Google Workspace Updates: May 2025

Friday, May 30, 2025

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - May 30, 2025

4 New updates

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are available to all Google Workspace customers, and are fully launched or in the process of rolling out. Rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete if launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time. If not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete.

Gemini app conversation history settings are starting to take effect

Earlier this month, we announced that admins could pre-configure new Gemini conversation history settings. Starting this week, these settings will begin to be enforced for Gemini app users. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | This update impacts all Google Workspace users with access to the Gemini app. | For more information, please refer to our original announcement.

Remove the background from your images in Google Slides, Drawings & Vids using 20+ languages

Last year, we announced the ability to remove the background from your images in Google Slides, which is a feature that's also available in Drawings and Vids. Previously, this feature was only available to users with their Google Account language set to English. This week, we’re happy to announce this functionality is now available for users utilizing any of these 20+ languages. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard and Plus; Enterprise Standard and Plus; customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on, and anyone who previously purchased a Gemini Business or Gemini Enterprise add-on. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about removing an image background.

Send feedback directly to the owner of a Google Form

We’re adding a new setting to Google Forms which will allow form responders to contact form owners. This can be helpful in a variety of situations, including reporting potential issues within the form, general questions, and more. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release domains; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for June 10, 2025. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about how to contact form owner.

Translate the Workspace Updates blog in over 100 languages

You can now use Google translate to view content on the Workspace Updates blog in over 100 languages. The translation option can be found in the footer of the website and it can also be used on mobile browsers when you select “View web version” at the bottom of the page.

Use the “Select Language” drop down and choose the language you would like to translate to. To access this feature on mobile, select the “View web version” option first.

Previous announcements

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Introducing video engagement insights in Google Drive

You can now see the total number of times a video is opened under a new Analytics section within the Details panel. | Learn more about video insights in Drive.

Understand your videos much faster using Gemini in Google Drive

Starting this week, you can now use Gemini in Drive to get summaries and ask questions about the content of videos in your Drive. | Learn more about understanding videos using Gemini in Drive.

Configure Calendar interoperability with Microsoft Office 365 using the Microsoft Graph API

Admins can now use the Microsoft Graph API to enable Calendar interoperability with Microsoft Office 365. | Learn more about Calendar Interoperability.

New Gemini summary cards now available in the Gmail app on Android and iOS devices

Starting this week, summaries will be available at the top of the email content for messages where a summary is helpful, such as longer email threads or messages with several replies. Gemini will synthesize all the key points from the email thread and any replies thereafter will also be a part of the synopsis, keeping all summaries up to date. | Learn more about Gemini summary cards in Gmail.

Preview summaries in the Google Chat home view with the help of Gemini in four additional languages

Gemini summaries in home are now available in four additional languages: French, Italian, Japanese and Korean. | Learn more about Gemini summaries in Chat home.

Completed rollouts

The features below completed their rollouts to Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog posts for additional details.

Rapid Release Domains:

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains:

For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

Preview summaries in the Google Chat home view with the help of Gemini in four additional languages

What’s changing

Last year, we announced that Gemini in Google Chat can now help you catch up on unread conversations in the Chat home view with summaries. In February, we extended this ability to direct messages and read conversations and most recently, this feature became available in Spanish, Portuguese and German.

Today, we’re excited to announce that Gemini summaries in home are now available in four additional languages:

French
Italian
Japanese
Korean

Upon navigating to a conversation in the home view, click the “Summarize” button to see a quick, bulleted synopsis of the message content. This enables you to quickly review recent activity across all active conversations to determine where best to focus your time and attention.

Who’s impacted

End users

Why it matters

Since introducing a more streamlined user experience in Chat to help you find what you need much faster, we’re adding more ways to help you prioritize the most important conversations. This new summaries in home feature does just that by helping you catch up more quickly.

Getting started

Admins: To access summaries in the home view, users need to have smart features and personalization turned on. Admins can turn on default personalization setting for their users in the Admin console.
End users: You can turn this feature ON/OFF by turning Smart features & controls in Google products ON/OFF. Please note that this setting will affect other smart features in Google products.

To see summaries on web, hover over an unread group conversation, space, or thread from home in Chat and click “Summarize.”
To see summaries on mobile, long press on an unread group conversation, space, or thread from home in Chat.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about summaries in home.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 30, 2025

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:

Business Standard and Plus
Enterprise Standard and Plus
Customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on

Anyone who previously purchased these add-ons will also receive this feature:

Gemini Business*
Gemini Enterprise*
AI Meetings and Messages*

*As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details.

Resources

Thursday, May 29, 2025

New Gemini summary cards now available in the Gmail app on Android and iOS devices

What’s changing

Last year, we announced the general availability of Gemini in the side panel of Gmail, allowing users to summarize email threads, get help drafting an email, see suggested responses to an email thread, and more. To build upon this and streamline how users review and interact with emails, we’re excited to introduce Gemini summary cards on mobile.

Prior to today, to generate an email summary, you would tap “Summarize this email” at the top of a message, which then opened Gemini to show you a summary of the thread.

Starting today, summaries will be available at the top of the email content for messages where a summary is helpful, such as longer email threads or messages with several replies. Gemini will synthesize all the key points from the email thread and any replies thereafter will also be a part of the synopsis, keeping all summaries up to date.

Additional details

Users can collapse a Gemini summary card and it will remain collapsed in that email thread. Additional control improvements will be coming soon, for example, if a user frequently collapses Gemini summary cards, future threads will default to a collapsed state until the user expands them again.
This feature is only available for emails in English at this time.
As with all of our AI features, Gmail remains committed to protecting user data and prioritizing privacy. Refer to our Privacy Hub site to learn more.
Emails that do not show summary cards will continue to support user-triggered summaries with the “summarize this email” chip at the top of emails or the option to summarize using Gemini in the side panel.

Getting started

Admins: Admins can turn the default personalization setting ON or OFF for their users in the Admin console.
End users: To access Gemini summary cards, users need to have smart features and personalization smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet and smart features in Google Workspace turned on. Visit the Help Center to learn more about collaborating with Gemini in Gmail.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Available now.
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 29, 2025

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:

Business Starter, Standard and Plus
Enterprise Starter, Standard and Plus
Google One AI Premium
Customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on

Anyone who previously purchased these add-ons will also receive this feature:

Gemini Business*
Gemini Enterprise*

*As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details.

Resources

Google Help: Collaborate with Gemini in Gmail

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Configure Calendar interoperability with Microsoft Office 365 using the Microsoft Graph API

What’s changing

Beginning today, Admins can use the Microsoft Graph API to enable Calendar interoperability with Microsoft Office 365. The Graph API will replace the existing Exchange Web Services (EWS) API, which will no longer be supported by Microsoft beginning October 1, 2026 – we recommend that admins update their interop configuration to Graph API as soon as possible.

Admins can configure interoperability via the Graph API in the Admin console by going to Apps > Google Workspace > Calendar > Calendar Interop Management > Exchange availability in Calendar > Allow Google Calendar to display Exchange user availability. The user interface has also been streamlined and admins can easily select an endpoint from a drop down list, and enter other details like the specific Microsoft domain that should be connected to Calendar, and specify role accounts for user availability and resource booking.

Quickly select your endpoint type from the new drop down list

Enter additional details, like the Microsoft domain you want to connect to and role accounts.

We’ve also made additional updates to improve the overall admin experience, including additional user interface updates and troubleshooting — keep reading for more information.

Who’s impacted

Admins

Why it’s important

These updates will ensure calendar interoperability continues after support for EWS ends and improve the overall experience for configuring and managing interoperability for admins. Additionally, the Graph API allows admins to grant access to Exchange calendar data only, ensuring access isn’t too broadly scoped.

Additional details

Also included in this update are the following improvements:
Admins can use the same role accounts for user availability and resource booking when configuring their Graph API interop setup.
We’re making it easier for admins to troubleshoot errors encountered while setting up interoperability. Admins can now see detailed information each step of the way which will help them work through potential issues in the setup configuration.
The overall Admin user interface has been streamlined as well. Admins can define which domains are supported by which endpoint, and this information is neatly listed in a table. This makes it easily scannable and actionable, and helps avoid unnecessary queries trying to get the availability of users who are not part of a domain covered by the interop setup.

Apps > Google Workspace > Settings for Calendar > Calendar Interop management

If admins select EWS, or have existing endpoints set up using EWS, they will see a reminder banner that EWS will no longer be supported by Microsoft and to use the Graph API instead.

Getting started

Admins: As the Exchange Web Services endpoint type will no longer be supported beginning October 1, 2026, we recommend updating your interop configuration to Graph API as soon as possible. Visit the Help Center to learn more about Calendar interoperability, and specifically allowing Calendar users to see Exchange availability.
End users: There is no end user action required.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 28, 2025

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:

Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus
Frontline Standard and Plus
Nonprofits

Resources

Understand your videos much faster using Gemini in Google Drive

What’s changing

In addition to the ability to use Gemini in the side panel of Google Drive to summarize documents or to interact with PDFs in Google Drive’s overlay file previewer, we’re excited to extend Gemini’s summarization and Q&A capabilities to videos in Drive.

Starting today, you can use Gemini in Drive to get summaries and ask questions about the content of videos in your Drive, such as:

“Summarize this video”
“List action items from this meeting recording”
“What are the highlights from this announcement video?"

Who’s impacted

End users

Why you’d use it

Videos contain a wealth of information, however going back to watch them can be time consuming. With this update, users can leverage Gemini to get what they need from their videos much faster.

Additional details

This feature is currently available in English only and accessible when utilizing Google Drive’s overlay previewer or a standalone file viewer (new browser tab).

Getting started

Admins:

To access Gemini in the side panel of Workspace apps, users need to have smart features and personalization turned on. Admins can turn on default personalization setting for their users in the Admin console.
For end users to access this feature, admins need to have captions enabled for videos in their domain. Visit the Help Center to learn more about automatically-generated captions for videos in Drive.

End users:

To access this feature, double-click on a video from the Google Drive file list and click on "Ask Gemini" (star button) in the top right corner.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Gemini in your Google Drive files.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility)starting on May 28, 2025
Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on June 16, 2025

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:

Business Standard and Plus
Enterprise Standard and Plus
Customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on
Google One AI Premium

Anyone who previously purchased these add-ons will also receive this feature:

Gemini Business*
Gemini Enterprise*

*As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details.

Resources

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Introducing video engagement insights in Google Drive

What’s changing

To enhance the video player experience within Google Drive, we’ve made numerous improvements, including a new look and feel, and enhanced functionality, automatically generated captions, and most recently, video transcripts. Now, we’re introducing a feature that helps you measure the engagement on videos uploaded to Drive.

Starting today, users can see the total number of times a video is opened under a new Analytics section within the Details panel.

This highly requested feature will help users understand if viewers are engaging with their videos.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: To see a video’s “open count”, go to a video file in your Google Drive > open the video > click on the three dot menu > click on Details > locate the new "Analytics" section. Visit the Help Center to learn more about storing & playing video in Google Drive.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Available now
Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on June 9, 2025

Availability

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

Resources

Google Help: Store & play video in Google Drive

Friday, May 23, 2025

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - May 23, 2025

2 New updates

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are available to all Google Workspace customers, and are fully launched or in the process of rolling out. Rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete if launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time. If not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete.

Use NotebookLM on-the-go with new mobile app

We’re excited to introduce the NotebookLM mobile app on Android and iOS devices, enabling all NotebookLM users to listen to and interact with their audio overviews and other functionalities on-the-go. In addition, we’re introducing the ability for users to specify the lengths of their audio overviews. This particular functionality is only available on web at this time, with plans to extend to mobile at a later date. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to Google Workspace users with access to NotebookLM. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about NotebookLM.

Introducing a new ‘Getting started’ page to make it easier to create Google Vids

We’re introducing a ‘Getting started’ page offering a variety of ways to create videos using Google Vids. Depending on your Workspace edition, this will include options to: plan your video story, generate video clips, record yourself, select a template, upload a clip or image, or start with a blank vid. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to Business Starter, Standard and Plus; Enterprise Starter, Standard and Plus; Essentials, Enterprise Essentials and Enterprise Essentials Plus; Education Plus; Nonprofits, customers with a Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on, and anyone who previously purchased a Gemini Business or Gemini Enterprise add-on. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about Google Vids.

