Changes to membership roles in Google Chat spaces to enable more flexible permissions

What’s changing

We’re introducing an owner role in Google Chat spaces in addition to managers and members. By increasing the number of roles, it will be easier to share the tasks associated with managing spaces with the right colleagues. For example, managers will be able to help owners with some space administration tasks, while owners will retain full control over the space.

Specifically:

• Existing space managers will now be owners. Owners will retain full control over the space.
• A new manager role will be added. Managers will have most of the same permissions as owners, but will not be able to delete the space, or upgrade users to owners.
• The member role will remain unchanged.

Both owners and managers will be able to control which roles (members, managers, or owners) have which permissions in the space settings, such as who can use the ‘@all’ function, add apps, or turn history on or off.

Getting started

• Admins: This feature will be on by default. There is no admin control for this feature.
• End users: This feature will be available by default for all spaces.

Rollout pace

• Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 29, 2025.
• Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 16, 2025.

Availability

• Available to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts