Google Chat introduces custom sections in the sidebar for improved conversation organization on the web. This feature allows users to create personalized sections alongside existing categories like Shortcuts, Direct Messages, and Spaces.
Creating Custom Sections
To create a custom section, navigate to the direct messages or spaces section, hover over the three-dot menu, select "Create new section," name it, and press enter. Conversations can be moved into these sections by dragging and dropping or through the three-dot menu.
Unified Conversation List
The update also unifies the Direct Messages and Spaces sections into a single, scrollable list. This allows users to view top conversations across each section and expand to see older messages.
Additional Features
- Adjustable section sizes
- Reordering of sections
- Unread message toggles
- Starting new direct messages or space messages from the sidebar
These changes are also reflected in the mobile apps, but section creation and management are currently web-exclusive. The rollout is expected over the coming weeks for all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and personal Google account users. For more on Google Chat, see Google Messages' redesigned media sharing and explore related updates like Chromecast with Google TV's Android 14 preparation.