To use Gemini on your phone, open the Gemini app (on Android it may already be installed, on iPhone you download it from the App Store), sign in with your Google account, then type, talk or send a photo. On Android you can also call it up by long-pressing the power button or saying “Hey Google.” Below are each step and the limits Google lists.
Before you start: what you need
According to Google’s help page, on Android you need to be signed in to a Google account on an eligible device, in a supported language and country. Availability varies by device, region and carrier. Some features, such as image editing and certain task automation, are limited to users 18 and older.
To use Gemini as your phone’s assistant, the Google app has to be your default assist app. To check, open Settings > Apps > Default apps and make sure the “Digital assistant app” is the Google app. Menu names vary a bit by phone brand, such as Samsung or Pixel.
Step by step on Android
- Open the Gemini app. On phones where Gemini is already the main assistant, you can start it by touch or voice. If you still use Google Assistant, your phone may offer to switch, or you can download the Gemini app from Google Play.
- Switch to Gemini if needed. In the Google app, go to Settings > Google Assistant > “Digital assistants from Google” and pick Gemini. To go back, open the Gemini app, tap your profile picture, open Settings and choose “Switch to Google Assistant.”
- Call Gemini without opening the app. With the Google app set as your default assist app, you can say “Hey Google” (if it is on and Voice Match is set up), press and hold the power button, touch and hold Home, or swipe up from a bottom corner. The method depends on your phone.
- Make your first request. Type a message and tap Send, or tap the microphone and talk. The mic stays open for up to 5 minutes. You can pause with Stop and resume with the microphone.
When you launch Gemini with a shortcut, it opens as an overlay rather than the full app. You can press and hold generated images and drag them into other apps.
Step by step on iPhone
On iPhone, download the Gemini app from the App Store, open it and sign in with your Google account. If you already use Gmail on the phone, you can choose to continue with that account. “Hey Google” is an Android feature, so on iPhone you open the app to talk. Features can differ between systems, and the Google help page we used covers Android only.
How to send photos and ask about your screen
Inside a chat, add a photo from the camera, gallery or files, then ask about it. On Android, with the Google app as your default assist app, you can also use “Ask about screen.” Turn on “use text from screen” and “use screenshot” under “Screen context.” Gemini may suggest asking about what is on screen, and you decide whether to accept.
How to use Gemini Live (voice conversation)
Gemini Live is the spoken-conversation mode, where you can also show your camera or screen. According to Google:
- Open the Gemini app and tap Live at the bottom, or swipe left. You can also say “Hey Google, let’s talk Live.”
- Follow any first-time prompts, then start talking.
- Tap Hold or End to turn off the mic.
To share your camera, tap the camera icon during the conversation and tap it again to stop. A switch icon flips between front and rear cameras. The camera turns off on its own if you put Live on hold, leave the app or lock the screen, and it does not turn back on by itself.
To share your screen, tap Turn on screen sharing inside the app. Outside the app, say “Hey Google” or open Gemini, then tap Share screen with Live. Your whole screen is shared. To stop, tap Turn off screen sharing or swipe down from the top and tap Stop sharing.
To finish, tap End or swipe right: the session closes and you see the transcript. Mute only silences your mic and keeps the conversation open.
Gemini Live limits
- You cannot start Live on a locked screen.
- To use it in the background, turn on notifications under Settings > Notifications > App notifications > Google and enable “All Google Notifications” and “Live with Gemini.”
- Gems do not work in Live.
- Work or school accounts can use only Google Calendar, Keep and Tasks in Live chats.
- Google says Live is not available in the Gemini web app or in Gemini in Google Messages.
What Gemini can do
Google’s Android page lists tasks such as answering questions about what is on your screen, including images, PDFs, videos and articles; editing images or turning a photo into new versions; working with Google apps like Gmail and Maps to set reminders and make lists; and giving personalized help like vacation ideas or project plans. Gemini has usage limits that can cap how many prompts you get in a period. For what changed on the free plan, read our piece on the Gemini free tier limits.
Privacy checks
Gemini uses the location permissions set for the Google app. To review them, go to Settings > Location > App location permissions > Google and check whether “Use precise location” is set the way you want. When you share your camera or screen, remember Gemini sees everything that appears, so avoid opening passwords, bank details or private chats. For another way Google is bringing AI to Android, see our story on personal AI-built apps in Google Play.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gemini free on a phone?
The app can be used for free, with limits. The no-subscription plan changed recently, as we explain in our piece on the free tier.
Do I need a Google account?
Yes. You need to be signed in to a Google account. Work or school accounts can use Gemini too, but in Live only with Google Calendar, Keep and Tasks.
Can I use “Hey Google” on iPhone?
“Hey Google” is an Android feature. On iPhone, open the Gemini app.
How do I go back to Google Assistant?
In the Gemini app, tap your profile picture, open Settings and choose “Switch to Google Assistant.”
