Google Workspace Changes

Easily duplicate objects (images, buttons, text boxes) and groups when editing a Site.

Extending the duplicate feature by enabling you to easily duplicate objects (images, buttons, text boxes) and groups when editing a Site.

Ability to paste HTML elements into Google Docs on Android.

To improve the user experience on large screen devices, Google is introducing the ability for users to copy HTML elements to the clipboard and paste them into a Google Doc on Android while maintaining the original formatting elements.

Introducing read receipts in Google Chat group direct messages.

Following the recent updates in Google Chat that add context without breaking the flow of conversations and enable you to declutter your chat conversations, we’re introducing read receipts in group direct messages. With this feature, you can now quickly identify if other members of a group have read your latest message within a Chat stream.

Read receipts are now available for group direct messages in Google Chat.

Google Chat has introduced read receipts for group direct messages, enabling users to identify which members of a group have read their latest message. This feature is available for group chats of 20 people or fewer and is designed to help users manage communication expectations and ensure visibility of topics. It is available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts.

Polls and Q&A features are now available for Google Meet live streams.

Meeting hosts can now enable Q&A and poll features during live-streamed Google Meet meetings, expanding capabilities that were previously only available in traditional Meet meetings. These tools allow hosts to better engage audiences, gather real-time feedback, and provide a structured way for participants to ask and upvote questions without disrupting the flow of the presentation.

Meeting hosts can now enable the Q&A and poll features during live streamed meetings.

If you’re live streaming a video meeting, meeting hosts can now enable the Q&A and poll features, which previously were only offered in traditional Meet meetings. Expanding these features to live streamed meetings will help take your meetings to the next level with a more feature-rich, collaborative experience.

New Google Calendar setting mutes notifications for the duration of your focus time directly in Calendar.

To increase concentration and bridge the gap between do not disturb and focus time, you can now mute notifications for the duration of your focus time directly in Calendar.

Mute Google Chat notifications directly when creating focus time in Google Calendar.

Google Calendar now allows users to mute notifications for the duration of their focus time directly within the Calendar interface. By checking the 'Do not disturb' box when adding a Focus time entry, users can automatically synchronize their Calendar focus time with Google Chat's do not disturb setting to minimize distractions during heads-down work.

Google Meet is introducing simplified access controls to replace the existing Quick access settings.

Google Meet is replacing 'Quick access' with three intuitive access levels: Open, Trusted, and Restricted. Meeting organizers can now explicitly control who can join a meeting without asking (knocking), with specific rules for organization members and invited guests. Additionally, hosts can configure whether guests are allowed to join the meeting before the host. This update also removes the Quick access setting from the Admin console and implements new default access behaviors based on the user's Workspace edition.

Background blur and light adjustment are now available for Google Meet calls joined via virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).

Users joining Google Meet meetings through a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) can now utilize background blur and automatic light adjustment. Background blur intelligently isolates the user from their surroundings, while light adjustment improves visibility for underexposed users. These features are applied after joining the call and help reduce the resource demand (CPU, GPU, and memory) on VDI environments, potentially allowing admins to reduce GPU resources for cost savings.

Introducing a new quick action to access popular features in Google Meet, such as video effects and reframing.

We are introducing a new quick action to access popular features in Google Meet. By hovering the mouse on top of your own video feed, you can access video effects such as immersive backgrounds or fun filters to bring more fun to your meetings and a reframing option to improve your visibility.

If you’re using a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) to join a Google Meet meeting, you can now use background blur and light adjustment.

If you’re using a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) to join a Google Meet meeting, you can now use background blur and light adjustment. Background blur will intelligently separate you from the background, blurring your surroundings while keeping you clear and in focus. Light adjustment automatically detects when you appear underexposed and enhances the brightness to improve your visibility.

Adding flexibility to email collection in Google Forms

Google Forms has introduced more flexible email collection options. Form creators can now choose between Verified email collection (requiring user confirmation), Responder input (manual entry), or opting not to collect email addresses at all, replacing the previous simple on/off toggle.

Gain consensus from collaborators quickly with voting chips in Google Docs

Google Docs now supports smart chips containing emojis that act as voting indicators. This feature allows teams to rank or compare ideas more efficiently while collaborating within a document.

New companion mode check-in feature for Google Meet conference rooms.

Google Meet has introduced a companion mode check-in feature that allows users joining a meeting from a conference room to check in using their personal devices. This ensures that participants are identified by their individual names in the people panel and during interactions like hand raising or presenting, rather than being represented solely by the conference room's name, fostering a more inclusive and equitable hybrid meeting experience.