Previous announcements

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Google Vault improves Google Drive search and export: now with document ID and more shared drive options

Google Vault now supports export by Google Drive document IDs. This gives a reliable search for documents where the ID or URL is known, eliminating the previous dependency for searching with collaborators and document content. Going forward, up to 1000 document IDs can be entered in the user interface or API to export targeted files within your domain. | Learn more about document ID and more shared drive options.

Available in beta: Edit client-side encrypted Microsoft Word files with Google Docs

Launching in beta, you can now view and edit client-side encrypted Microsoft Word files in Google Docs. | Learn more about editing client-side encrypted Microsoft Word files with Google Docs.

Ask Gemini in Gmail on mobile to perform Google Calendar related actions

You can now use the Gmail mobile app to ask Gemini to create, delete or edit an event on your calendar and ask Gemini about your daily schedule. | Learn more about Gemini in the Gmail app.

Use Google Classroom in even more languages

We recently announced the ability to use the Google Classroom in additional languages on web and mobile, and today we’re excited to introduce even more languages in the web and mobile experience. | Learn more about language expansion in Classroom.

More ways to create with Canvas

We recently introduced Canvas, the creative space inside the Gemini app, a place to build anything you can describe. This week, with Gemini 2.5 models, Canvas is even more intuitive and powerful, allowing you to create multiple items. | Learn more about Canvas.

Personalize learning with quizzes, available through Canvas in the Gemini app

Available in Open Beta: Migrate files from Microsoft SharePoint Online to Google Drive

Beginning this week, the Google Workspace Migrate tool can be used to migrate files from Microsoft SharePoint Online to Google Drive. This allows admins to migrate data from SharePoint Online sites, including document libraries, folders, files and associated permissions, helping organizations transition to Google Workspace quickly and easily. | Learn more about migrating files from Microsoft SharePoint Online to Google Drive.

The latest updates for Deep Research in Gemini

This week at Google I/O, we introduced several enhancements for Deep Research. | Learn more about Deep Research in Gemini.

Completed rollouts

The features below completed their rollouts to Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog posts for additional details.

Rapid Release Domains:

Scheduled Release Domains:

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains:

For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

Thursday, May 22, 2025

The latest updates for Deep Research in Gemini

What’s changing

In February, we introduced Deep Research in Gemini, which can bring hours of research to your fingertips in mere minutes by exploring complex topics on your behalf and presenting its findings in a detailed, easy-to-read report. This week at Google I/O, we introduced several enhancements for Deep Research:

Deep Research can now use 2.5 Flash experimental. Gemini Advanced users continue to have access to 2.5 Pro (experimental), our most intelligent model for complete reasoning.
You can upload PDFs and images directly into Deep Research so your research reports can draw from a combination of public information and details that you provide. You can also link documents from Google Drive.
Gemini will proactively suggest related resources in your report to deepen your knowledge, like interactive charts, planning simulators, and additional deep dives into relevant topics.
You can also import, edit, and refine Deep Research reports directly into Canvas before exporting to Docs for further collaboration.

Getting started

Admins: Deep Research is available in the Gemini app by default — there is no admin control for this feature.
End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about performing in-depth research, how to get started with the Gemini mobile app, and how to upload & analyze files in the Gemini app.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility) starting on May 22, 2025

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:

Business Starter, Standard and Plus
Enterprise Starter, Standard and Plus
Education Fundamentals, Standard and Plus
Frontline Starter and Standard
Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, and Enterprise Essentials Plus
Nonprofits

Available for Google Workspace customers with these add-ons:

Gemini Business*
Gemini Enterprise*
Gemini Education
Gemini Education Premium

*As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details.

Resources

Google Help: Use Gemini Apps for in-depth research

Google Help: Get started with the Gemini mobile app

Google Help: Upload & analyze files in Gemini Apps

Google Workspace Updates Blog: Gemini Deep Research and experimental models now available to Google Workspace users in Gemini Advanced

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Available in Open Beta: Migrate files from Microsoft SharePoint Online to Google Drive

What’s changing

Beginning today, the New Data Migration service can be used to migrate files from Microsoft SharePoint Online to Google Drive. This allows admins to migrate data from SharePoint Online sites, including document libraries, folders, files and associated permissions, helping organizations transition to Google Workspace quickly and easily.

