Tag Archives: ios

Google OAuth incremental authorization improvement

Posted by Vikrant Rana, Product Manager, and Badi Azad, Group Product Manager

Summary

Google Identity strives to be the best stewards for Google Account users who entrust us to protect their data. At the same time, we want to help our developer community build apps that give users amazing experiences. Together, Google and developers can provide users three important ways to manage sharing their data:

  1. Give users control in deciding who has access to their account data
  2. Make it easier and safer for users to share their Google Account data with your app when they choose to do so
  3. Make it clear to users the specific data they are sharing with apps

What we are doing today

In service of that stewardship, today we are announcing an OAuth consent experience that simplifies how users can share data with apps. This experience also improves the consent conversion for apps that use incremental authorization, which requests only one scope. Users can now easily share this kind of request with a single tap.

Screenshot compares the previous screen and the new screen you see when Example app wants to access your account

Previous Screen                                               New Screen

A quick recap

Let’s summarize a few past improvements so you have a full picture of the work we have been doing on the OAuth consent flow.

In mid-2019, we significantly overhauled the consent screen to give users fine-grained control over the account data they chose to share with a given app. In that flow, when an app requested access to multiple Google resources, the user would see one screen for each scope.

In July 2021, we consolidated these multiple-permission requests into a single screen, while still allowing granular data sharing control for users. Our change today represents a continuation of improvements on that experience.

Screenshot that shows the option to select what Example app can access

The Identity team will continue to gather feedback and further enhance the overall user experience around Google Identity Services and sharing account data.

What do developers need to do?

There is no change you need to make to your app. However, we recommend using incremental authorization and requesting only one resource at the time your app needs it. We believe that doing this will make your account data request more relevant to the user and therefore improve the consent conversion. Read more about incremental authorization in our developer guides.

If your app requires multiple resources at once, make sure it can handle partial consent gracefully and reduce its functionality appropriately as per the OAuth 2.0 policy.

Related content

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – September 21, 2021

New updates 


New look and feel for Workspace Updates email subscriptions 
Starting September 29, we're going to be improving the look and feel of the emails you receive when you subscribe to Workspace Updates. 
  • The emails themselves will be sent from [email protected], so be sure to update any inbox filters or labels you may have and check your spam folders if you don't immediately see them. 
  • Emails for the Workspace Updates Blog in non-English markets will update to this new format in the coming weeks. 
  • If you have any feedback about these emails after September 29th, please feel back to let us know in the linked form. 
Full rollout (1-3 days for availability). | Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts. | Workspace Updates Blog Email Subscription Feedback



Previous announcements

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Upgrade to the newest version of the Google Chat app
We’ve recently released a new version of this app. Users who are still on the older Chat PWA version and will see an in-app banner nudging them to upgrade by visiting chat.google.com. | Learn more.



Improved visibility in Google Meet on web
Google Meet on the web now automatically detects when a user appears underexposed and enhances the brightness to improve their visibility. | Learn more.



Control the ability to present to Google Meet from Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides with a new Admin setting
Admins can turn the ability to present from Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides directly to Google Meet on or off for their organization with a new setting. | Learn more.



One-click recommended actions in the Alert Center
In the Alert Center, Admins will see new one-click recommended actions for various alerts, which they can implement without leaving the Alert Center. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, and Education Plus customers. | Learn more.



Improved Search In Gmail on Android
You can now quickly and easily filter email and search results on Android mobile devices to find the one specific email or information you’re looking for with new search filters. | Learn more.



New graphs for metrics over time in Meet Quality Tool
We’ve added detailed metrics over time for endpoints in Meet Quality Tool, which will help admins perform more advanced troubleshooting. | Learn more.



Perform refined email searches with new rich filters in Gmail on web
When searching in Gmail on web, enhanced search chips will provide richer drop-down lists with more options that help you apply additional filters. | Learn more.



Easily chat with meeting participants from a Google Calendar event
Within the Calendar event on web or mobile, you’ll see a Chat icon next to the guest list — simply select this icon to create a group chat containing all event participants. | Learn more.



Ability to mute all Google Meet participants at once rolling out to mobile platforms
Earlier this year, we announced the ability for meeting hosts to mute everyone all at once in Google Meet on desktops/laptop devices. This feature has begun rolling out to iOS devices, with Android availability coming later this year. | Learn more.



For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

New iOS Data Protection setting for Google Chat protects data sharing between Google Workspace and personal Google accounts

What’s changing 

Earlier this year, we announced a new admin setting which restricts data and content sharing between Google Workspace accounts and personal Google accounts in Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides on iOS. We’re now expanding this to include Google Chat. With data protection, users can only share or save content—such as files, emails, chat messages, or copied & pasted content—within Google Workspace accounts. This will protect users from sharing a Chat message with their personal Google accounts or saving data to their personal account. 


Sharing to personal Chat account can be blocked by admins



Admins can turn off sharing from company to personal Chat accounts

Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 


Why it’s important 

Google applications on iOS support multi-user logins, allowing users to access Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Chat and Slides with their personal and Google Workspace accounts. Giving admins the ability to control how data is shared across user accounts helps minimize accidental data sharing. Together with the previously released copy and paste and drag and drop restrictions and protections against data sharing between Google Workspace and personal Google accounts, these measures expand data protection coverage and help increase the security of your corporate data on iOS. 


Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, and Education Plus customers 
  • Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers

Resources 

Roadmap 

New iOS Data Protection setting for Google Chat protects data sharing between Google Workspace and personal Google accounts

What’s changing 

Earlier this year, we announced a new admin setting which restricts data and content sharing between Google Workspace accounts and personal Google accounts in Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides on iOS. We’re now expanding this to include Google Chat. With data protection, users can only share or save content—such as files, emails, chat messages, or copied & pasted content—within Google Workspace accounts. This will protect users from sharing a Chat message with their personal Google accounts or saving data to their personal account. 


Sharing to personal Chat account can be blocked by admins



Admins can turn off sharing from company to personal Chat accounts

Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 


Why it’s important 

Google applications on iOS support multi-user logins, allowing users to access Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Chat and Slides with their personal and Google Workspace accounts. Giving admins the ability to control how data is shared across user accounts helps minimize accidental data sharing. Together with the previously released copy and paste and drag and drop restrictions and protections against data sharing between Google Workspace and personal Google accounts, these measures expand data protection coverage and help increase the security of your corporate data on iOS. 


Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, and Education Plus customers 
  • Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers

Resources 

Roadmap 

Review presentations more quickly with new viewing interface on Google Slides iOS app

Quick launch summary 

We’re improving the mobile viewing experience for Google Slides on iOS. To allow you to view more information at once, you can now: 
  • Scroll through a vertical stream of slides, 
  • Pinch to zoom to get a closer look, 
  • Easily switch between editing, presenting, or casting content. 



We hope these updates make it easier for you to read through, consume, and add or view comments in Slides while using a mobile device. This update is already available on Android. 

Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: To use this feature, open any presentation on the Slides app on iOS. Visit the Help Center to learn more about how to use Google Slides on iOS. 

Rollout pace 


Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal accounts. 


Resources 

Replace your background with a video in Google Meet on iOS

What’s changing 

In addition to replacing your Google Meet background with a static image on web and mobile, you can now replace your background with a video. At the moment, you can select from three Google made videos: a classroom, a party, and a forest — more options will be available soon. This feature is already available on Google Meet on web. 


When using Google Meet on iOS, you have the option to replace your background with a video.
Use a video background to make calls more fun.

Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 

Why you’d use it 

Custom backgrounds can help you show more of your personality, as well to help hide your surroundings to maintain privacy. With the option of replacing your background with video, we hope this makes your video calls more fun. 

Getting started 


Rollout pace 

  • This feature is available now for all users. 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers 
  • Available to users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

Replace your background with a video in Google Meet on iOS

What’s changing 

In addition to replacing your Google Meet background with a static image on web and mobile, you can now replace your background with a video. At the moment, you can select from three Google made videos: a classroom, a party, and a forest — more options will be available soon. This feature is already available on Google Meet on web. 


When using Google Meet on iOS, you have the option to replace your background with a video.
Use a video background to make calls more fun.

Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 

Why you’d use it 

Custom backgrounds can help you show more of your personality, as well to help hide your surroundings to maintain privacy. With the option of replacing your background with video, we hope this makes your video calls more fun. 

Getting started 


Rollout pace 

  • This feature is available now for all users. 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers 
  • Available to users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

Replace your background with a video in Google Meet on iOS

What’s changing 

In addition to replacing your Google Meet background with a static image on web and mobile, you can now replace your background with a video. At the moment, you can select from three Google made videos: a classroom, a party, and a forest — more options will be available soon. This feature is already available on Google Meet on web. 


When using Google Meet on iOS, you have the option to replace your background with a video.
Use a video background to make calls more fun.

Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 

Why you’d use it 

Custom backgrounds can help you show more of your personality, as well to help hide your surroundings to maintain privacy. With the option of replacing your background with video, we hope this makes your video calls more fun. 

Getting started 


Rollout pace 

  • This feature is available now for all users. 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers 
  • Available to users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

Search within a folder in Google Drive on iOS

What’s changing 

You can now search for content inside a specific folder in Google Drive on iOS. Simply navigate to the folder you want to search within and select the search bar — you’ll see a list of suggested folders, documents, and users to refine your search results. Select the folder chip before typing your search query.


Searching for content in a folder in Drive




Who’s impacted 

End users 

Why you’d use it 

We’ve heard from our users that they often navigate to specific folders to streamline their search experience. We hope this change makes it easier for you to quickly find your important files. 


Getting started 
  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: 

Rollout pace 


Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers 
 Resources 

Replace your background in Google Meet, now on iOS

What’s changing 

You can now blur or replace your background with an image in Google Meet on iOS. You can choose from Google’s hand-picked images, which include office spaces, landscapes, and abstract backgrounds, or use your own image. 



Who’s impacted 

End users 



Why you’d use it 

Custom backgrounds can help you show more of your personality, as well as help hide your surroundings. Additional details Virtual backgrounds work on most recent mobile devices. Check the device compatibility page for more information. 



Getting started 

  • Admins: This feature is controllable with an admin setting. Check the Help Center or the blog post for more information controlling whether users can change their backgrounds in Meet. 
  • End users: This feature is OFF by default. Visit our Help Center to learn more about how to change your background on Google Meet. 

When using Google Meet on iOS, you can now choose your own custom background to hide your surroundings.



Rollout pace 

  • The feature is available now to all users. 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers, and users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 


Roadmap