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Google Workspace Updates

This official feed from the Google Workspace team provides essential information about new features and improvements for Google Workspace customers.

  • Import and create combo charts in Google Sheets

    Google Sheets now offers enhanced support for combo charts, providing a more seamless experience when creating multi-series visualizations. Users can create new “Combo” chart types, enabling complex dataset visualization with different scales and metrics without requiring manual re-plotting. These include:

    • Clustered Column - Line
    • Clustered Column - Line on Secondary Axis
    • Custom Combo
    Sheets combo chart support also comes with enhanced Microsoft Excel import compatibility. Previously, importing external files that contained combo charts with a secondary axis would result in the secondary axis being dropped. This update ensures that secondary axis configurations and combo chart types are preserved during file import.


    User creating a combo chart in Google Sheets

    Getting started

    Rollout pace

    Availability

    • Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google accounts

    Resources

  • Google Workspace Weekly Recap - July 17, 2026

    Google Credential Provider for Windows (GCPW) now supports FIDO2-compliant physical security keys as a second factor for authentication

    Google Credential Provider for Windows (GCPW) has been updated to support FIDO2-compliant physical security keys as a second factor for authentication. This update helps organizations improve their security posture by enabling administrators to enforce 2-Step Verification (2SV) using hardware security keys at the Windows login screen. | Learn more.

    Improvement to in-room problem reporting for Google Meet hardware

    Maintaining an enterprise-grade video conferencing environment requires visibility into the health of its devices. We're introducing new ways to see Google Meet hardware user-reported feedback directly in the Admin console. | Learn more.

    New refinement capabilities allow custom editing with Help me write in Gmail

    Users can now edit and revise their email drafts in Gmail via the prompt bar, using custom refine instructions in Help me write. Previously the refines were limited to preset options like Polish, Formalize, and Shorten. | Learn more.

    Now available: group conversations with external collaborators in Google Chat

    For many teams, it’s essential to be able to work in real-time with partners from outside your organization. We’re improving external collaboration in Google Chat by making it possible to create group conversations that include external users. | Learn more.

    NotebookLM is now Gemini Notebook

    We’re renaming NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook. While it remains a standalone product focused on being your premier research tool, the new name reflects how it will evolve to do more across the Google ecosystem. | Learn more.

    Easily control the emotions and pacing of AI avatars and AI voiceovers in Google Vids

    Users can now easily steer voiceover and avatar speaking in Google Vids by typing content within brackets like “[excitedly]”. | Learn more.

    Expanded language support for Gemini in Google Docs

    We are now expanding support for these features to 11 more languages, including Mandarin, Dutch, Malay, Hebrew, Polish, Turkish, Czech, Indonesian, Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian. These new additions join our previously supported languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, French, Korean, German, and Italian. | Learn more.

    Generate higher quality AI video clips and edit any video with Gemini Omni in Vids

    Users now have access to Gemini Omni directly within Google Vids. Omni provides higher quality video generation with significant improvements over previous models. Additionally, Omni’s world understanding unlocks simple video edits so you can ask Omni to tweak the video you have to get the video you need. | Learn more.

    Cast yourself in AI video clips using your personal avatar with Gemini Omni in Vids

    Users now have access to Gemini Omni directly within Google Vids. With Gemini Omni, you can create videos using your personal avatar to scale your presence without the studio time. Use a secure verification process to capture your likeness and then select it as a character in Omni generations within Vids. | Learn more.

    New Google Meet 'Take notes for me' settings for admins and end users

    To help users remember to capture notes for meetings when it’s most valuable, we’re updating the admin and end user settings that let them pre-configure AI note-taking for Google Meet. | Learn more.

    The announcements above were published on the Workspace Updates blog over the last week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

  • New Google Meet 'Take notes for me' settings for admins and end users

    To help users remember to capture notes for meetings when it’s most valuable, we’re updating the admin and end user settings that let them pre-configure AI note-taking for Google Meet.

    Admin settings

    Previously, admins could only enable or disable automatic note-taking for all meetings. Today, we’re starting to roll out a third option, which will allow admins to enable automatic note-taking only for meetings with three or more people.

    Customers on Business Standard and Business Plus plans will soon see this setting turned ON by default; the setting will be OFF by default for customers on Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, and Frontline Plus plans, as well as those with the Google AI Pro for Education add-on. There will be no impact to the end user experience on any plan before September 21, 2026. If you want to change your settings, you can do so in the Admin console.

    If you currently participate in the Gemini Alpha program, and previously tested this setting, it may already be ON. Please review the current state of the settings for your organization in the Admin console before September 21, 2026.


