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Quick launch summary
You can now cast Google Meet calls to your TV or smart display.
Cast Google Meet to your TV


You can start casting before you join a meeting or anytime during a meeting.

By viewing your Meet on Cast, you can turn any room in your house into your own personal conference room. Whether you want to step away from the notifications on your laptop or phone to be more present in a meeting or you’re on mute in a larger meeting and want to concentrate on your task at hand, casting to your TV can help you be more productive and stay focused.


Meet and Cast can also pair up to simplify distance learning. Students can view their classmates and lesson plans on the big screen while working from their laptops, and teachers can get a broader view of their students on a call.


Check out our announcement on the Keyword for more information on using Meet and Cast together.
Getting started
Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.

End users: To get started, you‘ll need to have a Google account, update to the latest version of Chrome, and ensure that your Chromecast device has the latest firmware installed. Google Cast functionality is available for all Meet users, and casting works on Chromecast, TVs with built-in Chromecasts, and Nest displays. Check out the Help Center to learn more.
Rollout pace
  • This feature is available now for all users.
Availability
  • Available to all G Suite customers
Resources
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What’s changing 
We recently launched Connected Sheets, which connects Google Sheets and BigQuery to help you analyze large datasets using familiar spreadsheet tools. We’re now adding support for macros and APIs to help you automate tasks, as well as providing mobile access. Specifically, you can now use Connected Sheets with: 

Who’s impacted 
Developers and end users 


Why you’d use it 

Sheets Macro recorder 
You can use the macro recorder to record when to create, edit, delete, and refresh Connected Sheets objects. This generates macros which you can then directly run in Sheets to refresh the data. This can automate common tasks, saving time and reducing errors. 

Apps Script and Sheets API 
You can use these APIs to write scripts and applications that automate tasks. For example, you can automate CRUD functions for Connected Sheets objects, including sheets, formulas, pivot tables, and extracts. Additionally, you can use the APIs to refresh these objects, as well as to refresh charts. 

Mobile app support 
You can now view Connected Sheets on mobile devices. You can also copy and paste data from Connected Sheets using the mobile apps. At this stage, you can’t create, edit, or refresh data in Connected Sheets on mobile. 


Getting started 
Rollout pace 
  • Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: 
    • Sheets Macro recorder: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 26, 2020. 
    • Apps Script: Available now for all users. 
    • Sheets API: Available in September. 
    • Android app: Gradual rollout (up top 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 17, 2020. To get access, update to the latest version of the Sheets Android app. 
    • iOS app: Gradual rollout (up top 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 24, 2020. To get access, update to the latest version of the Sheets iOS app. 
Availability 
  • Connected Sheets is available to G Suite Enterprise, G Suite Enterprise for Education, and G Suite Enterprise Essentials customers 
  • Connected Sheets is not available to G Suite Basic, G Suite Business, G Suite for Education, G Suite for Nonprofits, and G Suite Essentials customers 
Resources 
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What’s changing 
Earlier this year, we made shortcuts in Google Drive generally available. Shortcuts simplified file and folder structures in Drive by creating pointers to items, rather than having items which existed in multiple locations. This helps ensure easy access to files and folders for different users while reducing possible confusion about how files are owned, managed, and updated. 

Now, we want to share three updates to our plans for shortcuts and file locations: 
  • Expanding use of shortcuts: Removing some specific actions which still created multiple locations for files. 
  • A migration update: More details on migration of existing multiple-location files to shortcuts. 
  • Improving file management and reducing “unorganized” files: Ensuring files which have their last location removed are now placed in the owner’s My Drive folder. See more details below. 


Who’s impacted 
Admins and end users 


Why it’s important 
Expanding the use of shortcuts will increase the consistency of behavior and make it easier for users to understand how their Drive is structured. 


