Supported editions for this feature: Enterprise Plus and Enterprise Essentials Plus. Compare your edition
Data regions allow administrators to define the regions where their data is stored and processed.
Some Google Workspace features rely on services that process data globally. Consequently, some services might not function as expected if they are required to comply with a particular data region policy.
On this page
- Before you begin
- Set up advanced settings
- Nonregionalized features affected by advanced settings
- Related topics
Before you begin
With Data regions advanced settings, you can choose whether or not your users can access enhanced features that process data globally. The advanced settings are provided for organizations with stringent data location requirements.
Google recommends that you carefully consider tradeoffs. Google Workspace works best when core services, such as Gmail, Drive, Docs, Calendar, Meet, and Chat integrate. This integration results in a more efficient, feature-rich working environment for your users. Deactivating these enhanced features may result in users losing familiar functionality and possibly experiencing unexpected behaviors.
Set up advanced settings
Before you begin: To work with advanced settings, ensure that Data processingis turned on by checking the Process data in the region selected for data at restbox.
Step 1: Understand the settings
Advanced settings allow you to turn off nonregionalized services on a per-service basis.
You can turn off nonregionalized features for the following apps: Google Calendar, Google Docs and Google Drive, Gmail, Google Chat, and Google Meet. All features that process data globally are organized into a single control for each app. When a specific control is off, the corresponding app’s nonregionalized features will not run. Keep these controls on if you wish to continue using global features.
If you choose to leave a specific control off, the corresponding features will be turned on once they are regionalized in the future.
Note: To modify advanced data regions settings for specific organizational units and groups, you need an Enterprise Plus or Data Regions add-on subscription. For instructions on upgrading your service, go to Switch to Enterprise Plus .
Step 2: Define advanced settings
- Sign in with an administrator account to the Google Admin console.
If you aren’t using an administrator account, you can’t access the Admin console.
- In the Admin console, go to Menu Data Compliance Data regions Advanced settings.
Note: You see only this option if you have Enterprise Data Regions. - Click the service.
- To apply the setting to all users, select the top organizational unit. Otherwise, select a child organizational unit or a group.
- Select an option:
- Enable features that may process data across multiple regions—This option is turned on by default and doesn’t change the user experience.
- Disable features that may process data across multiple regions—This option turns off any feature that may process data globally.
- Click Save.
Note: If you're applying a setting for a child organizational unit, click Override.
Nonregionalized features affected by advanced settings
When you disable a service’s data regions advanced setting, some features are deactivated. The following tables list examples of affected features.
| Feature | Expectation | Actual behavior |
|---|---|---|
|
Location suggestions
|
When users enter text in a location field, the exact location is autosuggested. Also applies to building locations in the Google Admin console. | The text entered in the Locationfield isn't automatically recognized as a location. This is true for both locations added in the Admin console and the Admin SDK API, which means no geographic coordinates are automatically added. |
|
Companion
|
The side panel in Google Calendar links to other apps, such as Google Contacts. |
Some app links are not available. |
|
Images for autogenerated events from emails
|
Events that are autogenerated from emails, such as booking confirmations, display a snapshot of the Maps location. | The location snapshot isn’t shown. |
Note: When you use Calendar Interop to search for the availability of a Calendar user from Microsoft Exchange, the Google role account determines the location of data processing, not the user’s location.
