Google Workspace Changes

Gemini in Google Sheets now enables natural‑language analysis of BigQuery data, allowing conversational queries, insights, and dashboard creation directly within Sheets.

Starting October 19, 2026, Google Sheets users with access to BigQuery can leverage Gemini’s natural language capabilities to query, analyze, and visualize large datasets directly within Sheets. By asking questions like "What were total sales in the Northeast last quarter?" users receive answers based on the full BigQuery dataset, can follow up for deeper insights, and instruct Gemini to build refreshable dashboards with charts, pivot tables, and formulas. The feature rolls out gradually over up to 15 days for both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains, and is available for Business Standard/Plus, Enterprise Standard/Plus, Google AI Pro/Ultra consumers, and Education AI Pro add‑on.

Meeting recaps now appear automatically in Google Chat after a Google Meet call with 'Take notes for me' enabled, providing summary, decisions, action items, and links to notes, recording, and transcript.

Meeting recaps in Google Chat deliver a concise post-meeting summary directly in the chat space, including a high-level overview, key decisions, assigned action items, and one-click access to the full Gemini meeting notes document, recording, and transcript. The feature works when 'Take notes for me' is enabled in Google Meet and an associated chat conversation exists, delivering the recap silently without notifications. Participants can delete the recap card, while the original notes remain in Google Drive. Admins can manage the feature via Gemini for Google Workspace policies, and it rolls out to Rapid Release domains starting October 16, 2026 (visible up to 15 days) and to Scheduled Release domains starting October 27, 2026 (also visible up to 15 days).

Preview client-side encrypted PDF and image files directly in Google Drive is now generally available.

Google Drive now supports previewing client-side encrypted (CSE) PDF and image files directly within the Drive interface, eliminating the need to download encrypted files to local devices for viewing. Authorized users can instantly preview encrypted content in their web browser, improving productivity while maintaining security. The feature is rolling out to Rapid and Scheduled Release domains starting October 15, 2026, with an extended rollout potentially longer than 15 days. It is available for Enterprise Plus, Education Standard and Plus, Frontline Plus, Assured Controls, and Assured Controls Plus editions.

Users can now switch from watching a Google Meet live stream to participating with audio and video directly on Android.

While watching a live stream on an Android device, eligible viewers who have been invited to both the live stream and the main meeting can switch roles using the meeting title, live streaming badge, or the info button in the overflow menu. This in-app workflow eliminates the need to reopen join links or switch apps, and existing meeting access permissions and domain policies apply to ensure only authorized participants can join with media.

Google Meet introduces AI-powered next steps to automate post-meeting tasks like drafting follow-up emails and adding action items to Google Tasks.

Google Meet now offers a new 'Next steps' feature, powered by Gemini and Workspace Studio, that appears on the post-meeting screen when 'Take notes for me' is enabled. Users can automate routine actions such as drafting follow-up emails in Gmail or exporting action items to Google Tasks, with the ability to apply these steps across recurring meetings. Admins can manage the feature via Workspace Studio Admin settings, and rollout began October 5, 2026 for both Rapid and Scheduled release tracks.

Google Meet now uses post-quantum cryptography for calls on laptop web clients and meeting room hardware, with mobile support coming soon.

Starting October 12, 2026, Google Meet calls on laptop web clients and meeting room hardware are protected by post-quantum cryptography (PQC) to defend against future quantum computer threats, with no visible changes to the user experience. The rollout is gradual over up to 15 days for both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains, and mobile support will follow soon. Administrators and end users need take no action.

Carrier Link for Google Voice is now available in 14 additional countries, allowing Workspace customers to use local carrier calling plans with Google Voice.

In June, Google launched Carrier Link in 20 countries where Google Voice service was not otherwise available. On October 8, 2026, Carrier Link is being made available in an additional 14 countries (including the US, Canada, and much of Europe). Partners Southlight Services, Gamma Communications, Tata Communications, and Telefonica Global Solutions have collaborated with Google Voice to offer these services. Carrier Link enables Workspace customers to add phone numbers and calling plans from certified local carriers via a pre‑configured multi‑tenant SIP Link implementation, simplifying cloud phone system setup with minimal configuration and carrier‑handled payments. The feature is rolling out gradually over up to 15 days for both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains, starting October 8, 2026, and is available to Workspace customers with Google Voice Starter, Standard, or Premier subscriptions.

