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This guide walks you through the essential steps to get up and running with Google Product. By the end, you’ll have created your first project, added a collaborator, and seen real-time updates in action.
You need a Google Account to use Google Product. If your organization uses Google Workspace, use your work account so your teammates can find you easily.
1

Sign in with your Google account

Go to the Google Product homepage and click Sign in with Google.You’ll be redirected to Google’s standard sign-in flow. Select or enter your Google Account and grant the requested permissions.
Your Google account password is never shared with or stored by Google Product. Google handles all sign-in and authentication — you only need your existing Google credentials.
After signing in, you’ll land on the Google Product home screen. If this is your first time, a setup wizard will appear to guide you through initial configuration.
2

Access the dashboard

The Dashboard is your central hub. From here you can:
  • View recent projects and documents
  • See activity from people you collaborate with
  • Access your personal inbox for notifications and action items
  • Search across all your content
The left sidebar contains your primary navigation:
SectionWhat it contains
HomeRecent items and activity feed
My WorkTasks and items assigned to you
ProjectsAll projects you have access to
Shared with meContent shared by others
DriveLinked Google Drive files
Use the keyboard shortcut G then H to jump to the dashboard from anywhere in the app.
3

Create your first project

Click New in the top-left corner, then select Project.Fill in the project details:
Name:        My First Project
Description: A place to experiment with Google Product features.
Visibility:  Private (you can change this later)
Click Create. Your new project opens immediately.Inside the project, you can:
  • Add tasks to track individual work items
  • Create documents for notes, specs, or briefs
  • Set up milestones to mark key dates
To create your first document inside the project, click New within the project and select Document. A blank document opens in the editor, which supports rich text, inline images, tables, and embeds from Google Docs and other sources.
Type / anywhere in the document editor to open the command menu and insert headings, tables, images, callouts, and more.
4

Invite a collaborator

Sharing your project takes just a few seconds.
  1. Open your project and click Share in the top-right corner.
  2. In the Invite people field, enter a teammate’s email address or Google Workspace name.
  3. Choose their permission level:
PermissionWhat they can do
ViewerRead-only access to all content in the project
CommenterCan add comments but cannot edit
EditorCan create, edit, and delete content
AdminFull access including member management
  1. Add an optional message, then click Send invite.
Your collaborator receives an email invitation with a direct link. If they already have a Google Account, they can accept immediately.
You can also generate a shareable link. Click Copy link in the Share dialog and set whether anyone with the link can view or must request access.
5

See real-time updates

With your collaborator added, open the shared document. Ask your collaborator to open it at the same time.You’ll see:
  • Live cursors — Each collaborator’s cursor appears in a distinct color with their name attached.
  • Inline edits — Typing, formatting, and deletions appear on everyone’s screen as they happen.
  • Presence indicators — Avatars in the top-right corner show who is currently viewing or editing.
  • Comments — Select any text and click the comment icon to leave a threaded comment. Collaborators are notified instantly.
To leave a comment:
  1. Highlight text in the document.
  2. Click the comment bubble that appears in the margin, or press Ctrl+Alt+M (Cmd+Option+M on Mac).
  3. Type your comment and press Enter to post.
You’re now collaborating in real time. Any changes either of you make are saved automatically — there’s no save button.

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What’s next

Now that you’ve completed the basics, explore these topics to go deeper:

Account setup

Configure your profile, notifications, security settings, and connected apps.

Core concepts

Learn how projects, documents, tasks, and permissions work together.

Integrations

Connect Google Drive, Calendar, Gmail, and third-party tools.

Best practices

Recommended ways to structure your work for teams of any size.