Create or delete a space grouped by topic in Google Chat

You can create a space grouped by conversation topic in Google Chat to provide a place where a group can communicate and collaborate. You can only create a space grouped by topic if you use a Google Workspace account.

Before you create a space grouped by conversation topic, decide:

• If you want to create a space grouped by topic or a space with in-line threading. Learn when to use and organize a space.
• If you want people outside your organization to join: If you allow external people, they need a Google Workspace account with another organization or a personal Google Account.

Important: You can’t change these settings after you create the space.

Tip: History is always on in spaces grouped by conversation topic.

Create a space grouped by conversation topic from Chat or Gmail

Important: You can only create a space grouped by conversation topic if you use Chat on a work or school account.

1. Go to Google Chat or your Gmail account.
2. Next to “Spaces,” click Create or find a space   Create space.
3. Enter a space name.
4. Optional: At the top left, click Choose an emoji . If you don't select an emoji, a default avatar is used.
5. Enter names or email addresses of people and groups you want to add. You can also select from suggestions. If you use a Google Workspace account, suggestions include everyone in your organization, even if they don't have Google Chat.
6. Choose an access level for your organization, either “Restricted” or “All of your organization.”
   • Restricted: Only directly added and invited users have access to the space. This is the default option. To make your space discoverable, choose “All of your organization.”
   • All of your organization: All members in your organization have access to the space and can join if they have the space’s link. Learn more about creating a discoverable space.
   Note: If you have a work or school account with Google, you may see additional target options created by your administrator. If you have questions about the audience options available, reach out to your administrator.
7. Optional: To allow external people to join the space, select Allow people outside your organization to join. If your administrator doesn’t allow this feature, you may not have this option.
   Important: 
   • You can’t change this setting.
   • The option to create spaces that allow guests is only available on Google Workspace accounts.
8. Click Advanced   the checkbox marked “Organize the conversation by topic.”
9. Click Create.
10. Optional: To add more people and bots to the space, click Add people & bots. Enter names or emails. Click Send.

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 with other people in the space. 

1. Go to Google Chat or your Gmail account.
2. From the Chat panel, find and click the group chat you want to change to a space.
3. At the top, next to the group chat name, click the Down arrow   Turn this chat into a space .
4. Add a space name. To add an optional space icon, click Add .
5. Click Done. A notification confirms 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.

Delete a space grouped by conversation topic

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. Go to Google Chat or your Gmail account.
2. Open the space that you want to delete.
3. At the top, next to the space name, click Down arrow   Delete this space   Delete.

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