Since the release of new Google Sites in 2016, Google has been planning to retire classic Google Sites and replace it with new Sites. Google has recently announced their timeline for doing so. According to Google, the changes begin on May 15, 2021, with the end of classic Sites creation. After May 15, new Google websites can only be created in new Sites. This change also applies to copying existing sites, creating sites using the Sites API, or any other form of site creation in classic Sites.
Google’s Timeline
- May 15, 2021 - The ability to create new classic Sites will be turned off.
- December 1, 2021 - The ability to edit your remaining classic Sites will be turned off.
- January 1, 2022 - The ability for users to view the content of a classic Site will be turned off.
If you do not convert your classic Google Site before January 1, Google will automatically transition it as follows:
- Download the site as an archive and save it to your Google Drive.
- Replace the site with a draft in new Google Sites for you to review and publish if desired.
- Delete the classic Site once Google has downloaded and replaced it.
We are highly encouraging the university community to begin converting their classic Google Sites to new Google Sites as soon as possible. The longer you wait to make the transition, the greater the possibility for data loss in 2022.
Refer to Convert Your Classic Google Sites to New Sites for more information on how to convert your classic Google Sites to new Google Sites.
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