Additional details 

Expanding use of shortcuts 

After launching shortcuts, there were still some ways for users to add files to multiple locations. We’re now stopping some of those to create a more consistent experience across different platforms and ways of using Drive. Specific changes include: 
  • When using Drive on the web, the keyboard shortcut Shift+Z on a shared file used to place the file in multiple locations. Now, when a single file or multiple items are selected, Shift+Z will create a shortcut instead. However, if a single folder is selected, Shift-Z will still add another location for the folder to ensure continued compatibility with offline access via Backup and Sync. 
  • When using Drive on the web, making someone else the owner of a file used to create multiple locations for the file. Now, if the new owner can see the file’s existing location, it will remain there. If the new owner can’t see the existing location, it will be moved from its current location to the My Drive folder of the new owner, and a shortcut will be created in its place 


A migration update 

In our original announcement, we mentioned that we would be migrating existing files in multiple locations to shortcuts. We’d like to share more details on these plans: 
  • We will start this migration some time in 2021. We’ll announce the migration on the G Suite Updates blog and with an in-product notification banner at least 2 weeks before it starts. 
  • The migration will remove all but one location of files that currently are in multiple locations, and will replace the removed files with shortcuts. 
  • The migration heuristics will be based primarily on original ownership, but will also take signals about access and activity on other parent folders into account, to ensure the least possible disruption for collaboration.  
  • File access and ownership will not be impacted. 
  • The migration will be automatic and won’t require manual work from users or admins. 

Improving file management and reducing “unorganized” files 

A file can become unorganized when its last previous location is removed. For example, this could happen if you had added a file to a shared folder that was later deleted by the owner of the shared folder. 

Previously, in those situations you would only have been able to find the file by specifically searching for it, not by browsing for it. This led to some instances where it appeared a file was lost. Now, we will add these items to the owner’s My Drive. This change will make it easier to locate files which have had their locations removed. 


API updates reminder 

Earlier this year, we announced changes to the Drive API which would support the transition to file shortcuts. These changes will start to go into effect on September 30, 2020. Read more details about the API changes here. 


Getting started 
Rollout pace 
Expanded use of shortcuts and improved file management: 
Migration of existing files in multiple locations: 
  • Will not start until 2021, and will be announced in advance on the G Suite Updates blog and with an in-product notification banner. 
Availability 
  • Available to all G Suite customers and users with personal accounts 
Resources 
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What’s changing 
We’re launching a new feature that enables admins to define specific audiences that their users can link-share Drive files with. This gives admins more influence over who their users share files with, and helps to protect organizational data by reducing the potential for accidental oversharing of files. Target audiences is initially available in an open beta. 


Who’s impacted 
Admins and end users 


Why you’d use it 
Previously, admins could choose to allow users to link-share files to either their entire domain or anyone with the link. Target audiences allow admins to define and recommend more granular link-sharing options for users. 

This means that admins can prevent oversharing without hampering collaboration—since target audiences are defined and recommended by their admins, users can be confident that sharing files with a target audience is appropriately broad and secure. It can also help users share files more quickly, as target audiences allow for the ease of link-sharing, but with more specific audiences. This can reduce the need for users to manually add specific users and groups and respond to individual access requests. 

For example, an admin could set up an audience of all finance team members. When someone on that team enabled link sharing for a file, they’d see an option to allow link-sharing to anyone on the finance team. Members of the team could access the link immediately, while anyone outside of the team would have to ask permission before they could view the file. 


Getting started 
  • Admins: Find Target audience settings at Admin console > Directory > Target audiences. You can assign target audiences on the group or OU level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing target audiences for your organization. 
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. If enabled by an admin, users will see target audiences available to them as link-sharing options for Drive, as indicated in the image above. 
Admins can create a target audience in the Admin console 

Rollout pace 
Availability 
  • Available to G Suite Business, G Suite Enterprise, and G Suite Enterprise for Education 
  • Not available to G Suite Basic, G Suite for Education, G Suite Essentials, G Suite Enterprise Essentials, and G Suite for Nonprofits customers 
Resources Roadmap 
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What’s changing 
We're launching two features in new Google Groups:
  • Collaborative Inboxes, which can be used by teams to collaborate on messages received by a group, such as a customer support team managing support queries from customers. 
  • Shared labels, which can help organize group conversations and enable you to filter and search for messages. This replaces tags and categories in classic Groups. 