    End user settings

    We’re also introducing a way for end users to enable note-taking only for meetings with three or more participants. Once the “For all meetings I host with 3+ guests” option rolls out, users should revisit their settings to confirm they’re configured as desired. This option will become available no sooner than September 21; stay tuned to the Workspace Updates blog to be notified when that rollout starts.


    Getting started

    • Admins for Business Standard and Business Plus organizations:This new setting is ON by default. If you wish to change your settings, you should do so before September 21, 2026, to avoid any impact for end users. Visit the Help Center for more information on how to adjust these settings.
    • Admins for Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Frontline Plus, and Google AI Pro for Education organizations: This new setting is OFF by default. You can adjust this setting in the Admin console once it appears, but it will not affect the end user experience before September 21, 2026. Visit the Help Center for more information on how to adjust these settings.
    • Admins for organizations participating in Gemini Alpha program: Your settings may be impacted by previous configurations. Please review your settings before September 21, 2026, to ensure they’re configured correctly.
    • End users on all plans:The default set by admins will go into effect for end users no sooner than September 21, 2026. Users can override this default in the Meet user settings after that date. Visit the Help Center to learn more about Meeting settings for “take notes for me”.

    Rollout pace

    Admin setting

    End user setting

    *We’ll post an update on the Workspace Updates blog when the end user setting rollout begins.

    Availability

    • Business: Business Standard and Plus
    • Enterprise:Enterprise Standard and Plus
    • Other Editions: Frontline Plus
    • Education Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education

    Resources

  • Cast yourself in AI video clips using your personal avatar with Gemini Omni in Vids

    Users now have access to Gemini Omni directly within Google Vids. With Gemini Omni, you can create videos using your personal avatar to scale your presence without the studio time. Use a secure verification process to capture your likeness and then select it as a character in Omni generations within Vids.


    Personal avatar user experience

    • Secure verification: Verify and manage your personal avatar directly within your Google Account.
    • Seamless integration:Easily add your personal avatar from the selector in Vids.
    • Administrative oversight:Admins can manage or disable this feature through the Admin console.

    A note on language and region availability

    At launch, personal avatars are available in English only for users 18 years and older. They’re not available in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom. Learn more about personal avatar privacy settings.

    Getting started

    Rollout pace

    Availability

    • Business:Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
    • Enterprise:Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
    • Education:Education Plus
    • Consumer:Google AI Pro and Ultra
    • Other Editions: Enterprise Essentials and Enterprise Essentials Plus; Nonprofits
    • Education Add-ons:Google AI Pro for Education; Teaching and Learning
    • Other Add-ons:AI Expanded Access*

    *Users with AI Expanded Access add-on licenses have higher limits on usage of Omni in Vids.

    Resources

  • Generate higher quality AI video clips and edit any video with Gemini Omni in Vids

    Users now have access to Gemini Omni directly within Google Vids. Omni provides higher quality video generation with significant improvements over previous models. Additionally, Omni’s world understanding unlocks simple video edits so you can ask Omni to tweak the video you have to get the video you need.


    Omni in Vids user experience

    • Generate clips with higher quality: Generate higher quality videos with improved text rendering, physics, and realism using Google’s latest Omni Flash model.
    • Edit videos by typing changes: For example, fix the color-grading, restyle the visuals in anime, or remove that New York siren in the background with a simple text instruction in Vids.

    A note on language and region availability

    At launch, editing non-AI videos with Omni is not available in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Texas, or Illinois.

    Getting started

    Rollout pace

    Availability

    • Business: Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
    • Enterprise:Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
    • Education:Education Plus
    • Consumer:Google AI Pro and Ultra
    • Other Editions:Enterprise Essentials and Enterprise Essentials Plus; Nonprofits
    • Education Add-ons:Google AI Pro for Education; Teaching and Learning
    • Other Add-ons:AI Expanded Access*

    *Users with AI Expanded Access add-on licenses have higher limits on usage of Omni in Vids.

    Resources

  • Expanded language support for Gemini in Google Docs

    Earlier this year, we introduced new Gemini in Google Docs capabilities that help you move from a blank page to a finished document faster than ever.

    We are now expanding support for these features to 11 more languages, including Mandarin, Dutch, Malay, Hebrew, Polish, Turkish, Czech, Indonesian, Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian. These new additions join our previously supported languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, French, Korean, German, and Italian.

    Reimagined Gemini experience in Docs

    With this update, Google Docs offers a centralized place to generate, write, and refine your documents with Gemini. Powered by Workspace Intelligence, Gemini leverages data across Drive, Gmail, Chat, and the web to provide personalized, context-aware assistance.

