Create or delete a space in Google Chat

You can create a space in Google Chat to provide a place where a group can communicate and collaborate. If you’re the space creator, you can delete the space.

Create a space from Chat or Gmail

1. Open the Chat app or the Gmail app .
2. At the bottom, tap Spaces New space Create a space.
3. Enter a space name.
4. Optional: To add a space avatar, above the space name, tap Add and select an emoji. If you don't select one, a default avatar is used.
5. Optional: To allow threaded replies, turn on Use threaded replies.
   Important:
   • You can’t change this setting.
   • You can only create threaded spaces if you use a Google Workspace account.
6. Optional: To let external people join a space, turn on Allow people outside your organization to join. You may not have this option if your administrator doesn’t allow it.
   Important:
   • You can't change this setting.
   • The option to create spaces that allow guests is only available on Google Workspace accounts.
7. Tap Next.
8. Enter names of people, email addresses, and bots you want to add. If you use Google Workspace, suggestions include everyone in your organization, even those who don't have Google Chat.
9. Tap Done.

Turn a group chat into a space

If you created a group chat, you can turn it into a space. When you use a space, you can name the space, share files, and assign tasks to other people in the space.

1. Open Gmailor Google Chat.
2. At the bottom, tap Chat .
3. Find and tap the group chat you want to change to a space.
4. Next to the group chat name at the top, tap Options  Turn this chat into a space .
5. Add a space name. To add an optional space icon, tap the sign.
6. Tap Done. A notification confirms that your chat is now a space, and notifies members in the group of the change.

After you make the change, you can find chat, files, and tasks tabs in your space.

Tip: You can add and remove people from a space at any time.

If you can’t find the “Spaces” icon in the Gmail app

1. At the top left, tap Menu  Settings .
2. Choose a Gmail account.
3. Under “General,” turn on Chat.

Tip: If you use a Google Workspace account and can’t find the “Spaces” icon or “Settings” option to turn on Chat, your administrator hasn't enabled Chat in the Gmail app.

Delete a space

Important: 

• You can only delete a space if you’re the space creator. 
• When you delete a space, all messages and tasks in the space are deleted. Permissions on Drive files are removed, but the file isn’t deleted. 
• Once a space is deleted, you can’t recover it. 

1. Open the Chat app  or the Gmail app .
2. At the bottom, tap Spaces . 
3. Open the space that you want to delete.
4. At the top, tap the name of the space.
5. Tap Delete space  Delete.

Tip: If you didn’t create the space, learn how to leave a space.