Who’s impacted 
End users 


Why it’s important 
These features were available in classic Groups, but until now were not available in new Groups. We hope that adding them to the new experience will enable more users to use the new and improved interface in Groups. 


Additional details 

Collaborative Inboxes 
Using Groups as a Collaborative Inbox can be useful if you want to use a group as a mailing list for a team, where different team members can see, manage, and respond to messages sent to the group. For example, you could have a Collaborative Inbox for your support team, so the team could all see inquiries to your support email address. Once inquiries are received, team members can assign each other tasks, categorize topics with labels, and mark topics as resolved. Collaborative Inboxes in new Groups enables:
  • Advanced search, including for conversation status 
  • Filtering, including quick filters for conversation status or to help users find conversations assigned to themselves, others, or that are unassigned 

Existing collaborative inboxes will be accessible in the new Groups experience. New and existing groups can be changed to a Collaborative Inbox via Groups settings. 



Labels 
Labels is a replacement for tags and categories in classic Groups. Any tags currently used in classic Groups will be migrated to new Groups as labels, and the feature will be turned on automatically. Tags that are created under categories will also be migrated over if the Labels feature is enabled in new Groups. Note, categories will not be migrated.

When a message is posted to a group, group owners or managers can label conversations. Labels will appear in the left navigation panel of a group, and any users viewing the group can then search and filter conversations by those labels. This can make it easier to find messages, to see grouped related messages, or to manage workflows within Collaborative Inboxes. 



Getting started 
  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: These features will be OFF by default, but can be turned on for each group by group owners or managers. Visit the Help Center to learn more about Collaborative Inboxes and labels. 
Rollout pace 
Availability 
  • Available to all G Suite customers and to users with personal Google Accounts 
Resources 
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Quick launch summary 
We’re changing the manner in which user profile photos are displayed across Google products and services, and updating how admins can manage those photos. 

Last year, we removed a photo setting in Gmail that allowed users to set a different profile photo in Gmail than their Google Account. Starting today, users who still have two different profile photos will be migrated to a single profile photo. No action is needed by users, the current Google Account photo will become their only profile photo. This will ensure users are seen and recognized consistently across different products and interfaces. 

We’re also giving admins the ability to set the single Google Account profile photo for users. You can add, replace, or delete an existing profile photo for users through the Admin console or through the Admin SDK Directory API. 

Previously set Google Account profile photos are kept in a user’s Album Archive, available at get.google.com/albumarchive. New profile photos set by users or admins will also be stored here. 

Note that if a user updates their photo, the photo will be visible to everyone, across Google products. If an admin adds a photo to a user’s account, it will only be visible to users within their organization and external users they interact with. Learn more about what information others can see across Google services. 


Getting started 
A user’s Google Account photo will be used for their profile photo 


Rollout pace 
Availability 
  • Available to all G Suite customers 
Resources 
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What’s changing 
We’re launching a new Cloud Identity Groups API. This will enable you to create and manage Google Groups and their memberships for your domain via API. Previously, API support for group management was available only via the Admin SDK and therefore was accessible only to domain admins. With this launch, the APIs can be accessed by admins as well as non-admins. Once you create groups via the API, you can view and manage them through the Google Groups web UI (groups.google.com), through the Admin console, or via the API. 

Using the new API you can: 
  • Create and delete groups 
  • See and update group metadata 
  • Add members to and remove members from a group 
  • Modify member roles within a group 
See our developer documentation for more details on how to use the Cloud Identity Groups API. 


Who’s impacted 
Admins, developers, and end users 


Why you’d use it 
Groups are an important tool to manage communication, access, and security for organizations. Adding the ability to create and manage groups via an API can help make group management more scalable and efficient. 


Additional details 
Available to admins, developers, and end users 
Business teams can create and manage groups they own without being granted admin permissions, preventing them from managing additional, unnecessary groups and saving the admin team time. This allows teams to manage their work more efficiently without creating any security risks from assigning admin permissions when they are only needed for this specific task. 


