Google Workspace Changes

Google Sheets now supports the import of 3D bar charts.

Google Sheets now fully supports the import of 3D bar charts, including those imported from Microsoft Excel. Previously, 3D bar charts were converted to 2D bar charts upon import; this update ensures a more seamless experience by preserving the 3D format.

Create fully native and editable multi-slide presentations with Gemini in Google Slides.

Users can now generate full, multi-slide presentations using Gemini in Google Slides. This feature allows users to ground presentations in existing Google Drive content, match the style of a reference deck, and refine the presentation outline before the slides are created. The resulting slides are fully editable, and Gemini provides suggestions for relevant files, emails, and chats to enrich the content.

Ask Gemini in Drive is now available on Android and iOS mobile apps.

Google has expanded the 'Ask Gemini in Drive' feature to Android and iOS apps, providing a dedicated workspace for high-context, multi-turn conversations to explore content across Drive, other Workspace apps, and the web. The update includes dedicated conversations for specific files and folders, persistent conversation history, and maintains existing security and data protection controls.

Updated 'Limit video bandwidth' admin setting to include downlink limits and improve two-person call quality.

Google is updating the 'Limit video bandwidth' setting in the Admin console to better manage data usage and call quality. The setting, which previously only limited uplink bandwidth, now also limits downlink bandwidth. Additionally, Google is increasing uplink bandwidth usage specifically for two-person calls to improve overall video quality in those scenarios.

Educators and students can now share Gemini Canvas creations directly to Google Classroom.

Educators and students can now seamlessly attach Gemini Canvas artifacts, such as websites, quizzes, interactive games, and infographics, directly to Google Classroom assignments and posts. By using the 'Share to Classroom' button within Gemini Canvas, users can enrich their coursework and communication by embedding interactive materials directly into their workflows, removing the need to export or link external files.

Read Along is now available to all Google Workspace for Education users to support foundational literacy.

Read Along in Google Classroom, an AI-powered literacy tool, is now available at no cost to all Google Workspace for Education users. The tool helps students improve speaking, listening, and decoding skills through real-time pronunciation feedback, word-breakdown support, and an extensive library of books in eight languages. Educators can create interactive reading activities, utilize Gemini to generate differentiated stories, and monitor student progress via an insights dashboard. Advanced analytics and BigQuery data extraction are available for Education Plus and Teaching & Learning add-on users.

Google Groups is introducing stricter internal and external classifications to enhance data security and privacy.

Google Groups is implementing stricter 'internal' and 'external' classifications, featuring clearer visual indicators for external members and changes to how emails are displayed. Admins gain more granular control over who can add external users. To prevent synchronization issues, group settings will now automatically update to allow external members when they are added via the Cloud Identity API, Admin SDK Directory API, or third-party identity providers.

New starter prompts to generate slide decks and interactive activities using Gemini's Canvas tool.

Teachers can now use Gemini's Canvas tool through three new starter prompts to create presentations, interactive activities, or convert existing files into Google Slides, tailored to specific concepts and grade levels.

New AI-powered tools to generate visual resources like infographics and comic strips.

Powered by the Nano Banana 2 image generation model, Google Classroom now includes starter prompts that help teachers create visual aids to illustrate complex topics, including infographics, comic strips, and conceptual visualizations.

Gemini tab is now available in the Google Classroom Android and iOS apps.

The Gemini tab in Google Classroom is now accessible via Android and iOS apps, allowing teachers and higher education students to use AI features on the go. Teachers can generate quizzes, brainstorm project ideas, craft hooks, and tackle misconceptions, while students have access to starter prompts and personal class notebooks.

Google Meet users can now connect to nearby conference room hardware using a 5-character room code.

Google Meet hardware now supports connecting via a 5-character alphanumeric room code entered on a personal device, providing a reliable manual fallback when proximity-based detection is unavailable or disabled. To maintain security, users must physically confirm their presence by tapping the hardware screen after entering the code, and the codes refresh every few minutes. This feature is currently available in Early Preview for domains on the Rapid Release track.

iOS users can now join Google Meet calls directly through the Safari browser without installing an app.

iOS mobile device users can now participate in Google Meet sessions via Safari, eliminating the requirement to have the Gmail or Meet apps installed. This process allows individuals, including those without a Google account, to join meetings by simply providing their name to request entry.

Google Apps Script is now a Google Workspace core service with enterprise-grade data protection.

Google Apps Script has officially become a Google Workspace core service, providing it with the same enterprise-grade data protection, robust administrative controls, and standard technical support as other core services. Now covered under the Google Cloud and Google Workspace for Education Terms of Service, this update allows organizations to more confidently deploy custom automations, functions, and add-ons across their environment.

Gemini in Google Sheets can now diagnose and fix formula errors in one click.

Google has introduced a new Gemini capability in Sheets that allows users to troubleshoot formula errors quickly. When an error is encountered, Gemini analyzes the surrounding data structure to provide an easy-to-understand explanation of the issue and a corrected version of the formula, supporting everything from basic arithmetic to intricate calculations.

Expanded language support for building and editing spreadsheets with Gemini in 28 additional languages.

Google is expanding the language support for Gemini in Sheets, allowing users in 28 additional languages—including Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Italian, French, German, and Chinese Simplified—to build and edit spreadsheets using natural language prompts. This update enables global teams to leverage Gemini to create tables, pivot tables, charts, and formulas in their native languages, facilitating more efficient data management and workflow automation without language barriers.