gemini Rapid Release Scheduled Release Security and Compliance To help organizations elevate their security posture, we are introducing context-aware access (CAA) policies in the Admin console for Gemini Enterprise. | Learn more.

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

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. | Learn more.

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

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. | Learn more.

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

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. | Learn more.

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

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. | Learn more.

Doubled cell limits in Google Sheets now generally available

We’re committed to continuously improving Sheets to ensure it is a powerful, responsive, and scalable spreadsheet tool for your needs. To that end, we’ve increased the cell limit in Google Sheets from up to 10 million cells to up to 20 million cells. This limit applies to new, existing, and imported files. | Learn more.

Manage external sharing for Gemini Notebook in the Admin console

Gemini in Google Sheets is now available on Android devices

Building upon the power of Gemini in Sheets on the web, we’re excited to announce that you can now use Gemini in Google Sheets on your Android device to quickly analyze and understand your data while on the go. | Learn more.

The Gemini desktop app is now available for Windows

Today, we’re launching the Gemini desktop app for Windows 10 and 11. This new application is designed to operate seamlessly alongside users’ favorite tools, providing instant assistance without disrupting their workflows. | Learn more.

Seamlessly import your team and data from Microsoft to Google Workspace during setup

We’re excited to announce the GA release of a new, simplified way for small businesses to import their users and their business data from Microsoft while setting up Google Workspace with our data import 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.

Seamlessly import your team and data from Microsoft to Google Workspace during setup

2026-09-11T08:44:25.183-07:00

This new feature allows these businesses and educational institutions to copy their existing Microsoft users, along with their emails, OneDrive files, calendar events, contacts and tasks, into Google Workspace. You can start the import in 2 simple steps:

Connect to your Microsoft business account using global admin credentials
(Optional) Exclude any users or types of data that you don’t want to import

Once you connect to Microsoft, our data import tool identifies users in your Microsoft account and prepares to add them and their data to your new Google Workspace account. This feature significantly reduces the time and effort required to switch from Microsoft, helping you get your organization up and running quickly.

Additional details

You can now import up to 10 Microsoft users and their data automatically through this new feature. Visit the Help Center to learn how to import more than 10 users from Microsoft.
You can import users and data only after completing your domain verification and MX activation. The data import process runs in the background while you can continue with your Workspace setup.
This process is only applicable if you're on a Flexible Plan. If you're on an Annual/Fixed-Term Plan, you must add more licenses before importing users. Visit the Help Center to learn how to add licenses or change purchase cap.

Getting started

Admins: This feature will be available in the setup process for Google Workspace. Once you’ve verified your domain and activated your email records, you will find an option to import your users from Microsoft to Google Workspace before completing the setup. Visit the Help Center to learn more about importing business data during setup.
End users: This feature is for admins only.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Import business data during setup (beta)

The Gemini desktop app is now available for Windows

2026-09-11T08:06:16.728-07:00

The Gemini app for Windows provides users with a variety of ways to enhance their productivity directly from their desktop:

The Alt + Space keyboard shortcut brings Gemini over active work for quick tasks, like fact-checking a document or brainstorming presentation titles.
Users can ask Gemini to draft project summaries using information pulled directly from Google Workspace apps like Gmail and Google Drive.
Users can bring creative concepts to life by generating custom images with Nano Banana directly from their desktop.

This launch marks the beginning of Gemini app’s native desktop capabilities for Windows, with more features planned to roll out over time.

Getting started

Admins: This feature is ON by default for all organizations with Gemini enabled. The Gemini app and related in-app tools are controlled by the Generative AI settings in the Workspace Admin console. This feature is subject to these existing controls. Visit the Help Center for more information on turning the Gemini app on or off.
End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. Download the Google Gemini app today at gemini.google/desktop. Visit the Help Center to learn more.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now

Availability

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

Resources

News from Google: The Gemini app for Windows is here
Google Workspace Admin Help: Turn the Gemini app on or off
Gemini Apps Help: Gemini app for Windows

Gemini in Google Sheets is now available on Android devices

2026-09-10T11:32:26.509-07:00

Simply tap on the Gemini spark icon, and you can ask questions about your data, generate analytical insights, and create charts. To help you get started, we've included suggested prompts such as “Summarize this table,” and “Analyze for insights.”

(Please note: Mobile capabilities are currently focused on data analysis and insights. To perform complex edits, formatting actions, or generate formulas, please use Gemini in Google Sheets on the web).

Getting started

Admins: There is no specific admin control for this mobile feature beyond the general Gemini for Google Workspace enablement at the domain/OU level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing Gemini access.
End users: This feature will be available by default for eligible users. To access it, open a compatible spreadsheet on your Android device and tap the Ask Gemini icon. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Gemini in Google Sheets.

Rollout pace

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

Availability

Business: Business Standard and Plus
Enterprise: Enterprise Standard and Plus
Education: Google AI Pro for Education
Consumer: Google AI Pro and Ultra

Resources

Google Help: Collaborate with Gemini in Google Sheets

Manage external sharing for Gemini Notebook in the Admin console

2026-09-10T11:27:38.672-07:00

Google Workspace administrators can now enable external sharing for Gemini Notebook using granular controls in the Admin console. Previously, administrators only had a single high-level toggle to turn Gemini Notebook completely on or off for their entire organization. This update introduces four sharing options, allowing administrators to empower their organization’s sharing workflows. These settings can be enabled at the domain, organizational unit (OU), or group level, providing some flexibility for distinct sets of users.

The options include:

Off: Users cannot share notebooks with anyone outside the domain. This is the default setting.
Trusted Domains: Users can share notebooks externally, but sharing is strictly restricted to email addresses within a specified allowlist of trusted domains.
On: Users can share notebooks with any external email address.
On with public notebook sharing: Users can create and share public notebooks with anyone with a link. Individual emails do not need to be added as a sharee.

Getting started

Admins: This feature will be OFF by default and can be controlled at the domain, OU, and group level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing Gemini Notebook sharing settings.
End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more about Gemini Notebook, including how to share notebooks.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 10, 2026

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Manage Gemini Notebook sharing settings
Gemini Notebook Help: Create a notebook in Gemini Notebook

Doubled cell limits in Google Sheets now generally available

2026-09-10T11:21:19.405-07:00

We’re committed to continuously improving Sheets to ensure it is a powerful, responsive, and scalable spreadsheet tool for your needs. To that end, we’ve increased the cell limit in Google Sheets from up to 10 million cells to up to 20 million cells. This limit applies to new, existing, and imported files.

Whether you are building a new spreadsheet from scratch, expanding an existing workbook, or importing large datasets from Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) or CSV files, Google Sheets now supports up to 20 million cells per spreadsheet.

Coming soon, we also plan to increase the file byte size limit for imported spreadsheets, making it easier to bring extensive datasets from other spreadsheet formats directly into Google Sheets.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: There is no end-user setting for this feature. The expanded limit will apply automatically when creating, expanding, or importing spreadsheets.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 10, 2026
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 Center: Files you can store in Google Drive
Google Workspace Updates Blog: Faster performance and doubled cell limits in Google Sheets

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. | Learn more.

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