What happens when you ask Gemini to build an app inside your spreadsheet?

Google Sheets now includes a feature called Sheets canvas that turns rows and columns into interactive mini-apps. You describe what you need and the system builds a visual layer that stays synced with the original data.

What the canvas actually is

Google Sheets has a new feature called Sheets canvas.

It sits on top of your spreadsheet and turns rows into interactive mini-apps that you can edit without writing formulas. A dynamic read-write layer connects directly to the underlying cells so every change appears in both places at once. No separate tool receives a copy of your data. The canvas reads the sheet and writes back to it in real time.

How you tell it what to build

You control it by typing a request into the Gemini side panel.

A prompt like "create a visual study tracker" triggers the model to generate layout, design, and functionality. The announcement says no coding is required. No formulas are required either. You simply describe the result you want. You can continue to polish and refine your Sheets canvas by prompting Gemini to make edits to layout, design, functionality, and more. API access for developers is not discussed. The announcement positions the feature as an end-user tool driven by natural language. No reference to the Sheets API or the Gemini API in the context of canvas creation appears.

Three ways people are using it

Three examples appear in the announcement.

A student can turn a long list of assignments into an interactive study aid that tracks progress and sets reminders. A fantasy football manager can build a command center that compares player stats side by side. A wedding planner can transform guest RSVP data into a drag-and-drop seating chart. The boundary of what the model can generate is defined only by these examples. Whether it can build complex multi-sheet workflows or connect to external data sources is not addressed.

Sync and sharing work like a sheet

Changes flow both ways instantly.

Edits made inside the canvas update the original spreadsheet. Edits made in the spreadsheet update the canvas. The synchronization is continuous and automatic. There is no save button to press.

Sharing works exactly like a regular sheet. Since the canvas lives as a tab inside Google Sheets you can share it with anyone who has access to the file. Permissions follow the standard sharing model. Collaborators see the same interactive view. Export as a standalone app remains unanswered. No embed code or publish-to-web option for the canvas view alone is mentioned.

Who gets it and when

Availability depends on your subscription tier.

The feature is available globally in English to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. It is rolling out starting today to Google Workspace customers on Business or Enterprise Standard and Plus plans. Google AI Pro for Education add-on subscribers also gain access. Rollout begins today for Workspace customers on Business or Enterprise Standard and Plus plans. No completion date is specified.

The announcement does not mention whether personal Google accounts without a paid AI subscription will ever receive the feature. Education add-on subscribers gain access. Which Education editions qualify beyond the add-on name is not detailed. Whether student accounts managed by a domain administrator see the feature immediately is not clarified.

English only at launch. No timeline for additional languages is listed. The announcement does not state whether Gemini prompts understand languages other than English when the interface is set to English. Pricing for the AI Pro and Ultra tiers is not restated here. The announcement assumes the reader already holds a qualifying subscription. It does not explain how to upgrade from a lower tier directly from the Sheets interface. Offline support is not mentioned. Mobile-specific behavior is not described. Desktop screenshots appear in the blog post. Feature parity on the Sheets mobile apps is not confirmed.