BeginnerLesson 3 of 310 min
Coming from Microsoft 365
Look up any Microsoft product or habit and see where it lives in Google.
Almost everything you did in Microsoft 365 has a home in Google Workspace. A few things work differently enough to be worth knowing on day one.
- Folders in Outlook become labels in Gmail. One message can have several labels.
- Track Changes in Word becomes Suggesting mode in Docs.
- OneDrive becomes My Drive. SharePoint libraries become shared drives.
- Teams channels become spaces in Google Chat. Teams meetings become Google Meet.
Type a Microsoft name or a Google name below to translate in either direction.
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Microsoft to Google translator
Works in both directions. Type a Microsoft name or a Google name.
41 matches
| Microsoft | What is different | |
|---|---|---|
| Word | Docs | Track Changes is called Suggesting mode. Everything saves automatically. |
| Excel | Sheets | XLOOKUP and pivot tables exist in both. Macros move from VBA to Apps Script. |
| PowerPoint | Slides | Fewer animations. Gemini can draft a deck for you. |
| OneNote | Keep, Docs tabs, Gemini Notebook | No single match. Keep for quick notes, Docs tabs for notebooks. |
| Microsoft Forms | Google Forms | Responses flow straight into Sheets. |
| Planner, To Do | Google Tasks | No built-in Kanban board. |
| Copilot | Gemini | Gemini is included in Workspace plans, with more features from Business Standard up. |
| Stream, Clipchamp | Google Vids | Vids adds AI avatars and generated clips. |
| Power Automate, Power Apps | Workspace Studio, Apps Script, AppSheet | Studio agents reason with Gemini. AppSheet builds no-code apps. |
| Loop components | Smart chips and building blocks | Type @ in a Doc to insert people, files, dates and more. |
| Whiteboard, Visio | Partner tools such as FigJam, Miro, Lucidchart | Google retired Jamboard at the end of 2024. |
| Outlook mail | Gmail | Folders become labels. A message can carry many labels at once. |
| Outlook rules | Gmail filters | Build a filter straight from a search. |
| Focused Inbox | Inbox categories | Primary, Promotions, Social, Updates. |
| Shared mailbox | Collaborative inbox or mail delegation | A collaborative inbox is a Google Group where conversations can be assigned. |
| Distribution list | Google Group | The same group can also grant access to files. |
| Microsoft 365 Group | Group plus shared drive plus Chat space plus calendar | No single object creates all of these at once. |
| Outlook calendar | Google Calendar | Scheduling Assistant is called Find a time. |
| Bookings | Calendar appointment schedules | Built into Calendar. |
| OneDrive | My Drive | Personal space. Files belong to the individual until transferred. |
| SharePoint document library | Shared drive | Owned by the organization. No metadata columns or lists. |
| SharePoint site | Google Sites | A simple no-code intranet. No lists or workflows. |
| SharePoint Owners, Members, Visitors | Manager, Content manager, Viewer | Shared drives add Contributor and Commenter in between. |
| Breaking permission inheritance | Limited-access folders | Folders only. Managers can never be locked out. |
| NTFS Deny entry | No equivalent | Use a limited-access folder or a separate shared drive. |
| Mapped network drive | Drive for desktop | Appears as a drive letter. No UNC paths. |
| Microsoft Search | Cloud Search | From Business Standard up. Shows only what you can already open. |
| Teams meetings | Google Meet | Runs in the browser. Guests do not need an account. |
| Teams chat and channels | Google Chat and spaces | Teams chat history does not migrate directly. |
| Teams Phone | Google Voice | Auto attendants and ring groups need Voice Standard or higher. |
| Exchange admin center, Entra ID, Intune | Google Admin console | One console for mail, identity and devices. |
| AD security group | Google Group with the security label | The security label is permanent once applied. |
| Group Policy Object | Settings per organizational unit | No reusable policy object. Settings live on each service page. |
| GPO security filtering | Configuration groups | Group settings beat organizational unit settings for supported services. |
| AGDLP | Role groups nested in access groups | Same idea. People join role groups. Access groups go on shared drives. |
| Purview | Vault, DLP and labels | Vault starts at Business Plus. Full DLP needs Enterprise. |
| gpupdate /force | No equivalent | Changes usually apply in minutes and can take up to 24 hours. |
| File into folders | Archive and search | Archive keeps mail in All Mail, fully searchable. |
| Attach a file | Share a link | Everyone works on one live copy. |
| Ctrl+S | Nothing | Docs, Sheets and Slides save as you type. |
| Keyboard shortcut list | Ctrl+/ | Shows every shortcut in Gmail and the editors. |
Finished this lesson?
Facts checked November 12, 2026