New Google Calendar shortcuts improve glanceability for screen reader users
- Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
- End users:
- To view keyboard shortcuts in Calendar, type:
- Ctrl+/ on Windows and ChromeOS
- Cmd+/ on Mac
- Use the following keyboard combinations to access Announce Shortcuts:
- Alt+
for Windows Alt+Shift+ for ChromeOS Option+ for Mac Visit the Help Center to learn more about using a screen reader with Google Calendar.
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on September 27, 2022
Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers Available to users with personal Google Accounts
Google Workspace Admin Help: Google Workspace user guide to accessibility Google Help: Use a screen reader with Google Calendar Google Workspace Updates Blog: Improved announcements for braille comments and highlights available in Google Docs on Web Google Workspace Updates Blog: More control over accessibility preferences in Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings
This feature was listed as an upcoming release.
Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - September 23, 2022
New updates
Previous announcements
The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.
Updated Apps Script integrated development environment will replace the legacy experience by Q4 2022
- Admins and Developers: Use our developer documentation to learn more about working with Apps Script.
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Beginning Q4 2022, the new IDE will become the default experience with no option to revert back.
- Available to Google Workspace customers, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers
Introducing new spacing feature on Google Sites
- Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
- End users: In a Site, add spacers by clicking on the “Spacer” link from the Insert panel on the right. Visit the Help Center to learn more about adding a spacer between elements.
- Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 19, 2022
- Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on October 3, 2022
- Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers
- Available to users with personal Google accounts
Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - September 16, 2022
New updates
Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are fully launched or in the process of rolling out (rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete), launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time (if not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete), and available to all Google Workspace and G Suite customers.Previous announcements
Spanish, French, and Portuguese Smart Replies in Google Chat
- Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
- End users: Smart Reply auto-detects languages and is ON by default. Once you’ve selected a Smart Reply, you can send it immediately or edit your response starting with the Smart Reply text. You can update your Smart Reply preferences in Google Chat or your Gmail account. At the top right, click Settings > navigate to "Smart Reply.” Visit the Help Center to learn more about saving time with smart reply suggestions.
- This feature is available now for all users on web.
- Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers
- Available to users with personal Google Accounts
Easily share Google Meet artifacts with co-hosts
- Specify co-hosts when creating a meeting on their Calendar event
- Select the “call artifacts are shared with the host and co-host you add here” option when adding co-hosts in Google Calendar
- If you promote someone to a co-host during an ongoing meeting, they won’t get Meeting Artifacts for that particular meeting. You must add them as a co-host when you set up or edit the event in Google Calendar.
- If a participant’s co-host status is removed during the meeting, they still get Meeting Artifacts. They won't receive artifacts for any future meetings that use the same code.
- Co-hosts added to a series of ongoing meetings get Meeting Artifacts for future meetings that use the same code.
- For Google Classroom meetings, all co-teachers are recognized as co-hosts and automatically get Meeting Artifacts. Their co-host status can’t be removed within Google Classroom. If a user is removed as a co-teacher, they no longer receive meeting artifacts.
- Admins: There is no admin action required.
- End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about sharing meeting artifacts with co-hosts.
- Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 13, 2022
- Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus, Education Fundamentals, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade customers
- Not available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers
New Google endpoint management setting to show both personal and work entries in Google Calendar on Android devices
- Admins:
- This feature will be OFF by default and can be enabled at the domain level. To enable cross-profile calendar visibility in the Admin console, go to Apps > Web and mobile apps > Google Calendar > Connected App configuration and select “Allow viewing of personal calendar entries in work profile (work profile devices only).”
- You can turn off the promotion of this feature to end users here. If you don’t turn off the promotion of this feature, it will be shown to users starting on October 26, 2022.
- End users: This feature will be OFF by default. It can be enabled by the user on their device. Please note, you must use Android Work Profile on Android 11+ devices to use this feature. We strongly recommend the latest software updates for the best experience. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning cross-profile support in Calendar on or off.
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 12, 2022
- Note: If you don’t turn off the promotion of this feature, it will be shown to users starting on October 26, 2022.
- Available to Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard and Education Plus customers, as well as G Suite Business and Cloud Identity Premium customers
- Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Education Fundamentals, Nonprofits, and Frontline customers, as well as G Suite Basic customers
Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - September 9, 2022
New updates
Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are fully launched or in the process of rolling out (rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete), launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time (if not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete), and available to all Google Workspace and G Suite customers.
Dual pane view on Keep
In addition to Drag out from Keep and a number of other features supporting the mission to provide a top-class user experience on large screen devices, we’re introducing Dual pane view on Keep. This allows you to browse Keep notes on the left side of your screen, while editing content on the right side of your screen. | Roll out to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains began September 8, 2022 at a Gradual pace (up to 15 days for feature visibility). | Learn more.