You can start and complete a migration in a few simple steps:

Connect to your SharePoint Online account from which you want to copy data.
Specify which sites you want to copy data from and which Drive folders should contain the copied data.
Specify users and groups whose permissions should be copied.

Example of a running Microsoft SharePoint Online migration

This feature is available in open beta, which means no additional sign-up is required.

Additional details

You can migrate data from up to 100 SharePoint Online sites at a time to Shared Drives in Google Drive.
You can find comprehensive reporting on migration progress, including site and file counts (migrated/skipped). You can also export migration reports for error investigation and troubleshooting.
Delta updates are available to migrate newly added or updated files.

Getting started

Super Admins: You can find this new solution in the Admin console under Menu > Data > Data Import & export > Data Migration (New). Visit the Help Center to learn more about the new Data Migration Service and specifically Microsoft Sharepoint migrations.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 22, 2025

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:

Business Starter, Standard and Plus
Enterprise Starter, Standard and Plus
Education Fundamentals, Standard and Plus, the Teaching and Learning add-on
Essentials Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus
Nonprofits

Resources

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Personalize learning with Quizzes, available through Canvas in the Gemini app

What’s changing

You can now generate quizzes for any subject using Canvas in the Gemini app by uploading relevant documents or simply entering a prompt like “Give me a practice quiz about the nervous system”. Quizzes can also be useful for business users – for example, you can refresh your knowledge ahead of a customer meeting. Based on the uploaded files or prompt, Gemini will generate interactive quizzes, featuring multiple-choice or true-or-false questions. You can also ask Gemini to generate quizzes based on content created in Canvas, including Deep Research reports.

You’ll receive instant feedback and additional information based on your answers to reinforce learning in real-time. If you get stuck on a question, Gemini can provide helpful hints, to guide you toward the right answer. Once you’ve completed the quiz, you’ll see an overall score, accuracy breakdown, and insights regarding areas of improvement and where to focus your study efforts.

Gemini will provide hints to help you find the right answer

Gemini will provide additional context once you select an answer

Once you complete the quiz, Gemini will provide an overall score and additional insights

Additional details

Quizzes are available for users age 18+ at this time.
Quizzes are available in all languages and regions supported by the Gemini app.
Google Workspace business and education users cannot share content created on Canvas, like quizzes. However, if a user with a personal account shares a link, Workspace users will be able to open it, but they cannot take additional actions, like asking Gemini to refine the content for example.
Check out the additional Canvas features we announced at I/O 2025 today.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for Canvas.
End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about taking quizzes in the Gemini app, uploading and analyzing files in the Gemini web app and Canvas in Gemini Apps. File upload from Google Drive in Gemini requires you to connect Google Workspace apps & services in Extensions setting.

Rollout pace

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:

Business Starter, Standard, Plus
Enterprise Starter, Standard, Plus
Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus
Frontline Starter and Standard
Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus
Nonprofits

Available for Google Workspace customers with these add-ons:

Gemini Business*
Gemini Enterprise*
Gemini Education
Gemini Education Premium

*As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details.

Resources

Google Help: Learn & take quizzes in Gemini apps

More ways to create with Canvas

What's changing

We recently introduced Canvas, the creative space inside the Gemini app, a place to build anything you can describe. Today, with Gemini 2.5 models, Canvas is even more intuitive and powerful – you can now use Canvas to create:

Create and code apps: translate complex ideas into working code with remarkable speed and precision based on simple descriptions. Vibe coding like this dramatically lowers the barrier to creating software and makes prototyping new ideas faster than ever before.
Web pages: Create web pages that feature a variety of engaging elements, like information cards, charts and more.
Infographics: Organize information in a way that makes complex information easier to navigate and understand with a structured format, digestible "chunks" of information, lists, visuals, and more.
Audio overviews: transforms content into engaging AI-hosted discussions in over 45 languages, making consumption of complex information easy, especially while multitasking or on the go
Plus, integration with Deep Research: Alongside these new features, we’ve also added the ability to import, edit, and refine Deep Research reports directly into Canvas before exporting to Docs for further collaboration.

