Google Jamboard Shutting Down What to Do Next?
So the Google Jamboard shutting down soon. This was evident from an announcement made in 2023. From the start of October 2024, the service is no longer working.
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Many of you might wonder if Google Jamboard is still available.
Not in the traditional sense. While you can still visit the Google Jamboard web app, it’s already been taken off from both the Play Store and App Store. So mobile folks will have no way to install other than shady APK versions (which is not possible for iOS users). Even on the web version, you are stuck with a view-only screen.
This means you can no longer make new Jamboards nor can you edit existing ones. Moreover, there is no official Google Jamboard successor.
However, Google has announced that it will partner up with alternatives and give you a link to these services on the Google Jamboard EOL post as well. First of all, let us see what made Google give up on this service.
Why did Google Say RIP to Jamboard?
The major reason as per the official statement is that users dont use the app as much to justify its existence.
Moreover, many of the alternatives are far superior with features like infinite canvas, use case templates, voting, etc. So instead of spending more resources to make the app remotely competitive, it was better to end it and collaborate with the alternatives.
This meant that there was yet another addition to the Google Graveyard which has grown significantly in recent years. The more surprising part is that it is not just the app but the $5000 dollar Jamboard screens that Google sold will also stop working. With no option to get a refund.
Some also believe this is part of the recent cost-cutting spree that Google has been doing for the past few years.
Counter Google Jamboard Shutting Down Issue By Backing Up Data Manually
Jamboard application
- Click on the 3 vertical dots (More actions) at the top right.
- From the dropdown menu, select “Download as PDF” or “Save frame as image.”
- Choosing either option opens up a new window on your desktop.
- There, you can browse for a location and rename the file. Once done, hit “Save.”
If you use Jamboard from mobile, the download steps are pretty much the same as the web app version, with one minor change i.e. you see a Share instead of Save.
Also, the UI and position of buttons might vary a bit due to the difference in screen size.
Drive or Google Takeout
Jamboards, like many Google apps, keep (until 31 Dec 2024) its data in Google Drive.
This also means that you won’t find Jamboard in the Takeout app.
If you only wish to take Google Jamboard data and not interfere with other content that is on the Drive you must rearrange all files.
This will allow you to take advantage of folder-level selection. After this the steps are simple. You can check out how we leveraged Google Takeout to move content across Google Drives and follow the same route. You may also download the content directly from Google Drive.
Screenshots may be the fastest way to preserve a full or partial view-only instance of a Jamboard session.
Keep Jamboard open and Press: Shift + Windows + S (On PC) or Cmd + 4 (On Mac).
Then use the Preview window to perform the rest of the steps.
If you open Jamboard on a browser, you can right-click and use “Save As” to keep an HTML page.
Please note while reopening this page, there might be sudden pop-ups saying something went wrong; reload. So this is not the best option to keep the Jamboards offline after they expire.
How to Professionally Preserve Files Organization-Wide Before Google Jamboard Depreceates
As we saw in our manual workarounds Jamboard occupies space inside another Google service which is the Drive.
Moreover, the manual workaround may work for individuals but when the same instructions are given to multiple users mistakes can happen. That is why admins should do a single backup all at once.
The SysTools Google Workspace Backup tool is there for you, with a special workload selection feature you can limit the extraction to the Google Drive items.
So that you can select exactly those accounts that have Jamboard data while skipping over the rest.
Moreover, in almost all organizations that use Jamboard (app), the canvas was kept in the Google Drive Accounts of just a few individuals. For such scenarios the tools allow you to specially select the accounts from which to export. And unlike Google Takeout, you get the PDF version of Jamboard Sketch directly. No need for any zip file extraction whatsoever.
Switch to An Alternative Before the Google Jamboard Shutting Down Process Completes
Use this comparison table to determine the best choice for you and /or your organization.
| Feature | FigJam | Miro | LucidSpark |
| Main Purpose | Brainstorming and ideation for creative teams | Real-time collaboration and project planning | Interactive whiteboard with rich template library |
| Ease of Use | Highly intuitive, free-form drawing | Easy, user-friendly with integrated templates | Simple and user-friendly, with extensive templates |
| Collaboration | Supports real-time team collaboration | Robust real-time collaboration with tools | Enables collaborative work with team engagement tools |
| Integrations | Works with Figma | Integrates with Google Suite, Slack, Zoom | Integrates with Google Suite, Microsoft Office |
| Pricing | Starts at $0; with paid plans from $5 per editor/month | Free to start; plans from $8 per user/month | Free to start; plans from $6.67 per user/month |
| Transfer Steps |
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Conclusion
In this write-up, we gave users a full roadmap to navigate the Google Jamboard shutting-down scenario. Here we put together all the steps one needs to take in order to back up all the Jamboards at both the individual and organization levels. Moreover, we also gave you an unbiased comparison between the alternatives so you can make a well-informed transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the last date to get a backup of Google Jamboard?
Perform the backup process before 31 December 2024 as this is the official expiry date set by Google for this service.
Can Google Jambord backups be used inside alternatives like Miro, FigJam, and Lucidchart?
No, the Google Jambord Backup is available either the Traditional way or the Tool provides you with a PDF version. These are not the native Google Jam files and hence cannot be edited. You can try to migrate from Google Jamboard to the alternatives this will allow you to preserve the contents in an editable format.
Do I have to manually delete Jamboard files once the Service shuts down?
No Google deletes it permanently on the server side you need not do anything. Moreover, may also regain some space in your Google Drive now that the space Jamboard used is free.
