With the launch of Nest Wifi, the Google Home app added a number of controls for managing your network. While Google Wifi devices are able to get this Assistant integration, the factory reset required is an inconvenience. Fortunately, the Google Home app is now adding support for importing Wifi networks.

Google tries to differentiate its G Suite apps by leveraging AI to boost user productivity. It’s now bringing several key features, including Smart Compose, that first debuted on the desktop web to Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides for Android and iOS.

From Photos to Docs and Drive, sharing on Google services is primarily performed with links where a file is sent to the cloud and then distributed. There are times, however, when the upload process takes too long or you want a share to be more ephemeral. Apple’s offering is called AirDrop, and Google has been working on a solution for its devices over the last few years. After testing picked up in the past month, Nearby Share on Android is launching and beginning to roll out today.

In May, the push to get Play Music users to switch to YouTube Music started in earnest with the launch of a long-awaited transfer tool. Google today explained the shutdown timeline for Play Music and fully detailed what’s going away.

Ahead of the eventual deprecation of Play Music, YouTube Music continues to introduce features from Google’s original streaming service to entice users to switch. The latest additions include a “Recent activity” section and setting to “Allow external devices to start playback.”

A month after launch, Stadia picked up the ability to view game Achievements online and on Chromecast. The streaming service logged awards from day one, but an interface wasn’t ready until December. Stadia Achievements are now rolling out on the Android and iOS apps.

Back in 2017, Google Fi introduced a Group Repay feature to simplify plans with multiple members. The MVNO announced its getting rid of the feature in a little over a month. 

Google ads have long featured a “Why this ad” feature that explains some of the reasons a particular piece of advertising content was served to a user. Over the coming months, the functionality is seeing several tweaks and will soon be called “About this ad,” while Google today unveiled an Ads Transparency Spotlight extension for Chrome.

Using a credentials manager is convenient and highly recommended in this day and age. Google is upgrading Chrome Autofill on Android with biometric support when inputting credit card information, as well as introducing a “touch-to-fill” accounts list.

Earlier this month, the Google app pulled its custom in-app browser for opening Search results and Discover articles. It was not particularly well liked for eschewing the standard Chrome Custom Tab implementation on Android. The latest Google app beta is now testing it again and made some tweaks along the way.

Earlier this month, Google announced that Gmail would soon incorporate chat, group, and video messaging. The standalone apps are still seeing updates, with Google Chat for Android and iOS today picking up a dark theme.

Two years ago, Google One launched as the company’s consolidated backup solution that also offers a higher tier of support, family sharing, and various perks. After launching phone backups on Android in September, Google is now making that feature free and bringing it to iOS with a new storage manager.

Over the weekend, Google marked the 30th anniversary for the ADA by highlighting various assistive features built into its products. The latest is coming to Chrome and generates tagged PDFs that are more accessible.

Amid COVID-19 stay at home orders, people earlier this year discovered 3D Animals in Google Search. From educational uses to viral moments, the company has been adding more in recent months. The latest Google 3D Animals are insects complete with realistic sound effects.

Earlier this month, we spotted Google’s keyboard for Android working on automatic dark/light themes. Those using the Gboard 9.6 beta are now encountering another feature that we previously enabled: Google Lens integration.

To aid COVID-19 response, it’s now free for retailers to list products on Google Shopping, while they now also appear in Search. The company’s next step is to make “Buy on Google” checkout commission-free.

In recent years, Google has worked to directly surface answers to popular questions as the first result. Google Search now has a Knowledge Panel to explain the US mortgage process and provide useful tools.