Google Workspace Changes

The new feature allows admins to connect their Microsoft business account using global admin credentials, optionally exclude users or data types, and automatically import up to 10 Microsoft users along with their emails, OneDrive files, calendar events, contacts and tasks into Google Workspace. The import runs in the background after domain verification and MX activation, and is available now for both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains.

Google has launched the Gemini desktop app for Windows 10 and 11, enabling users to access Gemini directly from their desktop. The app can be summoned with Alt+Space for quick tasks like fact-checking or brainstorming, can draft project summaries using data from Gmail and Drive, and can generate custom images via Nano Banana. Admins have the app enabled by default where Gemini is turned on, and end users can download it from gemini.google/desktop.

Google Sheets has increased its cell limit from up to 10 million cells to up to 20 million cells, applicable to new, existing, and imported spreadsheets, including those from Excel (.xlsx) or CSV files. The change is rolling out gradually over up to 15 days for Rapid Release domains starting September 10, 2026, and for Scheduled Release domains starting September 28, 2026. No admin or end-user settings are required. A future increase to the file byte size limit for imported spreadsheets is also planned.

Google Sheets now offers a dedicated formula editor dialog for creating and editing calculated fields within pivot tables, complete with field selection menus to insert column names without manual typing, real-time syntax and formula validation to catch errors before applying changes, and improved speed and accuracy over the previous inline sidebar method.

The feature, initially introduced to Rapid Release customers in Early Preview Rooms in January 2026, is now rolling out to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware. It uses ultrasound signals detected by the phone or tablet's microphone to automatically check users into a meeting room when they join in Companion mode, eliminating manual steps. Admins can enable or disable proximity detection at the room level, and users can still check in manually if needed. The rollout began on September 9, 2026 for both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains, with Android completion expected by September 10 and iOS gradual visibility up to 15 days (ending September 24).

Gemini respects existing access permissions, does not use user data for model training, and provides human‑in‑the‑loop preview cards for actions like sending emails or scheduling meetings, ensuring data confidentiality and granular policy enforcement.

Users can ask Gemini in the Docs side panel to turn a proposal into a polished slide deck, specifying a style reference (e.g., @presentation) to maintain brand consistency without leaving the document editor.

From the Slides side panel (or other apps), users can prompt Gemini to log a reminder or generate a to‑do list based on presented content, which is instantly synced to Google Tasks for follow‑up.

Users can ask Gemini in Chat (via Ask Gemini) to find open times, book meetings, or resolve scheduling conflicts with teammates, keeping the workflow inside the chat interface.

From the side panel in Docs (or other apps), users can prompt Gemini to compose detailed emails for teams, which appear as drafts in Gmail or can be sent immediately, streamlining communication without switching to Gmail.

By asking Gemini to do deep research from the Docs side panel (or other apps), users can synthesize scattered data into a concise report with clear source attributions, saving time on literature reviews and competitive analysis.

Users can prompt Gemini from Gmail, Docs, Slides, Chat, or Drive to generate personalized documents, spreadsheets, or slide decks without leaving the current app. The generated files are saved securely to Drive, enabling seamless content creation across Workspace.

Google Sheets adds support for the full Google Fonts web font library directly within charts. Users can select “More fonts” from any font dropdown in the chart editor sidebar to search, add, and apply custom web fonts to chart titles and subtitles, axis titles and labels, data labels, and legend text. The update also enhances import/export compatibility with Microsoft Excel, preserving custom fonts that exist in both platforms during file transfers. There is no admin control for this feature. Rollout begins September 1, 2026 for Rapid Release domains (up to 15 days) and September 21, 2026 for Scheduled Release domains (up to 15 days).

Google Workspace administrators can now configure context-aware access (CAA) policies for Gemini Enterprise directly in the Admin console, selecting granular security attributes such as device security and location settings for both personal and managed devices. Admins can create policies that restrict access from specific geographic regions and reuse existing Workspace CAA policies for Gemini Enterprise. The feature is rolling out gradually to Rapid and Scheduled Release domains starting September 8, 2026, with completion by September 15, 2026, and is available for Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus, Frontline Standard/Plus, Enterprise Essentials Plus, and Cloud Identity Premium customers who have purchased Gemini Enterprise.