Point-in-time editing is now available in Google Vids, showing only active elements at the current timeline position for a true WYSIWYG experience.

Google Vids introduces point-in-time editing, which synchronizes the editing canvas with the video timeline so that only the elements active at the current timestamp are displayed. This eliminates visual clutter from overlapping text, stickers, and images, providing a true 'what you see is what you get' workflow. Users can scrub the timeline or click object tracks to move the playhead, and they no longer need to split scenes to manage timed objects. The feature is enabled by default for all Google Vids sessions, with a gradual rollout for Rapid Release domains beginning September 29, 2026 and a full rollout for Scheduled Release domains starting October 13, 2026.

Trello for Google Workspace now lets users create Trello cards directly from Google Chat messages.

The refreshed Trello for Google Workspace app replaces the Trello for Gmail experience and adds the ability to create new Trello cards from Google Chat messages. Users can add the app to a Chat space or direct message, follow the sign‑in prompt, and create cards without leaving Chat. Admins can install the app for users via the Google Workspace Marketplace, and the update is available now for both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains.

Google Sheets now supports new High-Low-Close (HLC) and Open-High-Low-Close (OHLC) stock chart types, with improved Excel import compatibility.

Google Sheets introduces High-Low-Close (HLC) and Open-High-Low-Close (OHLC) stock chart types that condense multiple price points per period into a single marker, enabling quick visualization of a security's trading range and settlement. These charts fit seamlessly into financial analysts' existing workflows for tracking equities, commodities, and building valuation models. Additionally, Sheets now preserves HLC and OHLC charts when importing Excel files, eliminating the need to rebuild them manually.

Google Drive now renders Markdown files, showing formatted previews with clickable links and structured tables directly in the file viewer.

Drive’s preview pane displays Markdown (.md/.markdown) files as fully formatted documents, complete with styled headings, bulleted lists, tables, and hyperlinks, allowing users to quickly review content without opening Docs. This complements the native Docs editing experience and requires no additional setup.

Google Docs now supports native viewing, editing, and real-time collaboration on Markdown (.md/.markdown) files.

Users can open, edit, and comment on Markdown files in Google Docs just like any other document, preserving formatting, tables, headers, and lists without needing to import or convert the file. This enables seamless collaboration with teammates and AI agents while retaining Docs’ real-time editing and commenting tools.

Secondary calendars now follow the lifecycle of their owner, being deleted or suspended when the owner account is deleted or suspended.

Starting October 5, 2026, secondary calendars in Google Workspace will automatically inherit the lifecycle status of their owning user account. When a user account is deleted or suspended, any secondary calendars they own will be deleted or suspended accordingly, mirroring the behavior of primary calendars. To retain a secondary calendar, ownership must be transferred to another user before the original owner's account is removed. Admins can transfer calendars via the Admin Console or Calendar API, while end users can do so in Calendar Settings. The change applies to all Google Workspace customers and Workspace Individual subscribers, rolling out via both Rapid and Scheduled release tracks with an extended rollout period.

Built-in interoperability between Google Meet and Microsoft Teams on Android (AOSP) devices is now generally available, allowing users to join Teams meetings from Meet hardware and vice versa.

Starting October 1, 2026, Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware running Android/AOSP can join Microsoft Teams meetings directly from their Meet devices, and users of Android/AOSP-based Microsoft Teams Rooms can join Google Meet meetings. The feature rolls out to both Rapid and Scheduled Release domains over a 1–3 day period beginning on the launch date.

Skills are rolling out in Google Workspace, letting users create and share reusable prompts while the Gems transition proceeds.

Skills begin rolling out in Workspace on October 5, 2026 for Rapid Release domains (completing October 12) and October 19, 2026 for Scheduled Release domains (completing by mid‑November). Skills work inline in chat threads, can be stacked, and are based on the SKILL.md standard. They will eventually replace Gems, with admins encouraged to prepare users using the provided migration guides.