Get started with the Gemini mobile app

Chat with your Gemini mobile app to supercharge your ideas. Get help learning in new ways, writing thank you notes, planning events, and more. Gemini can connect with Google apps called Extensions, like Gmail, Maps, and YouTube, making it easy to get things done. Use text, voice, images and your camera to get help in new ways.

Your “Gemini mobile app” may be any of the following:

• On Android: the Gemini app, including as your mobile assistant
• On iOS: the Gemini tab in the Google app

On Android, if you set the Google app  as the default assist app on your device, you can choose Gemini as your mobile assistant. Gemini is still learning, so when it's your primary mobile assistant, it gets help from Google Assistant for certain things (like "Hey Google," & Voice Match, and other actions). While some actions won’t work right away, we are working to support more soon.

When you use Gemini as your primary mobile assistant:

• Other assistive features on your device outside of your Gemini mobile app (like driving experiences) will be directly powered by Google Assistant.
• Other devices with Google Assistant built-in — such as Smart Displays, smart speakers, TVs, cars, smart watches, Assistant-enabled headphones, and Pixel Tablets — will continue to be directly powered by Google Assistant.

Note: “Hey Google” and some features previously available in Google Assistant are not available in all languages and countries. Learn more about which languages your Gemini mobile app is available in.

• A personal Google Account that you manage on your own, or a Google Workspace account for which your administrator has enabled access to Gemini Apps and Google Assistant. If you’re a Google Workspace administrator, learn how to enable access to Gemini Apps as an additional service. You can’t access the Gemini mobile app with:

  • A work account that has Gemini Advanced or a school account. 
  • A Google Account managed by Family Link or with a Google Workspace for Education account designated as under the age of 18.
• You must be signed-in to your Google Account in the Google app.
• An eligible device you use in an available language and country or territory. Learn more about Gemini mobile app availability.

Important: To use Gemini as your mobile assistant, make sure the Google app is set as your device's default assist app.

Some Android devices come with Gemini as the primary assistant out of the box. On these devices, to get started with Gemini:

• Open the Gemini app, or
• Activate Gemini by touch (such as long pressing the power button or swiping up from the corner of your screen).

On other Android devices where you use Google Assistant, if your device is eligible, you can get started with Gemini if you:

• Get a notification from Google Assistant to switch to Gemini, or
• Download the Gemini app from the Google Play Store.

If you switch to use Gemini through any of these methods, Gemini will replace Google Assistant as the primary assistant on your device. You can then get quick access to Gemini using “Hey Google” (if enabled) and touch methods that you previously used to access Google Assistant.

Note: Gemini will not replace Google Assistant on your other devices, even if you switch to use it as your mobile assistant. On other non-mobile devices, including Smart Displays, smart speakers, TVs, cars, smart watches, headphones and earbuds with Google Assistant built in, and Pixel Tablets that are locked, including in Hub Mode, Google Assistant will continue to respond to “Hey Google.”

To chat with Gemini with your voice:

1. On your Gemini mobile app, tap Microphone .
2. Say your question or prompt.

If the Google app is your default Android assist app, here are other ways you can activate Gemini:

• Say “Hey Google” if enabled.
  • After you speak your query, it updates automatically.
• Activate by touch, which differs by device.
  • Press and hold the power button.
  • Touch and hold Home.
  • Swipe up from the bottom corner of your screen.

1. At the top, tap Profile picture or initial Settings.
2. Tap Google Assistant features in Gemini "Hey Google" & Voice Match.
3. Turn on Hey Google.
4. To set up a Voice Match, follow the on screen instructions so your assistant can recognize when you say “Hey Google.”

Note:  “Hey Google” is not available in all languages, but you can still chat with Gemini with your voice when you tap Microphone . Learn more about which languages your Gemini mobile app is available in.

You can use a photo or what’s on your screen to chat with your Gemini mobile app. 

• To add a photo to your prompt, open your Gemini mobile app, then tap Image picker .
• If the Google app is your default Android assist app, you can also chat about what’s on your screen by invoking Gemini over another app. Say “Hey Google” or activate Gemini by touch. Tap Add this screen , then ask your questions. 
  • Make sure your screen context setting is turned on. To check, open your Gemini mobile app. At the top, tap your profile picture or initial Settings Screen context. Make sure “use text from screen” and “use screenshot” are on .

When you say “Hey Google” or activate Gemini by touch, like long pressing the power button, an on-screen overlay will open rather than the full app. If you open the on-screen overlay over another app, Gemini may use what’s on your screen to:

• Make suggestions. When you open the on-screen overlay over some apps, you may get a suggestion to “ask about this screen.” For example, when you open the on-screen overlay over YouTube, you may see a suggestion to “ask about this video” when available.
• Share generated images. When you generate images with Gemini, you can press and hold to drop them into other apps, if the other app allows it.
  • If you share an image through text message, make sure your device and plan support multimedia messages.

You can switch to using Google Assistant as your primary assistant on your phone or tablet in your settings. To do this:

1. Open your Gemini mobile app.
2. At the top right, tap your Profile picture or initial Switch to Google Assistant.
3. Tap Google Assistant Switch.

Keep in mind, if you’re switching to Google Assistant as your primary assistant:

• When you say, “Hey Google,” or activate your mobile assistant by touch (like when you press and hold the power button), Google Assistant will respond.
• If your Web & App Activity is turned on, data from your interactions with Google Assistant will be saved to your Google Account. Learn more about how Google Assistant works with your data.
• Data saved in your Gemini Apps Activity will not automatically be deleted, but you can review and delete it anytime.

Keep in mind, if you’re switching back to Gemini as your primary assistant: 

• When you say, “Hey Google” or activate your mobile assistant by touch (like when you press and hold the power button), Gemini will respond.
• If your Gemini Apps Activity is turned on, data from your interactions with your Gemini mobile app will be saved to your Google Account and used as described in the Gemini Apps Privacy Notice. 
• Google Assistant data saved in Web & App Activity will not automatically be deleted, but you can review and delete it anytime. 

To check if Gemini is accessing and using your precise location:

1. On your Android device, open the Settings app. 
2. Tap Location  App location permissions.
3. Tap Google .
4. Check whether “Use precise location” is on .
   • If it’s on , Gemini and other services in the Google app (like Search) can access and use your precise location.
   • If it’s off , Gemini and other services in the Google app (like Search) cannot access and use your precise location.
5. Choose location access for the app: Allow all the time, Allow only while using the app, Ask every time, or Don’t allow.