You can update user profiles with data from your organization's LDAP directory or other sources with the following methods:
- Google Cloud Directory Sync (GCDS)—Use to synchronize user data in your existing LDAP directory with your Google Directory. This method also synchronizes groups, contacts, and organizations. For instructions, go to Sync user data with Active Directory or an LDAP server.
- Directory API—Use to programmatically update many profiles at once. After you turn on API access, learn how to update a user account.
Rich profile information connects users
When you add information to user profiles:
- Individual and group addresses autocomplete in Google Workspace services like Gmail, Google Docs, and Drive.
- Calendar intelligently suggests meeting rooms based on the location and number of guests (requires Calendar setup).
- Users find profile information in Google Workspace services. For example, when users point to or tap someone’s profile photo, they open a person information card.
- Users see organization relationships. If you add a manager email to user profiles, Directory automatically generates a reporting chain. Available in Google services on Android and iOS and in Google Cloud Search on all devices.
What you can update
You can add, edit, or delete the following information:
- Secondary email address—An address that is outside your domain
- Phone numbers, physical addresses
- Desk location (if you set up buildings in Calendar)
- Job title, manager email, department, and cost center
- Employee ID and employee type
- Organization-specific custom attributes
- A user's primary email address and display name
You can also let users update some of their profile settings, including name, photo, and work location. Note: Gmail users can change their display name themselves.
How the Directory displays profile information
Person information card
Name | ||
Profile photo | ||
Phone number | ||
Job title / Department | ||
Desk location: Building, floor, floor section | ||
Links |
Contacts sidebar in Gmail
Name | ||
Job title / Department | ||
Phone number | ||
Desk location: Building, floor, floor section | ||
Manager's email address | ||
Reports: Based on reports' manager's email address | ||
User profile fields
To set the profile information that is shared throughout Google services, edit the following fields.
Profile value | Example | Admin console | Directory API | GCDS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Name |
Sasha Lee | Rename user | name |
|
Profile photo | Photo | Users.photos |
Not available | |
Email address | [email protected] | Primary email | primaryEmail |
Primary email |
Phone number | +1 949-555-0198 | Phone |
Note: Only these attributes are updated in the Admin console:
|
|
Address | 123 Google Way, Inktown, CA 99999 | Address | addresses[].formatted * |
|
Job title | Account Manager | Job title | organizations[].title |
Job title |
Manager's email | [email protected] | Manager's email | relations[].type.manager |
Manager's DN |
Department | Marketing | Department | organizations[].department |
Department |
Organization | Ink 42 | Change organization name | organizations[].name |
Company name |
Desk location | Building B-2-151C |
|
locations[] with |
|
Links | Directory | Personal site | Not available | websites[] |
Websites |
*The Directory API allows both structured address data broken out by fields and unstructured address data as represented by the addresses[].formatted
field, and they are not synced to each other. If you have structured address data and update the addresses[].formatted
field, we recommend also updating your structured address fields for that user.
Related topics
For other ways to update user profiles, go to: