Tracking down that elusive Google Docs or Sheets file could soon get a lot simpler thanks to a new search upgrade.
The company has revealed it is adding a new setting to its search history tool specifically designed to find files created in its Google Workspace office software suite.
The new addition will hopefully be able to track down and display those hard-to-find files directly in your search history, removing a common headache for workers everywhere.
Google My Activity
The change is coming to the Google  – My Activity page(opens in new tab), which contains all the details of your recent searches across both the web and Google’s own apps, such as YouTube.
Going forward, search data from Workspace apps will be contained in a new setting, which will allow users to see suggestions from their own search history.
Past searches can be rerun if necessary, and will cover the likes of Gmail, Google Drive, Calendar, and Currents, along with standalone services such as Google Cloud and Google Sites.
Google says it doesn’t utilize any of this data for targeted advertising, and deletes all search history data after 18 months (although this can be reset to delete at 3, 18 or 36 months) and users can amend, expand or restrict the amount of data collected on them at any time.
The new setting will begin rolling out on March 29, and will be set to on by default. Users can disable it by heading to My Activity page > Other Google activity > Google Workspace search history.
The news comes shortly after Google unveiled a new look for Gmail(opens in new tab) that aims to combine several of the most popular Workspace apps in one window.
The approach looks to provide users with a one-stop shop for all their communication needs – whether via email, video conferencing, or just good old-fashioned instant messaging – without them having to open up extra tabs or windows.