Google Workspace for Education rolled out a privacy update effective October 23, 2023, changing how students under 18 sign in to third-party apps through school-issued Google accounts. If your school uses Google Single Sign-On (SSO) and students log into Gimkit that way, a Workspace administrator must act to keep access uninterrupted. Teachers cannot make this change themselves.
Who Needs to Mark Gimkit as Trusted in Google Workspace for Education
This requirement only applies under two conditions, both of which must be true simultaneously:
- Your school or district uses Google Workspace for Education with Google SSO for student logins
- Those students are under 18 years old
Schools that don’t use Google SSO, and students who join Gimkit games without logging in, are not affected. The update is entirely a Google policy change. Gimkit assignments and live games remain accessible to students who join without an account, so most classroom activity can continue without admin action.
How to Mark Gimkit as Trusted in Google Workspace for Education
Only the Google Workspace for Education administrator can complete these steps. Share this with your IT department directly.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sign in to your Google Workspace for Education admin account |
| 2 | Open the Admin console and go to Security |
| 3 | Under Security, select Access and Data Control |
| 4 | Click API Controls |
| 5 | Under App access control, select Manage third-party access |
| 6 | Click View list under the Accessed Apps section |
| 7 | Find Gimkit in the app list |
| 8 | Select Gimkit, then click Change access |
| 9 | Set Gimkit to Trusted and follow the on-screen prompts |
| 10 | Click Change access again to save |
Once completed, all Google Workspace for Education users at your school will have uninterrupted login access through Google SSO.
What Happens If Gimkit Is Not Marked as Trusted
Students under 18 with school-managed Google accounts will no longer be able to sign into Gimkit via Google SSO. This applies to both free and Gimkit Pro accounts. The trust setting controls login only, not feature access.
Students can still join live sessions and complete assignments without logging in at all. Accounts in Gimkit are optional for student participation.
If students need account access after the deadline, they can use the forgot password link to set a direct email-and-password login, bypassing Google SSO entirely. If your school encounters broader connectivity issues after this change, the guide on troubleshooting Gimkit game servers covers network-level fixes.
What to Do If Your Admin Won’t Mark Gimkit as Trusted in Google Workspace
Some districts have strict data privacy policies that delay or prevent marking third-party apps as trusted. In those cases, students can still access their accounts using email and password credentials.
Teachers should use the forgot password option to help students create a password-based login. This works as a permanent alternative — students log in with their email rather than their school Google account. If you’re helping a student set up access from scratch, the steps to open a Gimkit account without Google walk through the email-and-password method.
For district-level data privacy concerns, Gimkit’s team can be reached at [email protected]. They review and respond to requests for Data Privacy Agreements (DPAs).
Does Gimkit Meet Student Data Privacy Standards
Yes. Gimkit complies with FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act). It also meets or exceeds data privacy requirements in California, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, and New York.
Schools can request signed Data Privacy Agreements by contacting [email protected] directly. For a broader look at how ed-tech platforms compare on features and compliance, the Quizizz vs. Kahoot vs. Quizlet breakdown covers the major platforms side by side. Teachers exploring Gimkit’s classroom tools further can also look at how Gimkit classes and Gimkit groups work for student management.
FAQs
Did Gimkit change anything that caused this issue?
No. Gimkit did not update its own policies. The restriction comes entirely from Google Workspace for Education’s 2023 privacy update, which tightened how third-party apps access accounts belonging to users under 18.
Can a teacher mark Gimkit as trusted in Google Workspace?
No. Only the school or district’s Google Workspace administrator has the permissions to change third-party app trust settings. Teachers should forward the steps above to their IT department.
How do I check if my school already marked Gimkit as trusted?
Contact your Google Workspace admin and ask whether Gimkit has trusted status under Security > API Controls. Gimkit cannot verify your district’s settings from its end.
What if my school doesn’t use Google Workspace for Education?
Nothing changes. The update only affects schools using Google Workspace for Education with Google SSO for student accounts. Schools on other platforms or using direct logins are unaffected.
Can students still use Gimkit if the admin hasn’t marked it as trusted?
Yes. Students can join live games and complete assignments without an account. Those who need account access can log in with an email and password by using the forgot password option instead of Google SSO.
Floyd is a language learning writer at LingoBright who specializes in vocabulary, grammar, and practical communication tips. His articles focus on simplifying complex language concepts and helping learners build real-world language skills through clear explanations and proven learning strategies.