Gmail, Chat, Voice and Meets Updates

Google has been enhancing the user experience in Google Chat over the last year and is excited to announce that users can now organize Chat conversations into custom sections. A highly requested feature, custom sections are useful for scenarios in which users want similar conversations about a topic or project to be in the same location in the left-hand menu of Chat.

To make a custom section, go to the direct messages or spaces section in Chat > hover over the three dot menu > select Create new section > name the custom section > hit enter. You can add conversations from a direct message or space to a custom section by: 

Dragging and dropping it in from another section 

• Hovering over a conversation > clicking the three dot menu > selecting

• Move conversation > Move to [Name of the custom section] 

Google Chat now has a new density setting that allows you to control the visual density of screen elements. You can choose between "Comfortable" or "Compact" mode on chat.google.com.

Comfortable mode is the default setting and reflects Chat's modernised design, in line with Google Material Design 3. It clearly differentiates message bubbles.

Compact mode is for users who prefer to see more information at a time with less scrolling. With this option, you'll notice:   

Message bubbles that are aligned in the same direction for both sender and recipient

Wider message bubbles

Reduced padding in the left bar, conversation list, and home.