Updated Chat header helps you navigate chat more quickly and easily

What’s changing

We are introducing a redesigned Google Chat conversation header on the web. The new header offers a simpler, more consistent layout that makes key tools easier to find and use. It includes a side panel where users can access shared content and manage tasks without leaving the conversation view. The panel’s width can be adjusted or expanded to a full-screen view as needed.

Specifically, the new header has icons which can be used to: 

  • Select “Shared” to access shared files, links and media. 
  • Select “Tasks” to create and manage space tasks.
  • Select “Threads” to see and respond to active threads. 
  • Select “Board” to see pinned messages, files and shared links.  
Navigating between Shared, Tasks, Threads, and Board by clicking on header icons


Navigating between Shared, Tasks, Threads, and Board by clicking on header icons


Side panels can expand into fullscreen with the drag bar
Side panels can expand into fullscreen with the drag bar

Getting started

  • Admins: This feature will be on by default. There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: This feature will be on by default for users on the web. To use it, look for the icons in the top right of your Chat window. Use our Help Center to learn how to navigate Google Chat. 

Rollout pace

Availability

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

Resources

Controls for restricting conversation creation in Google Chat available to more organizations

What’s changing

We are expanding an existing Google Chat feature, previously only available for Education customers, to more Workspace customers.

This feature gives administrators the ability to limit who can create new conversations in Google Chat. When this setting is applied to users (through an organizational unit or a Google Group), those users will be prevented from initiating new conversations, or adding new members to existing conversations.

Users with this restriction can continue to converse in conversations they are already a member of. 

Why it’s important

Similar to how this feature is used for students, it allows organizations to enable Chat for a segment of employees such that they can receive important messages and contribute to existing conversations, while limiting their ability to create new, unmanaged conversations. This helps provide a safer and easier way for organizations to communicate. 

Getting started

  • Admins: This feature will be OFF by default. It can be enabled for specific users by placing them in an Organizational Unit (OU) or a Google Group and applying the setting in the Admin console.
  • End users: There is no end-user setting for this feature. If this policy is applied to your account by your administrator, you will not be able to start new conversations or create spaces, but you can still reply to conversations you are added to.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Business Plus
  • Enterprise Standard and Plus
  • Business Continuity and Continuity Plus 
  • Frontline Plus and Frontline Standard 

Resources