Turn off chat in Docs editors

Users can chat with each other inside the Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files they are working on together with Google Chat.

To turn off chat inside Docs, Sheets, and Slides:

Before you begin: If needed, learn how to apply the setting to a department or group.

1. In the Google Admin console, go to Menu  Apps Google Workspace Google Chat.

   Go to Google Chat

   Requires having the Service Settings administrator privilege.

2. Click Service Status.
3. (Optional) To apply the setting only to some users, at the side, select an organizational unit (often used for departments) or configuration group (advanced).

   Group settings override organizational units. Learn more

4. Select Both turned off.
5. Click Save. Or, you might click Override for an organizational unit.

   To later restore the inherited value, click Inherit (or Unset for a group).

Note: Chat is always turned off in Docs editors if you have an Essentials account.

Conditions that automatically turn off chat

Chat in Docs, Sheets, and Slides is automatically turned off for your users according to the applicable age in your country. Also, some chat history and sharing settings automatically disable chat in Docs, Sheets, and Slides. For example, chat in Docs, Sheets, and Slides is disabled when you:

• Go to History for Chats and select History is on, and uncheck the Allow users to change their history setting box. Learn more about chat history settings.
• Choose the Chat Externally setting Don't allow users to send messages outside *your organization*. Learn more about external chat settings.