| Feature | Expectation | Actual behavior |
|---|---|---|
|
Various intelligence features
|
Examples of intelligence features include Autocorrect, Sheets formula correction, Sheets formula suggestions (autocompleting formula contents), Smart Compose, Smart Select, Smart Summary, Smart Reply, universal entry point, Smart Fill, and pivot table recommendations and suggestions. | Impacted services don’t appear for users. |
|
Integration with
nonregionalized apps |
Users can send content back-and-forth with nonregionalized apps,such as Google Sites, Google Tasks, Google Maps and Google Keep. | Users cannot send content to nonregionalized Google app, such as Sites, Tasks, Maps, and Keep. |
|
Voice features
|
In Google Docs and Google Slides, users can use voice-to-text speaker notes. Users can present Slides with automatic captions, displaying the speaker’s words in real time. | Users cannot use these voice features. |
|
Companion
|
In Google Drive and Docs, users have a sidebar that provides links to other apps, such as Google Calendar and Contacts. | Some app links aren’t available. |
|
Templates
|
Users can design preset layouts for use in their documents. | Users can’t submit templates for moderation by their admins. |
|
Various Sheets functions
|
Users can use the functions that rely on intelligence services, such as DETECTLANGUAGE, GOOGLEFINANCE, and GOOGLETRANSLATE. | Users can’t use these functions. |
|
Google Translate
|
Users can translate documents. | Users can't translate documents. |
|
Image generation
|
Users can create and edit images using Gemini. Examples of this functionality include image generation, cover image generation, image expansion, and slide and document generation with images. | Image generation is unavailable. Slides and Docs generated using Gemini will include only text. |
|
Image background removal and replacement
|
Users can create and edit backgrounds using Gemini. They can use the adaptive background button, remove background, and replace background. | Image background removal is unavailable. |
|
Generate dynamic charts in Google Sheets
|
Users can use Gemini in Google Workspace to create dynamic charts based on selected data. | Static charts will be generated instead. |
|
Help me create in Google Vids
|
Users can create new content using Gemini in the Vids app. | Help me create is unavailable in Vids. |
|
AI voiceover in Google Vids
|
Users can generate or write their own script to create an AI voiceover audio or video clip. | Users cannot use this feature. |
|
Teleprompter in Google Vids
|
Users can add a script and use a teleprompter when recording a video clip. | Users cannot use this feature. |
|
Generate video clips in Vids
|
Users can generate video clips from a prompt. | Users cannot use this feature. |
| Feature | Expectation | Actual behavior |
|---|---|---|
|
Images in email signatures
|
Users can include images in saved email signatures. | Users can’t add images to email signatures. |
|
Google Tasks
|
Users can assign to-do items to others in an email. | Users won’t see Add to Tasksin Gmail. |
|
Google Photos
|
Users can include a photo from Google Photos in an email. | Users can’t use Save to Photosand Insert Photofrom Gmail. However, photos can be saved. |
|
Gmail Layouts
|
Users can use predefined text and email layouts. | Users can’t use email templates and layouts. |
|
Dynamic email
|
Users can interact in an email with other Google or third-party services, such as responding to a calendar invitation. | Users can’t interact with features in an email. Instead, users can access those features in another browser tab. |
|
Confidential mode
|
Users can use encryption and set TTL for email. | Confidential mode is deactivated. |
|
Themes
|
Users can customize the design and color palettes for Gmail. | Users can’t select custom themes for Gmail. |
|
Companion
|
Users see a sidebar in Gmail that provides links to other apps, such as Calendar and Contacts. | Some app links aren’t available. |
|
Home/Work location suggestions
|
When users write an email and type a saved Google Map address, the address is autocompleted. | This feature is turned off and no autocompletion suggestions for saved addresses are shown. |
- Users see only chronologically sorted messages over joined spaces.
- Users can’t browse spaces.
| Feature | Expectation | Actual behavior |
|---|---|---|
|
Transcription
|
Users can open a meeting’s written transcript. | Transcription is unavailable. |
|
Take notes for me
|
Users can have Gemini prepare notes that summarize a meeting’s content. | Meeting content cannot be summarized. |
|
Image generation
|
Users can create background images using Gemini. | Image generation is unavailable. |
| Feature |
Expectation |
Actual behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Image generation |
Users can create and edit images using Gemini. Examples of this functionality include cover image generation, help me create an image, image expansion, and slide and document generation with images. |
Image generation is unavailable. Slides and Docs generated using Gemini will include only text. |
| Image background removal |
Users can create and edit backgrounds using Gemini. They can use the adaptive background button, remove background, and replace background. |
Image background removal is unavailable. |
| Help me create in Vids |
Users can create new content using Gemini in the Vids app. |
Help me create is unavailable in Vids. |
|
AI voiceover in Vids
|
Users can generate or write their own script to create an AI voiceover audio or video clip. | AI voiceover is unavailable in Vids. |
|
Use a teleprompter in Vids
|
Users can add a script and use a teleprompter when recording a video clip. | Teleprompter is unavailable in Vids. |
|
Generate video clips in Vids
|
Users can generate video clips from a prompt. | Generate video clips is unavailable in Vids. |
|
Gemini for Workspace in Meet
|
Users can use a variety of Gemini features, such as take notes for me, image generation, and the Gemini sidebar. | Gemini features are not available in Meet. |
|
Generate dynamic charts in Sheets
|
Users can use Gemini in Workspace to create dynamic charts based on selected data. | Static charts will be generated instead. |
|
Audio Overviews in Gemini apps
|
Users can create podcast-style conversations from documents, slides, and reports. | Generate Audio Overviews is unavailable in Gemini apps. |
