Google Workspace Changes

Export client-side encrypted spreadsheets to Excel files

Google Sheets now supports the export of client-side encrypted spreadsheets into Excel format, allowing users to convert files as needed while maintaining their encryption protection.

Google Sites editors are now able to add or edit alt text on inserted images and add or edit alt text on background images

Google Sites editors are now able to add or edit alt text on inserted images and add or edit alt text on background images, making their Sites more readable by everyone.

New timer and time-of-day chips in Google Docs

Google Docs is introducing new timer chips to help users timebox activities and ensure productivity, as well as a time-of-day chip that can be added to date chips by typing "@today" and selecting "Set time".

AppSheet-powered no-code apps in Google Chat

Google Workspace customers with an AppSheet plan can now create Google Chat apps without writing code, enabling the development of custom integrations and workflows within the Chat environment.

Revamped web onboarding experience for Google Chat

Google Chat is updating its web onboarding for new users accessing the service via Gmail or chat.google.com, offering streamlined options to start direct messages, join spaces, or explore Chat apps.

New smart chip data extraction in Google Sheets allows users to pull metadata from people, file, and event chips into cells.

Google Sheets has introduced smart chip data extraction, enabling users to extract metadata associated with people, file, and event chips into their own cells. This functionality allows for advanced sorting, filtering, and analysis of data derived from smart chips. Users can perform these extractions via a dedicated sidebar or by using formulas, and can keep the extracted data current using the 'Refresh & manage' section.

Collaborate on Google Calendar invites using a new building block in Google Docs.

Google Docs has introduced a new building block that allows users to collaborate with others to draft calendar invites. This feature is useful for stakeholders to coordinate dates, times, attendees, and event descriptions before sending. Users can access this by typing '@Calendar event draft' or navigating to Insert > Building blocks > Calendar event draft, and then clicking the Calendar icon to transfer the details to Google Calendar.

Introduction of custom building blocks in Google Docs for reusable content.

Google Docs now allows users to create custom building blocks by saving specific snippets of text, tables, and chips as reusable components. These blocks are stored in a dedicated Google Drive folder and can be easily inserted into other documents using the '@' menu, streamlining workflows for common templates like project kickoffs or checklists.

Quick reactions in Google Chat display frequently used emojis upon hovering or long-pressing a message.

Google Chat is introducing quick reactions, which display a user's most frequently used emojis when hovering over a message on the web or long-pressing on Android. This update streamlines the process of reacting to messages while maintaining access to the full emoji picker, threaded replies, and quoting options.

Google is increasing the membership limits for direct and indirect group memberships in Google Groups for Business.

Google has increased the limits for the number of group memberships a user can have to provide more flexibility for scaling and managing complex group structures. Direct memberships have increased from 2,000 to 3,000, and combined direct and indirect memberships have increased from 5,000 to 7,500.

Improvements to Calendar Interoperability for better synchronization with Microsoft Outlook and other systems.

Google has improved Calendar Interoperability to ensure events created in different calendar systems are accurately propagated. Key updates include allowing Microsoft Outlook users with the same email to receive Google Calendar invites and RSVPs, generating default meeting reminders in Outlook for Google Calendar events, and improving the accuracy of updates for non-Google recurring events.

Autofill using a mouse is now available on the Google Sheets Android app.

Users of the Google Sheets Android app can now utilize the autofill feature using a mouse, improving data entry efficiency on Android devices.

Admin privileges for Google Meet hardware devices have been expanded.

Google has expanded the administrative privileges available for managing Google Meet hardware devices, providing admins with more control over their hardware fleet.

Shared drives are being introduced to Google Workspace Business Starter.

As a benefit of the transition to pooled storage, Business Starter customers will gain access to shared drives, enabling better team collaboration through shared file storage and access. While users can create shared drives and add members, certain advanced admin-level and security controls will not be available for the Business Starter edition. This feature will become available after pooled storage has rolled out to all existing Business Starter customers.

Google Workspace Business Starter is transitioning from per-user storage to pooled storage.

Google is updating the storage model for Business Starter from per-user storage to pooled storage, allowing storage to be shared across the entire organization. This change simplifies storage management and provides admins with better monitoring tools. New customers will have pooled storage starting May 15, 2023, and existing customers will transition starting May 22, 2023.