Additional details

These features are only available to users over 18+ at this time.
Google Workspace business and education users cannot share content created in Canvas. However, if a user with a personal account shares a link, Workspace users will be able to open it, but they cannot take additional actions, like asking Gemini to refine the content for example.
If you create an app that includes Workspace data, you will not be able to preview the app. If you create an app that does not include Workspace data (“Create a tic tac toe app” for example), you will be able to preview the app.
You can also create quizzes in Canvas -- check out this announcement for more information.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: From the Gemini app (gemini.google.com), select “Canvas” from the input bar or jump directly into Canvas by going to gemini.google.com/canvas. Visit the Help Center to learn more about creating with Canvas in Gemini Apps.

Rollout pace

Gemini on the web

Available now.

Gemini on mobile web

Rapid and Scheduled release: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 20, 2025

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:

Business Starter, Standard, Plus
Enterprise Starter, Standard, Plus
Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus
Frontline Starter and Standard
Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus
Nonprofits

Available for Google Workspace customers with these add-ons:

Gemini Business*
Gemini Enterprise*
Gemini Education
Gemini Education Premium

*As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details.

Resources

Monday, May 19, 2025

Use Google Classroom in even more languages

What’s changing

We recently announced the ability to use the Google Classroom in additional languages on web and mobile, and today we’re excited to introduce even more languages in the web and mobile experience:

Albanian
Armenian
Azerbaijani
Burmese (Myanmar)
Georgian
Irish
Macedonian
Nepali
Sinhala
Uzbek

Additional details

Certain Google Classroom features might not be accessible in all languages, including Read Along in Classroom, Practice sets, Originality reports, and Gemini in Classroom.

Getting started

Admins and end users:

The language in Classroom is based on a user's language settings for their Google account.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about getting started with Google Workspace for Education, supported languages for Google Classroom and changing app languages on your Android phone or iOS phone.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 19, 2025

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:

Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus, the Teaching and Learning add-on, and the Endpoint Education add-on
Customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on

Resources

Ask Gemini in Gmail on mobile to perform Google Calendar related actions

What’s changing

We've recently introduced new web features that bring Gemini into Gmail to perform calendar related actions, such as adding an event to your calendar directly from your inbox. Today, we're excited to announce that we're bringing similar capabilities to Android and iOS devices. You can now:

Ask Gemini to create, delete or edit an event on your calendar. Tapping the pencil icon on the created event lets you easily update the event information. If you click on the event directly, it will open the event view in the Calendar app.
Ask Gemini about your daily schedule.

Who’s impacted

End users

Why you’d use it

This update expands access to Calendar features using Gemini in Gmail to mobile devices, making it easier to create or interact with events on your calendar, regardless of your device.

Getting started

Admins: To access Gemini in Workspace apps, users need to have smart features and personalization turned on. Admins can turn on default personalization setting for their users in the Admin console.
End users:

This feature is available in 28 languages
On mobile, you can access Gemini in the Gmail by clicking on “Ask Gemini” icon in the top right corner of the Gmail app.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about collaborating with Gemini in Gmail.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 19, 2025

Availability

Available for Google Workspace:

Business Starter, Standard and Plus
Enterprise Starter, Standard and Plus
Google One AI Premium
Customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on

Anyone who previously purchased these add-ons will also receive this feature:

Gemini Business*
Gemini Enterprise*

*As of January 15, 2025, we’re no longer offering the Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons for sale. Please refer to this announcement for more details.

Resources

Available in beta: Edit client-side encrypted Microsoft Word files with Google Docs

What’s changing

Launching in beta, you can now view and edit client-side encrypted Microsoft Word files in Google Docs. Any changes made are saved in the original Word format. This update makes it easy for you to leverage Google Workspace with the tools and formats you already use while preserving confidentiality of your sensitive data with client-side encryption.

Eligible Google Workspace admins can use this form to request access to the beta. We’ll share more specific instructions once you’re accepted into the beta.

In Google Docs, navigate to File > Open.

Additional details

Note that with this release:

You can only view and edit .docx Word file types. Additional Word file types are not supported.
The maximum file size is 20MB.
As we continue to improve Office editing in encrypted Google Docs, you may encounter incompatibilities for certain features. Some features may not be displayed and may not be editable, but will be preserved in the document and viewable in Microsoft Office.
Other features may be lost or altered in the latest version of the file when it is edited in Google Docs. You will see a notification within the document if editing will cause any features to be lost.

