Enhancing tool discovery in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides

What’s changing

Starting today, we’re rolling out an enhanced tool finder at the top of Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides to make it easier for users to discover commonly used tools and features. These refined tool-finding capabilities aim to help you quickly locate relevant features or functionality using your own words. For example, if you search “who last viewed this document,” the Activity dashboard will surface. 

If you open the enhanced tool finder immediately after you create a file, you’ll notice suggestions for common actions users take when preparing a new document, spreadsheet, or presentation, such as:
  • Page setup, Dropdown, Meeting notes in Docs
  • Insert rows/columns, merge cells, and freeze rows/columns in Sheets
  • Page setup, Spell check, Edit theme in Slides
Once you begin editing, you can find recent actions by clicking into the tool finder for easy access to your previously used features. 

Prior to this launch, you could find features by navigating to Help>Search the menus. Starting today, that will redirect you to the enhanced tool finder. After a short transition period, the redirect will be removed and the tool finder will live permanently in the toolbar.
enhanced tool discovery

Who’s impacted 

End users 


Why you’d use it 

Whether you’re exploring collaboration, smart canvas, or formatting features, the enhanced tool finder will save you time and streamline your flow of work by helping you find the exact features you’re looking for much quicker.


Additional details 

You’ll also always be able to get to the find & replace tool at the bottom of search results, which will open with your query pre-populated.


Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers 
  • Available to users with personal Google Accounts

Resources