Easily convert data to dropdown chips in Google Sheets

What’s changing

In March, we introduced the ability to insert preset dropdown chips that are configured for common use cases like priority or review statuses in Google Sheets. Today, we’re adding a new feature that helps you quickly convert ranges of data into dropdown chips in bulk. 

If you have a column of data that includes a variety of data values (e.g., different project statuses like on track, paused, completed), Sheets will show a “Convert to dropdown chips” suggestion when you click into your data range. By hovering over that indicator, you can preview the suggestion and then convert to dropdown chips in one click. 
Easily convert data to dropdown chips in Google Sheets


Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: 
    • To insert dropdown chips on your own, type “@” followed by “dropdown. 
    • To turn off this feature, go to Tools > Suggestion controls > (deselect) Enable dropdown chip suggestions. 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about inserting smart chips in your Google Sheets.

Rollout pace 

  • Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 7, 2024, with expected completion by May 30, 2024
  • Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 30, 2024 

Availability 

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

Resources 

Improving suspension alerting for Google Meet hardware devices

What’s changing

To ensure customers with Google Meet hardware devices have sufficient notice about canceled or expired device subscriptions, we’re adding notifications in the Admin console. Depending on your subscription details and timeline, you will see: 

  • A warning banner in the Google Meet hardware section of Admin console when your Google Meet hardware subscription has expired and suspension is imminent. It will include the suspension date. 

  • A warning banner in the Google Meet hardware section of Admin console when your Google Meet hardware subscription has been suspended. 

Meet hardware subscription has been suspended.
  • An on-device suspension warning. 
    • The on-device warning will be ON by default and will begin to appear for customers with imminent suspensions starting May 29, 2024. 
    • To turn the on-device warning OFF, go to Admin console > Google Meet hardware > Settings > On-device suspension warning > Prevent devices from displaying on-screen suspension warnings. 
    • If this box is checked, devices will not display an on-device warning during the 3-day period prior to subscription suspension. 
On-device suspension warning in GMh admin console

On-device suspension warning in GMh Admin Console 

Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users



Why it’s important 

These notifications ensure admins are aware of potential subscription and/or functionality changes for the Google Meet hardware devices in their domain. 



Additional details 

The ‘Provisioning Status’ column and filter will be removed from the Device list page. 



Getting started 

  • Admins: For each Google Meet hardware device you purchase, you also purchase and assign a software license to that device. Licenses allow your device to work with the Google Meet service and gain access to device management tools in the Google Admin console. Visit the Help Center to learn more about licensing.
  • End users: If a on-device suspension warning occurs, people in the room will see a warning when the device is 3 days away from suspension. 
On-device suspension warning on GMh device

On-device suspension warning on GMh device

Rollout pace


Availability 

  • This update impacts all Google Workspace customers with Meet hardware devices. 

Resources 






Block compromised mobile devices using context-aware access

What’s changing 

Using context-aware access, you now have the option to automatically block access to Google Workspace data from compromised Android and iOS devices. A device may be counted as compromised if certain unusual events are detected, including devices that are jailbroken, bypassing of security controls, modification of restricted settings, and more.

Creating a new rule to block compromised mobile devices


Blocking message for compromised iOS and Android devices






Getting started


Rollout pace

  • Block access to Google Workspace data: available immediately for both Android and iOS.
  • Remediation message: available immediately for Android, available on May 9, 2024 for iOS. 

Availability

Available to Google Workspace
  • Enterprise Standard and Plus
  • Education Standard and Plus
  • Frontline Standard
  • Enterprise Essentials Plus
  • Cloud Identity Premium

A simplified experience for Workspace users to add 2-Step Verification (2SV) methods

What’s changing

We’re simplifying how users turn on 2-Step Verification (2SV), which will streamline the process, and make it easier for admins to enforce 2SV policies in their organizations.  

Here are some of the important changes with this change:

  • Users may add “second step methods” (such as Google Authenticator, or a hardware security key) before turning on 2SV. This is particularly helpful for organizations using Google Authenticator (or other equivalent time-based one-time password (TOTP) apps). Previously, users had to enable 2SV with a phone number before being able to add Authenticator.

  • Users with hardware security keys will have two options to add them to their account on the “Passkeys and security keys” page:
    • ‘Use security key”: this registers a FIDO1 credential on the security key even if the key itself is FIDO2 capable.
    • ‘Create passkey and follow instructions to “use another device”: this registers a FIDO2 credential on the security key, and will require users to use the key’s PIN for local verification (this creates a passkey on the security key).
    • Note: users will continue to be asked for their password along with their passkey if the admin policy for “Allow users to skip passwords at sign-in by using passkeys” remains turned OFF (this is the default configuration).

  • If an enrolled 2SV user turns 2SV OFF from their account settings, their enrolled second steps (such as backup codes, Google Authenticator, or second factor phone) are not automatically removed from their account. Before this change all second factors would be removed when the user turned 2SV off. Note: When an administrator turns off 2SV for a user from the Admin console or via the Admin SDK, the second factors will be removed as before, to ensure user off-boarding workflows remain unaffected

Getting started

Rollout pace


Availability

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

Resources