Getting started

Admins: Client-side encryption can be enabled at the domain, OU, and Group levels (Admin console > Security > Access and data control > Client-side encryption). Visit our Help Center to learn more about client-side encryption.
End users: If client-side encryption is enabled by your admin, use our Help Center to learn more about working with encrypted files in Drive, Docs, Sheets & Slides.

Rollout pace

The feature will be available immediately once you're accepted into the beta.

Availability

Available to Google Workspace

Enterprise Plus
Education Standard and Plus
Frontline Plus

Resources

Google Vault improves Google Drive search and export: now with document ID and more shared drive options

What’s changing

We have also added an additional option to include Shared Drive items, providing additional flexibility. Going forward, Vault admins can pick from three options in the UI or API:

Not Included: This new option can be used to exclude any items in shared drives.
Included only if documents shared directly (not due to shared drive membership): Include items that are shared with the account, but only if the account is not a member of the shared drive. (Previously in the UI as: "include items from shared drives" with the toggle OFF)
Included: Include items in shared drives. (Previously in the UI as "include items from shared drives" with the toggle ON)

Who’s impacted

Admins

Why it’s important

Vault is an eDiscovery and information governance tool for Google Workspace, which enables customers to retain, hold, search, and export users’ Google Workspace data. These Google Vault enhancements enhance the search and export capabilities for Drive. The new Document ID export provides an additional, direct search vector, enabling legal and IT teams to locate specific files without needing knowledge of the custodian or document's content. Furthermore, the refined shared drive inclusion options offer greater flexibility for organizations managing numerous shared drives, ensuring more precise and efficient data collection for investigations.

Additional details

Document ID export is only available for files within your domain. Document IDs are available in export metadata or can be determined from the document URL.
The UI and API default for Shared Drive inclusion has remained the same. The old API tags remain supported and mapped to the associated selection.

Getting started

Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Vault to search Google Drive.

Rollout pace

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility) beginning on May 19, 2025
Support for the Google Vault API rollout will follow the UI rollout within 7 days.

Availability

Available to Google Workspace

Business Plus
Enterprise Standard and Plus
Education Fundamentals, Standard and Plus
Enterprise Essentials Plus
Frontline Standard and Plus
Also available to customers with the Vault add-on license

Resources

Google Vault Help: Use Vault to search Google Drive, Meet & Sites

Friday, May 16, 2025

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - May 16, 2025

6 New updates

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are available to all Google Workspace customers, and are fully launched or in the process of rolling out. Rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete if launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time. If not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete.

Easily connect to BigQuery data using Saved Queries in Connected Sheets

We’re launching direct access to the BigQuery saved queries feature directly from Connected Sheets. Users can now quickly and easily create a new Connected Sheet by selecting a previously saved query under any project they have access to. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more about analyzing & refreshing BigQuery data in Google Sheets using Connected Sheets, getting started with BigQuery data in Google Sheets and writing & editing a query.

Scan documents easier using Google Drive on Android devices

To improve upon the scanning experience in the Google Drive app on Android devices, we’re increasing the size and updating the style of the scan buttons. To scan something, open the Drive app on your Android device > scan a document > edit scan (if desired) > upload to Drive. | Rollout to Rapid Release domains is complete; Rolling out now to Scheduled Release domains, with expected completion by June 30, 2025. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about scanning documents with Google Drive.

Chat apps can now create spaces with their own identity using the Google Chat API

Last year, we introduced a feature through the Google Workspace Developer Preview Program that enables Chat apps to create spaces and memberships - using application identity - via the Google Chat API. This update further enhances Chat apps for real-time collaboration and allows for even more sophisticated and autonomous Chat apps by eliminating the need to create spaces and memberships on behalf of a user. This week, we’re excited to announce that this is now generally available for Google Workspace developers. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | Available to all Google Workspace customers. | Visit the Developer blog to see an example and learn more about what this means for developers. You can also visit our developer documentation to explore how to authenticate and authorize Chat apps, and learn how to create spaces and add space members using application identity.

