Gemini Windows App 2026 Requirements and Shortcuts
Gemini for Windows is a desktop app that you can open with Alt + Space on Windows 10 and 11. Apart from installation requirements, account integration, image and video generation, and personalization features each have their own requirements.
Gemini for Windows requires Windows 10 or later and at least 8GB of RAM.
The default shortcut to open the app is Alt + Space, and you can change it in the app settings.
Distinguish the availability of Gmail and Google Drive integration from that of personal intelligence.
Nano Banana image generation is available to accounts without a subscription, but video generation requires a paid subscription.
Even if you disconnect a linked app, data remaining in Gemini app activity must be managed separately.
The Gemini Windows app is a dedicated Gemini app for Windows 10 and 11. Alt + Space opens it over the screen you are working on. Gmail and Google Drive integration and generation features vary by account conditions.
The release information is based on Google’s September 10, 2026 announcement.
What’s different about Gemini for Windows
You can now open Gemini without opening a web browser. You can request document drafts or summaries in a separate app. Google also introduced image and video generation in its launch announcement. It plans to roll out additional PC-specific features gradually. Google launch announcement
Gemini Windows app requirements
The app can run on Windows 10. You must also meet the memory and installation space requirements. A stable internet connection is required.
Item | Requirements in the official documentation
Operating system | Windows 10 or later; the launch announcement specifies Windows 10 and 11
Processor architecture | x64 and ARM64
Memory | At least 8GB RAM
Installation space | At least 200MB of available disk space
Account | A personal Google account or a work or school account with access
Network | A stable internet connection
The memory and space figures come from Help Center guidance with no publication date. Check that document for any changes to the requirements. (Verified values: Windows 10 or later, at least 8GB RAM, and at least 200MB of available disk space for installation; currently published requirements · Source: support.google.com · checked 2026-09-29) For work or school accounts, an administrator must allow Gemini access. Windows app Help Center
How to install the Gemini Windows app
Get the official installer from the Gemini desktop page. The Windows installer is named GeminiSetup.exe. After installation, sign in with a Google account.
· Go to the Gemini desktop page.
· Select the Windows download and save the installer.
· Open GeminiSetup.exe and follow the on-screen installation instructions.
· Launch Gemini from the Start menu.
· Sign in with the Google account you want to use.
If an update is available, a notification appears when you open the app. Use the notification’s restart option to apply the update. This procedure is described in the Windows app installation guide.
How to use the Gemini Windows app shortcut
The default shortcut is Alt + Space. It opens Gemini over the screen you are working on. You can change the shortcut in the app settings.
· After installing the app and signing in, press Alt + Space.
· Enter a question or writing request in the Gemini window that opens.
· If you need a different key combination, change the shortcut in the app settings.
You can also launch the app from the taskbar or system tray icon. If the shortcut does not work as expected, try launching it from the icon. Then check the key combination in the Gemini settings. How to launch the desktop app
Comparing Windows and macOS features
Even though both use the Gemini desktop app, their PC integration features differ. The official page describes some features as available for macOS. It says additional features will be rolled out gradually for Windows.
Category | Windows | macOS
Default shortcut | Alt + Space | Option + Space
Launch from an icon | Taskbar or system tray | Menu bar or Dock
Share on-screen context | Support for the same feature cannot be assumed | Instructions describe using both Command keys
Enter text in other apps by voice | Support for the same feature cannot be assumed | Voice input and editing features are described
Connect Spark to local folders | Support for the same feature cannot be assumed | Local file organization and synthesis features are described
The operating system distinctions in this table follow the official page. Being able to use Spark on Windows does not, by itself, guarantee folder access. Check the desktop features guide to distinguish the PC features actually available.
Gmail and Google Drive integration and account conditions
Integration features let you find and summarize emails and files. Google gave a project summary as an example in its launch announcement. Check that you are signed in to the account containing the material you want to use. Google’s explanation of integration features
App integration and Personal Intelligence have different scopes. Personal Intelligence tailors answers based on connected information. Separate eligibility and service availability conditions apply to this feature.
Condition | What to distinguish
Use of Personal Intelligence | Requires a personal Google account belonging to someone at least 18 years old
Activity history | Must be turned on to use Personal Intelligence
Workspace connection | Check the smart features setting for other Google products
Work, school, or supervised accounts | Excluded from Personal Intelligence
If the feature is not visible | Check the gradual rollout and supported services
The Personal Intelligence help article does not list the desktop app as supported. The Windows launch alone therefore does not establish that all personalization features are available. Check the Personal Intelligence eligibility guide for actual availability.