Multi-instance support on Docs, Sheets & Slides
Get better insight into your files by having two windows open side-by-side. | Roll out to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains began September 7, 2022 at a Gradual pace (up to 15 days for feature visibility). | Learn more.
View information about recipients on Android
While using the Gmail app on Android devices, you can now view details about a person, such as their phone number or email address, by tapping their name or avatar when composing an email. | This is now available to all users.
Upon tapping Elisa's image or name, more information will appear |
Keep contacts up to date with fewer clicks
You can now edit someone’s contact information from their information card in apps like Gmail, Calendar, Voice, and Docs on your Android device. Upon clicking the edit button, you will be prompted to make updates in the Contacts app. | Roll out to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains began September 7, 2022 at an Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility).
Notification permission now required for devices running Android 13
Upon upgrading to the latest platform release, Android 13, you will have to explicitly accept notification permissions to receive Chat notifications. | Roll out to all Android users began September 9, 2022 at a Gradual pace (up to 15 days for feature visibility). | Learn more.
Previous announcements
Calendar User Availability API launching to beta soon, sign-up now and preview documentation in advance
There is an upcoming beta available for the Calendar User Availability API that can be used to programmatically access the working location feature in Google Calendar. Access the beta through the Google Workspace Developer Preview Program. | While all developers will be able to use the API, apps created using the API are accessible to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Education Standard, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade and Nonprofits customers, as well as legacy G Suite Business customers only. | Learn more.
Scaling our Calendar Interop offering
Admins can now configure multiple role accounts in the Calendar Interop Admin console. This will provide support for a higher number of requests and enable Calendar Interop to work more seamlessly at scale. | Learn more.
Updating framing options for Google Meet hardware in the Admin console
Over the coming weeks, we will replace the current continuous framing setting with the option to set default framing options based on the camera capabilities of the device — such as the option to frame people by default and speaker or group framing, which will be introduced in the future. | Available for all supported Google Meet hardware devices that have not yet reached their auto-update expiration date. | Learn more.
For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).
Updating framing options for Google Meet hardware in the Admin console
- Admins: There is no admin action required. We will provide an update on the Workspace Updates Blog when the new admin controls are implemented.
- End users: No action required, this change will happen automatically. Note: This feature is not available when other devices, such as a webcam, are plugged into a meeting hardware kit.
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature availability) beginning September 8, 2022
- Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers
- Available for all supported Google Meet hardware devices that have not yet reached their auto-update expiration date.
Scaling our Calendar Interop offering
- Admins:
- Visit the Help Center to learn more about allowing Calendar users to see Exchange availability data.
- If you’re using Calendar Interop with Basic authentication on Microsoft Office 365, upgrade to OAuth 2.0 authentication before October 1, 2022 to retain access. Learn more here.
- End users: There is no end user setting for this feature.
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) started on September 6, 2022
- Available to all Workspace customers using Calendar Interop
Calendar User Availability API launching to beta soon, sign-up now and preview documentation in advance
- Admins and Developers:
- To use the Working Location API, developers can apply for access through our Google Workspace Developer Preview Program. Important
- Note: While all developers will be able to use the API, apps created using the API are only accessible to those on eligible Workspace editions.
- Check out the Calendar User Availability API for reading and writing a user's working locations.
- Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about configuring working location for your organization.
- End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about working location in Google Calendar.
- Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Education Standard, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade and Nonprofits customers, as well as legacy G Suite Business customers
- Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Frontline, G Suite Basic customers
Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - September 2, 2022
Google Hangouts will be fully upgraded to Google Chat starting November 1, 2022
- Rich-text editing
- Tagging specific people with @ mentions
- Searching for and sharing GIFs and using emoji reactions
- Seamless integration with Gmail, alongside your other critical apps
- Spaces, dedicated places for organizing people, topics, and projects in Google Workspace.
- Admins:
- For some users, some conversations or portions of conversations won’t automatically migrate from Hangouts to Chat. If there are impacted users in your domain, you will receive an email notification with more details.
- Inform your users about the upgrade from Google Hangouts to Google Chat and the associated changes.
- End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about the switch from classic Hangouts to Google Chat.
- Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers
Work Insights reporting for Google Chat and Google Meet
- Admins: Access the Work Insights dashboard here. Visit the Help Center to learn more about setting up Work Insights.
- End users: There is no end user impact.
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 1, 2022
- Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus customers
- Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers
- Not available to users with personal Google Accounts
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Work Insights administration overview
- Google Help: What's Work Insights?
- Google Help: Sign in to Work Insights
- Google Help: Work Insights and user trust
- This feature was listed as an upcoming release.