Export Gemini responses to a Google Doc or Sheet from Gemini in the side panel of Google Drive

Users can collaborate with Gemini in Google Drive to perform various tasks, such as extracting data, drafting proposals, creating study guides and more. We’re excited to build upon this by giving users the ability to convert Gemini’s response directly into a Sheet or a Doc. After asking Gemini a question, click the ‘Export to Doc’ or ‘Export to Sheet’ button, and you’ll have an artifact that you can continue working on or share with others. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | Available to Business Standard and Plus; Enterprise Standard and Plus; Google One AI Premium; Customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on, and anyone who previously purchased a Gemini Business or Gemini Enterprise add-on. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about collaborating with Gemini in Google Drive.

Create even more interactive YouTube assignments in Google Classroom

In 2024, we added AI-suggested questions that educators can easily attach to the video based on its content to save educators time. Today, we’re excited to announce that we’re expanding the collection of YouTube videos that have AI-suggested questions available. As a result, educators can create even more interactive YouTube assignments in Classroom more quickly and efficiently, with the help of Gemini. Before assigning the interactive video activity, educators will be able to edit the suggested questions ahead of attaching the YouTube video to the assignment. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available for Google Workspace Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning add-on. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about interactive questions for YouTube videos in Google Classroom.

Your users can now express interest in upgrading their Google Workspace subscription

We’re introducing a simple way for Workspace end users to request an upgraded edition of Google Workspace from their admins. To send this request, Workspace end users will see a path to request an upgraded Workspace edition including additional Gemini features when they interact with Gemini, such as with the Gemini icon displayed across Workspace apps. This interaction will provide an end user a path to complete a request form for an upgraded Workspace edition. Super admins will receive this request by email, and from there they can choose to upgrade their Workspace subscription directly in the Admin console. | Admins can disable these requests at any time in the Admin console by going to Account > Account Settings > Gemini for Google Workspace, and deselecting the ‘User-requested upgrades’ setting — use this article in our Help Center for more information. | Please note this is only available for customers in the US and India with fewer than 300 licenses. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | Learn more about Gemini for Workspace, including our recent Gemini for Workspace announcements.

Previous announcements

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Use Gemini in Drive to interact with folders in 20+ additional languages

Last year, we added folder support to Gemini in the side panel of Google Drive. This week, we’re excited to announce this experience is now available in 20+ languages. | Learn more about language availability for Gemini in Drive.

Use Gemini in Google Sheets to quickly add dropdowns, pivot tables, filters, and more

Analyzing and manipulating data in spreadsheets can be complex and time-consuming, even for experienced users. This week, we're introducing powerful new editing options within Gemini in Sheets that are designed to help everyone accomplish more, faster. | Learn more about Gemini in Sheets.

Google Workspace apps for Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Calendar, Keep, and Tasks are now generally available for the Gemini app

Earlier this year, we launched Google Workspace apps (formerly known as "extensions") in Gemini in open beta. When enabled, Gemini can reference and incorporate data from these apps to generate even more informed and relevant responses, bringing Gemini’s capabilities more seamlessly into your daily workflows, helping enhance productivity. Workspace apps are available for: Calendar, Docs, Drive, Gmail, Keep, Tasks. | Learn more about Workspace apps in the Gemini app.

Extract and categorize data in AppSheet with the power of Gemini

At Google Cloud Next 2025, we introduced Gemini in AppSheet solutions for AppSheet Enterprise Plus users. Now you can automatically extract key information from uploaded photos, parse through complex PDFs, or even categorize, route and prioritize incoming requests based on their content – all seamlessly within your existing AppSheet apps. The new AI Task (Preview) feature, powered by Gemini, makes this a reality. | Learn more about Gemini in AppSheet.

Upcoming Changes to Microsoft Exchange Migrations

Beginning May 31, 2025, the legacy Data Migration Service will no longer support migrating email, calendar, and contact data from Microsoft Exchange on-premises servers (e.g., Exchange 2010, 2013, or 2016). Admins will not be able to start new migrations after May 31, 2025 – migrations that are in progress will continue until completion. | Learn more about changes to Microsoft Exchange Migrations.

Completed rollouts

The features below completed their rollouts to Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog posts for additional details.

Rapid Release Domains:

Start a conversation with Gemini in the side panel of Google Drive about specific files

Scheduled Release Domains:

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains:

For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).