Automated lists, backspace to undo autocorrections in Google Docs, Slides, and Drawings

In Google Docs, Slides, and Drawings, we will now automatically turn on bulleted or numbered list mode when we detect that a person wants to make a list based on what was typed as the first visible character in a paragraph.

For example, if an asterisk [*] or hyphen [-] is typed as the first visible character, followed by the space bar, it would be automatically be turned into a bulleted list without the person having to press a shortcut or toolbar/menu button. Typing ‘1)’ or ‘a.’ followed by the space bar would turn into a numbered list, as would other permutations like I., (A), etc.

The automated lists feature will be defaulted on, but users will be able to disable it in Tools -> Preferences.

Coupled with this launch, pressing the backspace button immediately after any autocorrection, including automated lists, will undo it. For example, if a person types ‘(c)’ and the autocorrect system converts it to the copyright symbol ‘©’, pressing backspace immediately after it will revert it back to ‘(c)’.

Release track:

Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:

Format bulleted and numbered lists

Spell-check and automatic corrections


Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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Simplified sharing experience for Google Docs editors and Google Drive

We have launched a new simplified sharing experience for the Google Docs editors and Google Drive, making it easier for people to find and copy the link for a file or folder to share with others.

To give access to your content to others, click the blue “Share” button (or select a file/folder in Drive and click the person icon), and you’ll see a new “Get shareable link” button and grey icon in the upper right corner of the pop-up window. With one click on “Get shareable link,” you’ll see your file’s link appear and that the icon turns from grey to green, meaning that the file is ready to be shared with view-only access.

If you want anyone with the link to do more with your file, like leave comments and suggestions or make edits, just change “Can view” to “Can comment” or “Can edit” in the dropdown. And as always, if you only want certain people to be able to view, comment on, or edit your file, add their email addresses and we’ll send them a link that only they can access.

Release track:

Rapid release (gradual rollout), with Scheduled release coming two weeks after completion of rollout to Rapid

For more information:

Drive Blog Post

Help Center

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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Improved publishing interface for Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides

We have launched a new publishing interface for Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. The interface makes it easier for people to understand how document, spreadsheet and presentation content can be published as a webpage or embedded in their own website(s). In the new Google Sheets, the new interface also provides the ability to publish specific sheets and charts without publishing the entire document.

Release track:

Rapid release, with Scheduled release coming in three weeks

For more information:

Help Center

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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Changes to legacy Google Drive URLs

As initially mentioned last month, in line with the new Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides home screens we announced in June, we’ll now start redirecting docs.google.com to point to the new Google Docs home screen instead of to Google Drive. You can always get to Google Drive by going to drive.google.com.

Those with docs.google.com bookmarked as a way to access Google Drive should update their links accordingly. We will be showing a notification to users in both Drive and Docs to remind them of this change.

Release track:

Rapid release (gradual rollout over the coming weeks), followed by rollout to Scheduled release domains two weeks after completion of rollout to Rapid release domains

For more information:

Help Center


Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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Quickly find and insert special characters into Google Docs, Slides, and Drawings

We have launched a new version of the special character picker in Google Docs, Slides, and Drawings, making it easier for people to find characters and symbols—like arrows, shapes, or non-Latin characters—to insert into their content.

The new picker now supports keyword search as well as free form input, so editors can draw the symbol that they have in mind and the picker will return available characters that resemble the drawing.

To add special characters, click the Insert menu and select Special characters.

Release track:

Rapid release, with Scheduled release coming in two weeks

For more information:

G+ Post

Help Center


Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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New Google Slides, Docs, and Sheets apps for iOS

The new Google Slides mobile app is now available on iOS, making it easier for people to quickly find, edit and create presentations on the go--online or offline. As with the Android version, the Slides iOS app includes support for editing PowerPoint files. Additionally, as announced for Android in June, the Google Docs and Sheets apps for iOS have been updated to allow for seamless editing of Word and Excel files. No need to worry about file compatibility or internet connections anymore with the new Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps on iOS--it all just works. Release track:

Rapid release and Scheduled release For more information:

Enterprise blog post

Get the Google Slides, Docs, and Sheets iOS apps


Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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