A new version of the Google Drive for Android app is coming to Google Play. New features include:

• A new menu icon next to a file or folder will pop-up a set of contextual actions you can take on the file or folder.

• You’ll now have the ability to view trash and delete or restore files from within your Android app

• When viewing the Shared With Me view, you’ll now see the avatars of the person who has shared with you.

Launch Details

Release track:
Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release

Rollout pace:
Gradual rollout (potentially longer than 3 days for feature visibility)

Impact:
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center: Getting started with the Drive app for Android
Help Center: Trash
Help Center: Shared with me
Get the latest Google Drive Android app on Google Play


Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

Google Drive users love to collaborate with each other, but if you've ever tried changing the sharing settings for a folder, you know that it’s not always easy to find out who the folder has been shared with or how to update the permissions.

In the coming weeks, we will be adding a new “people icon” to shared folders, which simplifies seeing who you’ve shared a folder with and gives you quick access to the sharing settings. With this change, we hope to reduce the amount of clutter for users and make sharing more transparent for folder owners.

Hover over the people icon for a snapshot of sharing details.

Launch Details
Release track:
Launching to Rapid release, with Scheduled release coming in 2 weeks

Rollout pace:
Gradual rollout (potentially longer than 3 days for feature visibility)

Impact:
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center


Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

Google Apps Password Sync (GAPS) version 1.5 is now available for download:

What’s New

• GAPS now uses the Crypt hash function (salted SHA512 hashes instead of SHA1) when updating the password with the Directory API.
• Uses new OAuth 2.0 endpoints to authorize and refresh tokens (avoids conflict when overriding DNS to enforce SafeSearch).
• Improved feedback in the configuration UI to help diagnose issues with authorization. Improved trace logging and Windows Event Log system messages.
• Removed redundant log events for computer accounts.
• Improved diagnostic logging for authorization issues can now be found in the service authorization logs.

Note: There is also a new version of the GAPS support tool available to help you troubleshoot your GAPS installation.

Launch Details
Release track:
Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release

Rollout pace:
Full rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility)

Impact:
Admins only

Action:
Admin action required (download the latest version)

More Information
Help Center

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

Late last year, we announced a change to our security policy, whereby OAuth 2.0 tokens issued for access to certain products would be revoked when a user's password was changed. We decided in December to delay the full rollout of this policy change until early 2016.

After further consideration and based on continuing customer feedback, we have decided not to move forward with this change for Apps customers at this time. Instead, we are working on a different approach which will roll out later this year. Stay tuned for additional communication in advance of any future changes.*

*Note: A revised launch was announced on Sept 21, 2016.

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

The latest versions of the Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides Android apps include several new features that make working on your mobile phone or tablet easier and more efficient. Check out some of what’s new below:

Notification settings in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides Android apps
As of last November, you can receive mobile notifications when a Drive file is shared with you or someone requests access to a Drive file you own. Previously, the only way to disable those notifications was via a setting in Drive. With this launch, we’ll allow you to enable or disable those notifications from the Settings menus in the Docs, Sheets, and Slides Android apps as well.

View existing Named Ranges in the Google Sheets Android app
In Google Sheets on the web, you can name a range of cells so that they’re easier to keep track of and find later and to simplify the process of creating formulas. With this launch, you can now view those named ranges and quickly navigate to their locations in the Google Sheets app for Android.

Launch Details 
Release track:
Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release

Rollout pace: 
Gradual rollout (potentially longer than 3 days for feature visibility)

Impact: 
All end users

Action: 
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center: Turn mobile notifications on or off
Help Center: Name a range of cells

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

Today, the new Google Forms will become the default option for Form creators. This follows our launch from last September, where a revamped Google Forms was released as opt-in-only until we could add additional features and functionality. Once launched, Form creators will be redirected to the new Google Forms whenever they create a new Google Form.

To opt-out, users may click the “running man” icon in the bottom left-hand corner.

Here’s a summary of the latest improvements:

• Form Add-ons and Google Apps Script now supported
  Form creators will be able to use add-ons and edit scripts in the new Forms editor. Popular tools like Form Publisher and g(Math) for Forms have helped creators extend the capabilities of Google Forms.

• View individual responses from the editor
  In addition to the summary of responses currently available in the Forms editor, creators will now be able to see individual survey responses as well. This will save valuable time when analyzing Forms. At the same time, if there’s so many responses that there may be performance issues, Google Forms will let users know how to visit the responses separately, instead of slowing down the editor.

• Use Templates from the Google Forms home screen
  Work and Education-related templates will become available on the Forms home screen to jumpstart your Form creation at forms.google.com.
• We currently have several templates for event feedback, event sign-ups, job applications, and more. Users can click on the More link to start a form from any of the newly created templates.
• Your domain’s existing templates are still available and can be found at drive.google.com/a/google.com/templates.

