> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://toodlepip.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # How to Enable Google Plus (G+) for Google Apps. Finally! - URL: https://toodlepip.co.uk/blog-2011-10-how-enable-google-plus-g-google-apps-finally/ - Published: 2011-10-30T15:00:29.000Z - Updated: 2019-01-22T16:05:43.000Z - Author: Sam Michel - Tags: Geekery, g+, gmail, google, google apps, google+, sharing, social network, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-10-23 15:06 [![google_logo by keso s](https://toodlepip.co.uk/content/images/legacy/images/google-logo-lego.jpg)](blog/2011/10/how-enable-google-g-google-apps-finally) It always struck me as somewhat of a spectacular own goal that when Google launched Google Plus (G+) in late June 2011, that it wasn’t available for the 4 million businesses coughing up real money for Google Apps, let alone those using them for free. After the debacle when the big G prematurely launched Buzz to much criticism, this was the opposite end of the spectrum. Lock out the most engaged Google users, and those guaranteed to get the most from a new service. As you’d expect there was a fair bit of [forum-based grumbling](http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Google+Apps/thread?tid=08f56168a00dc731&hl=en&ref=toodlepip.co.uk). In order to get things working Google needed to roll-out profiles for Google Apps, which was [announced matter-of-factly on their blog](http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/google-popular-posts-eye-catching.html?ref=toodlepip.co.uk) a couple of days ago. Considering the company’s focus on being more social it’s surprising they haven’t made more of a song and dance about it…yet. So, if like me, you’d been waiting to get your mitts on this and have a proper look-see without having to constantly login and logout of a personal Gmail account, here’s a quick guide to setting it up ([you can find the official Google guide here](http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?answer=1631746&ref=toodlepip.co.uk)). ## Setting up Google Plus (G+) for Google Apps Administrators **Step 1: Enable Google Profiles for Your Organisation** Login to to your domain’s management console. If you use to access this from the link in the top right-hand corner of your Gmail account, you’ll probably notice the link has disappeared. You can access the control panel directly using a URL. The format is: http://www.google.com/a/domain.name Next, select the *Organization & users* tab from the main menu then choose the *Services* option. Scroll down to find the switch for Google+ at the bottom of the list of Google-branded services, see the screenshot below for an example. ![Google Apps Management Console Enable Google Plus](https://toodlepip.co.uk/content/images/legacy/images/google-plus-screenshot-1.gif) Next up, there’s a warning screen that essentially spells out, that by turning on Google+, you’re letting your organisation’s users control their profiles and get up to all sorts of mischief if they so wish. Probably a good time to check the company’s social media policy. Note the *Turn Google+ on* link is the text link, not the button. ![Enabling Google+ for Google Apps Administrators: Turn on Google+ Screenshot](https://toodlepip.co.uk/content/images/legacy/images/google-plus-screenshot-2.jpg) **Step 2: Individual Users Turn on Google+** So far, so good. Google+ is now turned on at the organisation level, but individual users need to enable their own account so they can use it. Just direct them to the main [Google+ homepage](http://plus.google.com/?ref=toodlepip.co.uk) at [http://plus.google.com](http://plus.google.com/?ref=toodlepip.co.uk). As long as they are signed in to their Google Apps account, they’ll be prompted to create a profile and get cracking with Google+, it looks like this: ![Turn on Google+ for Google Apps Administrators: Enable Google+ Profile for Users](https://toodlepip.co.uk/content/images/legacy/images/google-plus-screenshot-3.jpg) Et voila! Job done, your organisation’s users will get access to all the Google+ goodies including: [Profiles](http://www.google.com/support/plus/bin/answer.py?&answer=1355890&ref=toodlepip.co.uk), [Circles](http://www.google.com/support/plus/bin/answer.py?answer=1047805&ref=toodlepip.co.uk), [Streams](http://www.google.com/support/plus/bin/topic.py?topic=1257360&ref=toodlepip.co.uk), [Hangouts](http://www.google.com/support/plus/bin/topic.py?topic=1257349&ref=toodlepip.co.uk), [Picasa Web Albums](https://picasaweb.google.com/?ref=toodlepip.co.uk) and [Google+ mobile access](http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?answer=1301219&ref=toodlepip.co.uk). For admins, Google provides [a handy email template](http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?&answer=1631747&ref=toodlepip.co.uk) to let users know how to enable Google+ and learn more about its features. You’ll find my [profile here](https://plus.google.com/u/0/103353433498387462995?ref=toodlepip.co.uk). Photo (cc) [keso s](http://www.flickr.com/photos/keso/108805307/?ref=toodlepip.co.uk). --- ### Comments from the original blog *These comments were left on the original WordPress version of this post and are kept for reference. Comments are closed.* **Jens Mikkelsen** · 19 December 2012 I have tried to add google plus but I can´t find it under the service section where I normal add services. Do you know if I need a Google Apps premium account to add Google plus ? **Sam Michel (author)** · 13 January 2013 @Jens – sorry it’s taken me a while to reply, just checked on a standard (free) Google Apps account and Google+ shows up on the list of services, it’s quite a way down though, so you may have to do a fair bit of scrolling. Hope that helps. **James** · 11 February 2014 Hi Sam, You wouldn’t happen to know how to enable Google+ in the Google Apps administration area using the new layout? I can no longer switch to classic console view and this new layout not as verbose and very confusing. Their help files don’t provide the solution either. Google+ is simply not listed in the apps section.. If you know anything about this your knowledge would be much appreciated. James **Sam Michel (author)** · 11 February 2014 @James – it’s not just you. I had to do some digging but it’s there. Log in to your main Google Apps console, you should see a screen with the main options listed e.g. Users, Company Profile, Biling, etc. At the bottom of the page is a rather subtle more controls button. Click on that button and you’ll see an option for Other Google Services, you’ll find the Google+ option tucked away in there. Hope that helps.