Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – December 11, 2020

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.


Share a Google Meet video call link in classic Hangouts
You can now join or share a link to Google Meet video calls in classic Hangouts directly from the conversation view. | Learn more.


Office editing mode now default from Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides home screens
Last month, we made Office editing mode the default editing mode for Office files in Drive on the web. Now, it's also the default for Office files opened from docs.google.com, sheets.google.com, and slides.google.com. | Rolling out to Rapid Release now; launch to Scheduled Release planned for December 14, 2020. | Learn more here and here.


Google Meet hardware Series One now available
The next generation of meeting room hardware—Series One room kits for Google Meet—is now available for purchase. | Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits only. | Learn more. Purchase.


Take actions on unmanaged users in bulk using the unmanaged user transfer tool
You can now download a list of unmanaged users as a CSV file, then upload the same file with an action indicated for each entry (e.g. send/resend the invite, cancel the invite). | Learn more.



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.


Use the new Apps Script Integrated Development Environment (IDE) Script Editor
We’ve redesigned the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Google Apps Script. | Learn more.


Vault for Google Voice now generally available
Google Vault now supports Google Voice. | Learn more.


Ending support for IE11 for all Google Workspace apps
Microsoft recently announced that they will stop supporting Internet Explorer 11 (IE 11). As a result, we recommend our own users switch to a different browser as soon as possible, to avoid any possible disruptions in service such as degraded performance or security vulnerabilities. | Learn more.


Increasing shared external contact limit to 200,000 contacts
Shared external contacts are users outside of your domain who you add to your company directory. Previously, there was a limit of 50,000 external contacts. Now that limit is 200,000. | Learn more.


Some Google Meet settings now “sticky” for Education users
Based on your feedback, we’re changing the behavior of some Google Meet settings for G Suite for Education and Enterprise for Education customers. Specifically, certain settings are now “sticky.” | Available to G Suite Education and Enterprise for Education only. | Learn more.


Improving search in Google Drive on Android and iOS
We’re launching new features for the Google Drive mobile apps that will help you search more quickly and efficiently. | Learn more.


Use Secure LDAP to log into macOS with Google credentials
You can now use Secure LDAP on macOS devices. | Available to Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, G Suite Education and Enterprise for Education, and Cloud Identity premium only. | Learn more.


Use Macro Converter add-on to convert Microsoft Excel files with macros to Google Sheets
We’ve launched Macro Converter for Google Sheets. This Google Workspace add-on will help convert Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code used in Microsoft Excel macros to Apps Script code that works in Google Sheets. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus and G Suite Enterprise for Education only. | Learn more.


Open Office attachments from Gmail in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides with one click
We’re making it easier to view, edit, and collaborate on Microsoft Office files sent and received in Gmail using Docs, Sheets, and Slides. | Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits only. | Learn more.


Create and work with documents that contain multiple page orientations in Google Docs
We’ve made it easier to create and work with documents that require multiple page orientations in Google Docs. | Learn more.