Google Workspace Changes

Expanding streamlined file organization across Google Workspace

The updated visual experience of the Google Drive location picker is being expanded to Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Sites, and Gmail. Users will receive helpful suggestions when moving files, adding shortcuts, or creating copies of files.

Easily lock Google Drive files via the right-click context menu to prevent edits.

Google Drive is introducing a simplified way to lock files by right-clicking a file, selecting 'File information', and clicking 'Lock'. Locking a file ensures that reviewers cannot make edits, add comments, or provide suggestions. This feature streamlines a process that was previously only available through the Google Drive API or file approvals.

A single Google group can be a member of 30,000 shared drives

Google Drive has increased the capacity for Google groups, allowing a single group to be a member of up to 30,000 shared drives.

Reorganized file and folder menu in Google Drive

Google Drive has updated the right-click menu for files and folders. While the core functionality remains the same, the menu items have been reordered and renamed, and new sub-menus have been added to improve the user interface.

Adding drag & drop to Google Drive multi-instance support on large screen Android devices

Users on large screen Android devices can now drag and drop files and folders between two side-by-side instances of the Google Drive app, enabling faster sharing of content between two different Google Accounts.

Empty the entire trash folder of shared drives in Google Drive

Google Drive has added the ability to empty the entire trash folder of a shared drive, eliminating the manual effort of removing items individually. As a reminder, files and folders in Trash are automatically deleted forever after 30 days.

A single Google group can be a member of 30,000 shared drives

To protect the reliability of access changes for users in Google groups, Google has introduced a limit where a single group can now be added to no more than 30,000 shared drives, replacing the previous unlimited capacity.

Admins can import sensitive, encrypted files from third-party storage using Client-side encryption and the Google Drive API, launching in beta.

For select Google Workspace editions, admins can import sensitive, encrypted files from third-party storage using Client-side encryption and the Google Drive API, preserving the confidentiality of your data. Eligible admins can apply for beta access using this form.

Import sensitive external files to Google Drive with client-side encryption using the Drive API (Beta)

Google is introducing a beta feature that allows admins of eligible Google Workspace editions to import sensitive, encrypted files from third-party storage into Google Drive using Client-side encryption (CSE) and the Drive API. This functionality enables admins to bulk import files on behalf of users while maintaining strict data confidentiality and meeting data sovereignty and compliance requirements.

New in-file experience for responding to file access requests.

Google is introducing a new file access experience that allows file approvers to review and respond to pending access requests directly from within the file (Docs, Sheets, Slides, PDFs, etc.). Approvers will see a notification dot on the 'Share' button and a banner within the sharing dialog when requests are pending, providing a more efficient alternative to responding via email.

Drive log events expanded to Business Starter and Essentials Starter editions.

Drive log events, which enable administrators to access an audit and investigation page to run searches related to Drive activity, are now available for Google Workspace Business Starter and Essentials Starter editions.

Optimizing the Google Drive Android app for foldable devices

The Google Drive Android app now features controls within the item preview viewer that intelligently respond and adjust based on the position of a foldable device, whether it is opened, closed, or partially opened.

Find what you need faster with new Google Drive organizational options

Google Drive for Web is introducing new organizational options, including a drop-down menu in grid and list layouts to choose if folders appear 'on top' or 'mixed with files,' and new display options within the Search view.

Developers will now be able to fully control file expirations via the Google Drive API for files in shared drives.

To expand upon this, we’re adding the option to set expirations on files that reside in shared drives using the Google Drive API. Specifically, developers will now be able to fully control file expirations via the API (creating, reading, updating, deleting), and users will be able to see, but not edit file expirations in the sharing dialog.

Set expirations for files in shared drives using Google Drive API

Google is expanding the ability to set expiring access to files located in shared drives via the Google Drive API. Developers can now fully control file expirations (creating, reading, updating, and deleting) through the API, while end users will be able to view these expirations in the sharing dialog, although they cannot edit them directly.