Google Workspace Changes

Editing Google Docs files on the mobile web is being replaced by the mobile app.

To encourage the use of the more robust mobile app, Google is removing the ability to edit Google Docs files on the mobile web. Users attempting to edit Docs files on the mobile web will now be directed to the app or prompted to download it.

Google Drive plug-in for Microsoft Office allows opening and saving Office files directly to Drive.

Google has released a plug-in for Microsoft Office on Windows that enables users to open Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents stored in Google Drive and save changes directly back to Drive. Users can also save local Office files to Google Drive from within the Office applications. The plug-in supports Office 2007, 2010, 2013, and Office 365.

Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides now display warnings for invalid sharing settings.

Google is introducing warnings within the 'Sharing with others' dialog in Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides to notify users when sharing settings are invalid. Warnings will appear if a user attempts to share a file with someone outside their domain when such sharing is disabled by an administrator, or if they use 'anyone' sharing options while external publishing is restricted.

Clearer indication of 'View' and 'Comment' access in Google Docs editors

Google is introducing UI tweaks to Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings to make it more apparent when a user has only 'View' or 'Comment' access. Users with 'View only' access will see a new blue button in the toolbar, while those with 'Comment only' access (in Sheets, Slides, and Drawings) will see a green button, both of which allow the user to easily request edit access from the file owner.

New mobile content notifications for Google Classroom app on Android and iOS.

Students will begin receiving mobile notifications via the Google Classroom app for Android and iOS when new content is added to their classes. This includes immediate alerts for new assignments, grades, notes from teachers, and comments from classmates, helping students stay updated on their schoolwork.

Disable downloading, printing, and copying for Google Drive files

Google Drive has introduced Information Rights Management (IRM) features that allow file owners to disable the ability for commenters and viewers to download, print, or copy files. This setting can be managed through the advanced sharing menu on the web or via API and applies to all file types in Drive, including Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Print and preview event support added to Google Drive audit logs

Google has added support for print and preview events to the Google Drive audit logs for both Google and non-Google file formats. Administrators can now filter these events by document name, user name, and timestamp, and can set alerts for specific files based on filenames and owners. This feature is available to Google Apps Unlimited/Google Drive for Work and Google Apps for Education customers.

Change slide layouts in Google Slides for Android

Within the Google Slides app for Android, users can now change the layout of an existing slide to one of several predefined layouts, allowing them to update presentations on mobile more effectively.

Easier file renaming in Android apps

Users can now edit document, spreadsheet, and presentation titles directly from the overflow menu in the top right corner of the Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps for Android, making renaming files faster and simpler.

Improved comment and suggestion handling in Office Compatibility Mode for Android

In the Google Docs app for Android, users can now reply to comments when working in Office Compatibility Mode. Additionally, suggestions and comments in this mode now appear in the Comments panel in the order they were made, rather than grouped by type.

Google Vault updates how admins set new retention rules.

Google Vault is changing the way admins configure new retention rules. Admins will now be prompted to choose between two options: expunging messages only if they were deleted during the coverage period (the default) or expunging messages even if they are still present in a user's mailbox. This change does not affect existing retention settings, which will continue to operate under their original configurations.

Improvements to G Suite launch announcement structure.

Google is adding more structured information to its launch announcements to help G Suite admins better digest and communicate updates to their users. Future announcements will now include specific details regarding the release track, eligible editions, rollout pace, impact, and recommended admin actions.

New download functionality for Microsoft Office files in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

The Office Compatibility Mode extension in Chrome now includes a feature that allows users to instantly download a local copy of edited Microsoft Office files. This functionality is accessible via the File drop-down menu and a button in the top right corner of the screen, making it easier for users to share files in Microsoft Office format or upload them via webforms.

Google My Maps is now integrated with Google Drive for easier creation, sharing, and management of custom maps.

Google My Maps is now integrated with Google Drive, allowing users to create custom maps with lines, shapes, and placemarks, import geographic data, and share maps using Drive's permission settings. Google Apps admins can enable or disable the service for their domains or specific organizational units via the Admin console. These maps are web-only and do not count toward the user's Google Drive storage limit.

Accept or reject external guest requests to join Hangouts video calls in the Hangouts iOS app.

Google has enabled the functionality to accept or reject external guest requests to join Hangouts video calls within the latest version of the Hangouts iOS app. Previously, this action was only possible via the web interface for users in the Apps domain.