Google wants Gmail to be your go-to tool for project planning, team communication, and email. As a large portion of the globe transitions to a mix of working both online and in the office, the tech giant recently revealed a facelift for the email app and website in an attempt to compete with productivity applications like Slack and Microsoft Teams.
To make it simpler to locate everything you need to work with friends, family, and colleagues, the redesign incorporates Google Docs, Drive, Calendar, Meet, and a new tool called Rooms within your Gmail browser or app. Rooms functions similarly to Slack channels, enabling real-time discussion, file sharing, and tab-free editing of Google Docs. (One somewhat confusing note: Rooms will change to Spaces over the summer, which will have a more simplified interface and be a dedicated area for managing people and projects.)
In a few easy steps, you can begin utilizing this updated, more integrated version of these Google Workspace applications right now. Here’s where to begin.
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Over the summer, Google Rooms will become Spaces.
Google
To activate Gmail’s makeover on your desktop, follow these steps (Google also has instructions for your iPhone or Android).
1. Launch a web browser and log in to Gmail.
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2. Brett Pearce. Click the options > See all options gear icon in the upper right corner.
3. Select Chat and Meet from the top tabs.
4. Select Google Chat under Chat. Additionally, you may select whether to display or conceal Meet in your inbox, modify the chat location in your inbox, and adjust chat settings.
5. Select “Save Changes.”
You’ll have a more central place to interact and collaborate with others as a result. Calendar and any other Google Workspace applications you use, as well as the option to add more, have little icons on the right side of the screen.
For further information, see Google’s easy solution for Gmail and other Android applications crashing on phones, as well as 10 Gmail tips you’ll use every day.