Work and school accounts are subject to their organization’s Workspace conditions. Features and the level of data protection vary by license. Do not apply the personal account subscription table to them unchanged. Organization account guide
Subscription requirements for image and video generation
Image and video generation have different subscription requirements. The table below follows the Help Center’s feature availability table for personal accounts. Age and region requirements also affect actual availability.
Feature | No Google AI subscription | Eligible paid plans
Nano Banana image generation | Available | Plus, Pro, Ultra
Remake an image with Nano Banana Pro | Not available | Plus, Pro, Ultra
Video generation | Not available | Plus, Pro, Ultra
Gemini Spark | Not available | Pro, Ultra
The launch announcement added a footnote to Gemini Spark and Gemini Omni. The conditions in that footnote are as follows.
Google AI subscription required. Available to users at least 18 years old. Document: Google, “Meet the Gemini app on Windows”
These conditions describe the features marked by that footnote. They do not mean the entire app is paid-only and restricted to people at least 18 years old. Check the subscription and limits Help Center for the latest distinctions by feature.
Are there usage limits with a paid subscription?
Usage limits also apply to paid subscriptions. The Help Center says the limits changed starting May 17, 2026. Before you reach the weekly limit, the limit refreshes every 5 hours.
Usage depends on the complexity of the question, the model, the feature, and the length of the conversation. Not every question can therefore be counted the same way. To check your remaining limit, select usage limits in the Gemini web settings. How usage is calculated and checked
The difference between disconnecting an app and deleting data
Disconnecting an app is not the same as deleting past Gemini activity. Previous conversations may remain even after you disconnect Gmail or Drive. Conversely, deleting Gemini activity leaves the original emails and files in place.
Action | Information that may remain separately
Disconnect a connected app | Existing information included in Gemini app activity
Delete Gemini app activity | Data in the original service, such as Gmail or Drive
Delete or edit material in the original service | Information from before the change is reflected in Gemini
Keep this distinction in mind when changing connection settings. Changes to original material may take several days to appear in Gemini. This is based on the connected app data handling guide.
Is connected information used to train AI?
Information generated during personalization may be used for training. Google distinguishes this from directly training on your entire inbox. Instead, summaries, excerpts, and inferred information used in answers may be included.
The activity history setting affects this use. Some connected data may also be reviewed by people. A short email may itself count as a summary. Scope of training and review for connected data
Turning off activity history does not immediately erase all records. Subsequent chats are retained for 72 hours to provide the service and for other purposes. If you send feedback, the related conversation may be used for improvement. This is explained in the Privacy Hub, updated September 24, 2026.
Common mistakes about launching the app and accessing material
Do not assume that using the shortcut means Gemini has read the current document. The official guidance distinguishes opening the app from sharing on-screen context. If a request relies on material, check how that material is provided.
Common assumption | What to distinguish
Pressing Alt + Space automatically sends the open document | Opening the app and sharing material are separate features
Installing it on Windows gives it access to all Google information | Check the account and app connection conditions separately
If image generation works, video generation is also free | Subscription conditions differ by generation feature
Disconnecting an app deletes past conversations | Disconnecting an app and deleting activity are separate actions
For example, to summarize a report, you must provide the report’s contents. You can do this by uploading the file or using a permitted Drive connection. This example is a practical interpretation based on the official feature distinctions. Windows features guide
Frequently asked questions
Is this an AI that runs on a PC without internet access?
The official requirements include a stable internet connection. Installing the Windows app does not make it an offline AI. Check the internet connection requirement along with the other installation requirements.
Can I create images with a free account?
Nano Banana image generation is also available to accounts without a subscription. Remaking images with Nano Banana Pro is a paid feature. Usage and availability follow the conditions for each feature.
Do conversations carry over between Windows and mobile?
Conversation history and memory sync if you use the same Google account. If you sign in with a different account, you will not see the same history. Syncing does not mean every PC feature has the same level of support.
Do I have to connect every app to use Gemini?
You can use Gemini without connecting apps. Whether apps are connected affects the scope of features based on personal information. Using public web information is separate from integrating a personal account.
Do the privacy conditions for personal accounts also apply to company accounts?
Conditions for organization accounts vary by Workspace license. You should also check whether enterprise-grade data protection applies. Applying the training and review explanations for personal accounts across the board would be inaccurate.
Where can I check the RAM and installation space figures again?
You can check them in the Gemini app for Windows Help Center. The current document requires at least 8GB RAM. The installation space requirement is at least 200MB of available space.
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