Create a Google Chat space for your team & add members

A space is a shared chat room for a team, branch or project. Members can post messages, reply in threads, share files and assign tasks in one place.

Create a space

Choose the space’s purpose and who can join when you create it, because some settings cannot be changed later.

1. Open Google Chat. In Gmail, click Chat in the left menu.
2. Click New chat > Create a space.
3. Type a name, such as “Sales team KL”. Click Choose an emoji to add an icon if you like.
4. Under What is this space for?, choose one:
   • Collaboration: everyone can post and reply. Best for most teams.
   • Announcements: only owners and managers can post. Members can react and reply. This cannot be changed after creation.
5. Under Access settings, choose who can join:
   • Private: only people and groups you add can join.
   • Your company name: anyone in your organisation can find, view and join the space.
6. Tick Allow external members to join only if people outside the company need access. It cannot be changed after creation. This option needs Business Standard or higher and your admin’s permission.
7. Click Create.

Add people to the space

You can add colleagues one by one or add a whole Google Group.

1. Open the space and click its name at the top.
2. Click Manage members.
3. Click Add, then type a name, email address or group address.
4. Click Add.

You can also type @ and a colleague’s name in a message to add them. Some people get an email invitation instead of being added straight away, for example if they belong to another organisation.

Remove someone from a space

People you remove can no longer see the conversation or its shared files.

1. Click the space name at the top, then Manage members.
2. Click the three dots next to the person.
3. Click Remove from space.

Choose how the space notifies you

Busy spaces can be noisy, so pick the level of notifications that suits you.

1. In the list on the left, point to the space and click the three dots (Options).
2. Click Notifications.
3. Choose one option, then click Save:
   • All: every new message and thread.
   • Main conversations: new messages in the main conversation, plus replies to threads you follow.
   • For you: only @mentions and replies to threads you follow.
   • None: no notifications.

Use the space tools

The tabs at the top of a space keep the team’s work together.

• Shared: files shared in the space.
• Tasks: tasks assigned to space members. See notes & to-dos in Keep & Tasks.
• Thread: replies to earlier messages, so the main conversation stays tidy.

To delete a space you own, click its name at the top, then Delete. This removes the conversation and its contents for all members.

Still stuck

WhatsApp our support team at +60 16-916 3324.

Common issues

What is the difference between a space and a group chat?

A group direct message is for a quick conversation. A space has a name, threads, a list of shared files and tasks, and members can join or leave. Use a space for a team, a branch or a project that will run for a while.

Can I add a whole department at once?

Yes. In Manage members, click Add and type the email address of a Google Group, such as sales@yourcompany.com. Everyone in the group gets access.

Can I add a client or supplier to a space?

Only if you ticked Allow external members to join when you created the space, and your admin allows it. This setting cannot be changed later. See chat with people outside your company.

Related articles

• Send a Google Chat message & manage notifications
• Chat with people outside your company in Google Chat
• Create a shared inbox like info@ in Google Workspace
• Use shared drives for team files in Google Drive