How to de-Gemini your Google apps

Over the past few years, Google has found ways to work Gemini into almost every app and service it offers. Whether it’s Gmail with its AI inbox or Chrome with its chat sidebar, Gemini is now unavoidable in Workspace. I don’t know about you, but I don’t need an AI to tell me how to write a =SUM equation in Spreadsheets or a first draft outline. Most of the time I find Gemini distracting. If you feel the same way, this guide is for you.

How to remove Gemini from your personal Workspace account

To turn Gemini off, you’ll need to disable two separate sets of options. The first set covers a set of features, including smart composing, that are shared across Gmail, Chat, and Meet — so if you turn them off in one app, they won’t be available in all three. All of this is done most easily through the Gmail web client.

1. In Gmail, tap the gear icon.

3. Under general tab, scroll down to find Smart features.

4. Disable Turn on smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet.

In Japan, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or the European Economic Area, smart features are turned off by default.

Then turn your attention to the workspace.

1. In Gmail, tap the gear icon.

3. Under general tab, scroll down and click Manage Workspace smart feature settings.

4. Turn off smart features in Google Workspace and Smart features in other Google products.

One caveat: Disabling Google Workspace smart features completely turns off not only Gemini integration, but also access to basic features like spelling and grammar corrections. You’ll also lose features that have been core to Google for years. In Gmail, for example, the app will stop sorting incoming emails by priority, a notification at the top of the screen informing you that smart features are needed to categorize the inbox. Whatever Google’s motivation for this state of affairs, it’s a design decision that actively discourages users from disabling Gemini integration.

If you want to get rid of Gemini but still want to use some of the other features the company offers through Gmail and its other apps, I recommend leaving the first set of smart features on while disabling the Workspace-specific ones. You can also choose to turn off some of the features included in the first group while leaving others on. Below is a list of these features, with a brief overview of the less well-known ones.

• Smart composing — while writing an email, Gmail will generate predictive writing suggestions

• Customizing Smart Compose — as you type, Gmail will adapt Smart Compose suggestions to your writing style

• Nudges — Gmail will generate notifications prompting you to reply or follow up on unanswered emails

• Smart answer — Gmail will generate suggestions on how to reply to an email

• Track shipments — Google will show delivery updates in Gmail

• Desktop notifications — Yes, for some reason you need the power of AI to get notifications on your computer

Unfortunately, Google doesn’t offer the same level of granular control when it comes to smart features within Workspace. For example, if you turn off Gemini in Docs, Calendar won’t automatically show events from Gmail. Again, Google really wants to dissuade you from disabling Gemini.

How to remove Gemini from your Workspace professional account

If your workplace uses Google Workspace, all of the above options should be present in the Gmail settings menu, and you can follow the same steps to turn off most of the smart features that Google offers. Unfortunately, the second part of the process does nothing. You’ll still see Gemini in Docs, Sheets, and elsewhere, even with smart features turned off in Workspace. Only your administrator can completely shut down Gemini for you.