Getting started 
Rollout pace 
  • This feature is available now for all users in beta. 
Availability 
  • Available to all G Suite customers 
Resources 
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Quick launch summary 
Earlier this year, we made new Groups generally available. The new experience featured an updated interface that made it easier to use on desktop devices. Now we’re also improving how new Groups looks when accessing it on a mobile web browser. The modern and streamlined interface matches the look and feel of new Groups on desktop, and makes it easier to complete common tasks, including: 
  • Finding groups by browsing, searching, or going to favorite groups 
  • Managing your membership settings for a group 
  • Reading conversations within a group 
Note that not all group interactions are available on mobile. For example, you can’t post to a group or reply to a conversation on mobile. For full functionality, please use groups on a desktop device. 


Getting started 
Browse, sort, and search for groups on mobile 


Read conversations within a group on mobile 


Manage group membership and browse for groups in the main menu 


Rollout pace 
Availability
  • Available to all G Suite customers and users with personal Google Accounts 
Resources 
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Quick launch summary
Admins can now assign Google Voice numbers to users while a port is still in progress, and users can start using their assigned numbers immediately once porting is completed. Previously, admins had to wait to assign the numbers until after the port completed, and only then could the user activate the application.

This reduces downtime for users, allowing them to start making calls more quickly and ensuring they don’t miss incoming calls once the port is complete.

Numbers can also be assigned to auto attendants and ring groups ahead of time allowing a seamless transition once the port is complete.

Search for and assign numbers that are in the process of being ported.

Review number assignments for users

Getting started
Admins: This feature will be ON by default. During number porting, we’ll inform admins that numbers are available for immediate assignment. Visit the Help Center to learn more about porting business numbers to Voice.

End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. Users will automatically get welcome info once the port completes.

Rollout pace
Availability
  • Available to all G Suite customers with Google Voice licenses
Resources
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Update
September 9, 2020: Please note that the rollout of these features on the web and Android to Scheduled Release domains was slightly delayed and is starting today. These features on iOS are rolling out now to Rapid Release domains and will begin gradually rolling out to Scheduled Release domains on September 16.

Quick launch summary
We recently announced a new integrated workspace that brings your favorite G Suite apps closer together. We’re now rolling out this workspace to Gmail on the web and Android. Stay tuned to the G Suite Updates blog for information on the timing of the launch to iOS.

Gmail will now feature four distinct components:
  • Mail, which has not changed and is the same Gmail experience users know and love.
  • Chat, which allows users to message individuals and small groups directly.
  • Rooms, which are spaces that include shared chat, files, and tasks to help groups more easily work on projects.
  • Meet, which features upcoming meetings that you can view and join.
Mail,Chat Rooms and Meet tabs Gmail on mobile

With this launch, you’ll also be able to open and co-edit a document with your team without leaving Gmail. This will make it easier for you to collaborate directly within the context of where you’re doing your work at that moment.


In addition, we’ve introduced several new tools to help you prioritize and stay focused. You can now:
  • Assign group tasks.
  • Get notified about task updates in rooms.
  • Pin important rooms so they’re easier to find and access.
  • Set your availability to “Do not disturb."
  • Better protect your time with status notices in Chat like “Out of office.”
  • See files shared in a room.
  • See integrated search results and toggle between Email and Chat results on the web.
  • Start a new meeting or see your upcoming meetings under “Meet” on the web.

We hope this new integrated experience in Gmail helps you stay focused, be productive, and collaborate more effectively—no matter what your workspace looks like.

Getting started
Admins: These features will launch to all domains with Chat preferred enabled. Chat preferred can be enabled at the organizational unit (OU) or domain level. We recommend migrating your organization all at once to avoid any disruption.

Note, certain features included in this launch require specific services to be enabled in the Admin console. Visit the Help Center for more information about ensuring you have these services properly configured.

End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Chat in Gmail and Meet in Gmail on or off.

Rollout pace
  • Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout to users (up to 15 days for full feature visibility) starting on August 12, 2020
  • Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout to users (up to 15 days for full feature visibility) starting on September 9, 2020
Availability
  • Available to all G Suite customers
Resources

 

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