This official feed from the Google Workspace team provides essential information about new features and improvements for Google Workspace customers.
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Earlier this year, we announced changes to Google Groups to enhance data security and privacy. The changes, which are rolling out now, include:

  • Stricter “internal” and “external” classifications for Groups
  • Clearer visual indicators for whether a group contains external members
  • Changes to how emails are shown within Google Groups
  • Additional settings granularity to control who can add external users (admins only, or admins and end users) 
  • Changes to how admins can add external users via Groups APIs

API changes

While we originally announced that admins would have to change the classification of a group before being able to add external members to Groups marked as internal, we’re updating that behavior to prevent issues with synced groups. When an admin attempts to add an external member to an internal group via the Cloud Identity or Admin SDK Directory API, or when they sync data from a third-party identity provider via API, the group settings will be automatically updated to allow admins to add external members.

Getting started

  • Admins: To ensure a smooth transition, existing groups will be automatically classified based on their current membership, so there will not be any changes in access. You can review and adjust these labels directly in the Admin console or via the Groups Settings API to match your organization's security needs.
  • End users: There is no action required for end users.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers

Resources

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We are introducing several updates to the Gemini tab in Google Classroom designed to make its tools even more helpful for teachers. These changes make it easier for educators to collaborate with AI and create visual aids from any device, while expanding options for refining lesson plans.

Mobile availability
We know educators and students use Google Classroom on the go on their mobile devices, so we are excited to announce that the Gemini tab is now available in the Classroom Android and iOS apps, making these features more accessible to teachers and higher education students. For educators, the following features are available in the Classroom mobile app: Generate a quiz, Brainstorm project ideas, Craft a compelling hook, Tackle common misconceptions, and starter prompts for the Gemini app. All Gemini starter prompts and personal class notebooks in the student Gemini tab are available in the Classroom mobile app.

Tools to generate visual resources
Powered by Nano Banana 2, Google’s newest image generation model, these starter prompts help teachers create visuals that illustrate complex topics for students:

  • Create an infographic
  • Draw a comic strip
  • Visualize a concept

Teachers can also personalize three new starter prompts to generate a slide deck for a given concept and grade level using Gemini’s Canvas tool:

  • Create a presentation
  • Create an interactive activity
  • Convert a file to Google slides

Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Education: Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus

Resources

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Google Meet users can now connect to nearby conference room hardware by entering a 5-character room code on their personal device. Meet recently launched Connect Room using proximity-based detection to identify nearby hardware. This update provides a reliable manual fallback when ultrasound is unavailable or disabled. Users will see a "Connect with room code" button on their device’s pre-call screen, which allows them to enter the alphanumeric code displayed directly on the hardware’s screen.


This feature ensures that meetings remain accessible particularly for private or ad-hoc sessions where automated detection might fail. To maintain security and prevent accidental connections, users must physically confirm their presence by tapping the room hardware screen after entering the code. The room code itself is designed for clarity and security, refreshing every few minutes to ensure only those in the room can initiate the connection.

For IT administrators, this update reduces troubleshooting overhead by providing a built-in alternative for rooms with complex acoustic environments or restricted proximity settings. By streamlining the connection process, organizations can ensure that employees spend less time managing hardware and more time collaborating effectively.

Note: This feature is only available to users in domains on the Rapid Release track attempting to connect to devices enrolled in Early Preview. We’ll provide an update on the Workspace Updates blog when we begin a broader rollout.

Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices

Resources

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Google Apps Script is officially a Google Workspace core service. Covered under the Google Cloud Terms of Service and Google Workspace for Education Terms of Service, Apps Script now offers the same enterprise-grade data protection, robust administrative controls, and standard technical support that safeguards other core services. With this update, you can now more confidently deploy Apps Script across your organization.

More about Apps Script

Apps Script is a cloud-based JavaScript platform that enables users to customize, automate, and extend Google Workspace applications like Sheets, Docs, and Forms, as well as build custom solutions and add-ons. You can use it to:

  • Create custom menus, dialogs, and sidebars within Sheets, Docs, and Slides.
  • Write custom functions for Sheets to automate complex calculations.
  • Build internal add-ons to streamline organizational workflows and integrate with third-party APIs.

Getting started

  • Admins:
    • If you already have Apps Script enabled: No action is required. Your organization will automatically benefit from these new core service protections and technical support.
    • If you previously restricted Apps Script: If you turned Apps Script off due to compliance, security, or support concerns, you can now enable the service to provide secure, custom automation for your users. Visit the Help Center to learn how to manage Apps Script access for your organization.
  • End users: No action is required. Visit the Help Center to learn more about getting started with Apps Script.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Apps Script is now available as a core service for all Google Workspace customers

Resources

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Prior to this update, iOS users without the Gmail or Meet apps were unable to participate in Google Meet sessions on their mobile devices. Now, iOS mobile device users can join meetings directly through Safari, without needing to install an app. The process is now seamless; individuals without a Google account can simply provide their name to request entry into the call.


In this animation, an iPhone user has received a link to join a Meet call. They click on the link and immediately join via their Safari browser.

Getting started

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: If an iOS user attempts to join a Google Meet call and doesn’t have the Gmail or Meet app installed, they’ll be automatically directed to join via Safari.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google accounts
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Learn about more Google Workspace launches

On the “What’s new in Google Workspace?” Help Center page, learn about new products and features launching in Google Workspace, including smaller changes that haven’t been announced on the Google Workspace Updates blog.

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