    • The upgraded Help me create experience enables you to generate relevant, fully formatted first drafts that synthesize information from your files, emails, chat, and the web.
    • With Help me write, simply prompt Gemini from the bottom bar or side panel to make edits across your doc, or select text to focus Gemini’s attention. Gemini’s suggested edits are only visible to you until you approve them.
    • Match writing style helps maintain a consistent tone and style across your entire doc, no matter how many people are working on it.
    • With Match doc format, Gemini can mirror a source document to generate content that adheres to the original's formatting (e.g., fonts and colors) and structural elements (e.g., headings and table columns).

    To generate new docs from scratch, open a new doc, enter your prompt, and click submit. To edit existing docs, simply hover over the spark near the bottom of your doc and type a prompt in the bottom bar.


    Getting started

    Rollout pace

    Availability

    • Business:Business Standard and Plus
    • Enterprise:Enterprise Standard and Plus
    • Education:Education Plus
    • Consumer:Google AI Pro and Ultra
    • Education Add-ons: Teaching and Learning
    • Other Add-ons:AI Expanded Access*; Google AI Pro for Education*

    *Users with AI Expanded Access and Google AI Pro for Education add-on licenses will have higher limits on usage of Match writing style and Match document format tools.

    Resources

  • Easily control the emotions and pacing of AI avatars and AI voiceovers in Google Vids

    Users can now easily steer voiceover and avatar speaking in Google Vids by typing content within brackets like “[excitedly]”.

    When typing open brackets (“[“) Vids will offer a menu of steering tags to customize pacing, emotional delivery, and sound effects. These cues empower you to guide the voiceover or avatar’s response to specific moments within your script.

    If you’re short on time, just click "Apply audio tags" for Vids to automatically populate your script with tags based on the content.


    Steering suggestions in Vids scripts

    Getting started

    Rollout pace

    Availability

    • Business: Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
    • Enterprise: Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
    • Education:Education Plus
    • Consumer: All users with personal Google accounts, including Google AI Pro and Ultra
    • Other Editions: Enterprise Essentials, and Enterprise Essentials Plus; Nonprofits; Individual
    • Education Add-ons: Teaching and Learning; Google AI Pro for Education
    • Other Add-ons:AI Expanded Access*
    *Users with AI Expanded Access add-on licenses have higher limits on usage of AI features in Vids. 

    Resources

  • NotebookLM is now Gemini Notebook

    We’re renaming NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook. While it remains a standalone product focused on being your premier research tool, the new name reflects how it will evolve to do more across the Google ecosystem.

    Users will see the new name and updated logo roll out across different interfaces over the next several weeks.

    An image of the new Gemini Notebook logo
    NotebookLM is now Gemini Notebook

    Getting started

    • Admins: There is no action required from admins. Automatic redirects will ensure existing shared notebooks and user links continue to work.
    • End users: Users will see the updated name and logo roll out across different interfaces over the next several weeks. Mobile users may need to update their app.

    Rollout pace

    Impact

    • Impacts all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts with access to NotebookLM

    Resources

  • Now available: group conversations with external collaborators in Google Chat

    For many teams, it’s essential to be able to work in real-time with partners from outside your organization. We’re improving external collaboration in Google Chat by making it possible to create group conversations that include external users.

    Previously, teams using Google Chat could only create 1:1 conversations with external users, or create a space in Chat with external access enabled.

    With this update, it’s now possible to create group conversations with multiple external users, reducing friction and streamlining external collaboration. No additional configuration is required, and access for external users is enabled once they accept an invitation through an email notification. Group conversations with external members are labeled with a visible badge to help ensure that users are aware of the context for all conversations in Chat.


    Getting started

    • Admins:External group DMs share the same admin controls as external spaces. Ensure that the External spaces & group direct messages admin setting is enabled for your organization to allow users to create or join external group DMs.
    • End users: If allowed by their admin, end users can add external users when they create a new group DM. External users can’t be added to existing group DMs that only have internal users. External users who are added to group DMs will receive an email invitation and must accept the invitation to participate in the group conversation.

    Rollout pace

    Availability

    • Available to all Google Workspace customers and Workspace Individual subscribers

    Resources

  • New refinement capabilities allow custom editing with Help me write in Gmail

    Users can now edit and revise their email drafts in Gmail via the prompt bar, using custom refine instructions in Help me write. Previously the refines were limited to preset options like Polish, Formalize, and Shorten. Now if your first draft isn’t quite perfect, you can provide a precise follow-up prompt in your own words to further refine it, and even undo or redo any edits you make.

    Whether you need to add a missing detail to the second line or include a deadline for your request, simply type the instruction and Gmail will instantly update the draft for you.

    Getting started

    Rollout pace

    Availability

    • Business:Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
    • Enterprise: Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus
    • Consumer:Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra
    • Other Editions:Frontline Plus
    • Education Add-ons: Google AI Pro for Education
    • Other Add-ons:AI Expanded Access

    Resources