What changed: Google Sheets' pivot table editor now offers a compact form layout option alongside the existing outline form: row fields are nested in a single column with indentation and inline expand/collapse controls instead of each row field getting its own column. Excel files containing compact form pivot tables now import into Sheets with their layout preserved, and that layout is kept if the file is exported back to Excel.
Who is affected
The source states this applies to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google accounts using Sheets; there is no admin control for this feature.
What it means for your business
For businesses using Google Sheets for reporting and analysis, this means multi-level pivot tables can stay readable without excessive horizontal scrolling, and pivot tables imported from Excel keep their original compact structure instead of being converted to outline form.
What to do
Check the new layout option in the pivot table editor, try compact form for multi-level reports, and verify the layout is preserved when importing or exporting pivot tables between Sheets and Excel.
When it takes effect
Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) started October 22, 2026 for Rapid Release domains; it starts November 6, 2026 for Scheduled Release domains.
