How to Use Gemini on Android Instead of Google Assistant

The short version

On Android, Gemini can take over everything Google Assistant used to do on your phone, and it can see your screen. Long-press the power button over any app and ask about what’s showing: a menu, a long article, a recipe video.

Step by step

1. Check the default assist app

Open your phone’s Settings > Apps > Default apps and look at Digital assistant app. It should be the Google app. If not, tap it and choose Google. (Names vary a little by phone maker.)

2. Switch to Gemini

Some phones come with Gemini already set up. Otherwise, do one of these:

• Install Gemini from the Google Play Store.
• Open Settings > Apps > Assistant > Digital assistants from Google and choose Gemini.
• In the Google app, tap your profile picture, then Settings > Google Assistant > Digital assistants from Google > Gemini.

3. Turn on Hey Google

In the Gemini app, tap Menu, your profile picture, Settings > Talk to Gemini hands-free, and turn on “Hey Google”. Follow the Voice Match steps.

4. Open it the quick way

Say “Hey Google”, press and hold the power button, touch and hold Home, or swipe up from a bottom corner, depending on your phone.

5. Ask about your screen

Open Gemini over another app and tap Ask about screen. Make sure Settings > Screen context has “use text from screen” and “use screenshot” turned on.

Prompts to copy

Over a long article:

Summarize this page in 5 bullet points and tell me what it wants me to do.

Over a restaurant menu photo:

Which dishes here are vegetarian? Translate anything that isn't in English.

Everyday phone jobs:

Set an alarm for 6:15 tomorrow and remind me at 8 p.m. tonight to pack my gym bag.

Messages:

Text Sam on WhatsApp that I'm running 10 minutes late.

Example

You’re looking at: a long email from your child’s school in the Gmail app.

You do: long-press the power button, tap Ask about screen, and say “What dates and things to bring are in this email?” Gemini lists them. Follow up with “Add the field trip to my calendar” (with Google Calendar connected).

Mistakes to avoid

• Turning off Keep Activity without knowing the trade-off. Google says that with it off, only Device assistance, Phone, Messages and WhatsApp keep working on Android.
• Asking about sensitive screens. A screenshot of your banking app becomes part of the chat.
• Expecting it on every device. Your speaker and TV still answer as Google Assistant.
• Skipping confirmation. When Gemini sends a message or makes a call, check the name and text first.

Good to know

“Hey Google” isn’t available in every language or for supervised accounts, according to Google’s Help Center; you can still tap the microphone. Gemini uses the Google app’s location permission; check it under Settings > Location > App location permissions > Google. For voice conversations, see use Gemini Live.

Related: keep your data private in Gemini.