My 5 Must-Have GAM Commands for Managing Google Workspace

My go-to commands for Google Workspace automation.

Here are five essential GAM commands that save time and streamline common administrative tasks in Google Workspace. Each one tackles a frequent challenge that can be slow and repetitive when done through the Admin Console UI.

1. Bulk User Creation from a CSV

This is the cornerstone of automating onboarding. Instead of creating users one-by-one in the Admin Console, you can create hundreds from a single CSV file, which you can prepare in a spreadsheet application.

Why it’s a must-have: It turns the time-consuming task of new hire setup into a simple, repeatable process, ensuring consistency and saving massive amounts of time.

Example command: gam csv users.csv gam create user ~Email firstname ~FirstName lastname ~LastName password ~Password org ~OrgUnit changepassword on

The gam csv users.csv command will indicate GAM that it needs to look for the users.csv file for data.

The parameters ~Email and other parameters with the ~ are variables, and basically indicate GAM that it need to replace the variable with the items from the csv file.

To sumarize, the command:
gam csv users.csv gam create user ~Email firstname ~FirstName lastname ~LastName password ~Password org ~OrgUnit changepassword on

will act as:
gam create user hichem@company.com firstname Hichem lastname BM password 1234 org /Employee changepassword on and so on for evey line of the csv file.

2. Bulk Group Membership Management

Managing group memberships is a constant task, from adding new hires to project teams to updating distribution lists. This command allows you to add or remove users from groups in bulk using a simple list.

Why it’s a must-have: It simplifies access control and communication management, eliminating the tedious process of searching for users and adding them to groups manually.

Example command: gam csv new_sales_hires.csv gam update group sales-team@yourdomain.com add member user ~Email

3. Transfer Google Drive Ownership on Offboarding

When a user leaves the company, ensuring their work files are retained is critical. This command transfers all of a user’s Drive files to their manager or a successor, a key step in any offboarding workflow.

Why it’s a must-have: It’s a crucial data security and business continuity command. It prevents data loss and ensures a smooth handover of responsibilities when an employee departs.

Example command: gam user departing.user@yourdomain.com transfer drive to new.owner@yourdomain.com

4. Move a Single User Between Organizational Units (OUs)

When an employee changes roles or departments, they often need to be moved to a new Organizational Unit to inherit the correct settings and policies. This command makes that move instantaneous.

Why it’s a must-have: It’s a fast and scriptable way to handle individual user moves without navigating through the Admin Console UI, making it perfect for quick helpdesk tickets or one-off organizational changes.

Example command: gam update user employee@yourdomain.com org "/Sales/WestCoast"

5. Manage a User’s Inbox Delegation

Setting up inbox delegation is a common request for executive assistants or for covering an employee’s leave. This command lets you grant access directly from the command line.

Why it’s a must-have: It provides a precise, one-line solution for a frequent administrative task, saving you from having to go through multiple clicks in the Gmail settings of a user’s account.

Example command: gam user manager@yourdomain.com add delegate assistant@yourdomain.com