• Get notified for every form response
  Form creators will now be able to configure Google Forms to send them email notifications whenever someone responds. The default is set to off, but users can enable it from the form’s settings menu. 

• Track responses to your Google Form
  Form creators will be able to see who they’ve sent their forms to and who still needs to respond. There will also be a new option to send out follow-up reminders as needed.

Limitations

• Responders will only see the new Google Forms for those forms created or edited in it.

To opt out and go back to the old Google Forms, simply click the running man icon in the bottom left-hand corner of the Google Form and follow the prompts.


Launch Details
Release track:
Form templates: Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release on Feb 10, 2016
Most features: Launching to Rapid release on Feb 10, 2016, with Scheduled release coming in 2 weeks

Rollout pace:
Full rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility)

Impact:
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center
Google for Work Blog Post


Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

In September, we announced some changes to the default avatar that Google account owners with Google+ enabled see when logged into their accounts. We’re now making those same changes for Google account owners who don’t have Google+ enabled. Starting today, if a Google account owner has not added a photo to his or her account, we’ll show a custom avatar with that account owner’s given-name initial (two-character given names will be fully displayed). In some cases where initials are not available, a plain colored avatar will be used instead. In addition, if a monogram can't be generated from a user's given name, their family name may be used as an alternative.*

This change will be visible in the Google Bar soon and will be gradually reflected across all Google products over the course of the coming months.

NOTE: Users with initials in scripts other than Latin, Cyrillic, Greek, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean will see this change later this year.

*Details updated on June 8, 2016, to reflect current behavior.

Launch Details
Release track:
Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release

Rollout pace:
Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility)

Impact:
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

The Google Admin mobile app allows Apps super admins to easily manage users and groups, contact support, view audit logs and perform other common administrative tasks all from their mobile devices.

Following the recent upgrades to the Google Admin mobile app for Android, today’s launch adds similar functionality to the iOS app, making managing users even easier.

Add users from contact list 
When adding a new user, Apps super admins can now simply import a contact from their contact list and have all of their information pre-populated in the ‘Add user’ form. The information can then be edited as needed, and the user can be quickly created.
Check out the Help Center for more information on the Google Admin app for iOS.

Launch Details
Release track:
Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release

Rollout pace:
Full rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility)

Impact:
Admins only

Action:
Admin action suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center: Manage Google Apps from an iOS device
Help Center: Add a new user from your contacts
Get the Google Admin app in the App Store

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

Previously, we displayed the number of Google Drive files with owners in your domain that were externally visible, because they were shared publicly, because they were made visible to anyone with the link, or because they were shared with specific recipients outside of your domain. We showed these metrics in two places in the Admin console: (1) under Reports > Highlights, and (2) under Reports > Security.

Those metrics did not paint a complete picture, because they did not include sharing with consumer accounts and sharing with Google Groups with external members. With that in mind, we are working to improve our reporting on external Drive file sharing in the near future.

Until then, however, we want to ensure that the numbers you see in the Admin console are accurate and comprehensive. As a result, we’re removing the “Shared outside domain” metric from the Highlights report and the “Externally shared files” column from the Security report.

Highlights report


Security report


In addition to the changes described above, we’re making the names of the following sharing categories and events easier to understand and more consistent across the Admin console:

• Under Reports > Highlights,
• The “Document visibility” section is being renamed “Document Link Shared Status.”
• “Externally visible files” are being renamed “External Link Shared Files.” This is the number of files shared publicly or with anyone with the link. This number does not include files that are shared only with specific recipients outside of your domain.
• “Internally visible files” are being renamed “Internal Link Shared Files.” This is the number of files shared with a user’s entire domain, with anyone in a user’s domain who has the link, or with specific people in a user’s domain.
• Under Reports > Security,
• “Externally Visible files” are being renamed “External Link Shared Files.”
• “Internally Visible files” are being renamed “Internal Link Shared Files.”
• Under Reports > Audit > Drive*,
• “Visibility change” is being renamed “Link Sharing visibility change.”
• “Visibility access level change” is being renamed “Link Sharing Access Type Change.”

Check out the Help Center articles below for more information, and stay tuned for even more improvements to Drive file sharing reporting in the Admin console.

 *Note that the Drive audit report is only available to Google Apps Unlimited customers.

Launch Details
Release track:
Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release

Rollout pace:
Gradual rollout (3+ days for feature visibility)

Impact:
Admins only

Action:
Admin action suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center: Report highlights
Help Center: Security reports

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

Check out the latest "What's New in Google Apps" newsletter [pdf] for a roundup of all Apps launches from January 2016.

Newsletter Archive & Translated Versions (coming soon for January issue)

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates