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How to disable Gemini AI features in Gmail and Google Docs

Google is rolling out AI toolbars in Docs and Gmail; here's how to turn them off if you don't want them.

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Summary, timeline and people extracted by Claude from 3 items across 3 sources · 21h ago. Quotes are verbatim.

Google has begun rolling out Gemini AI features including toolbars and prompts in Google Docs and Gmail, with a giant Gemini bar appearing at the bottom of Docs for some users starting in April 2026. Users who want to disable these features can do so through Gmail settings or Chrome extensions, though the process varies between personal Google accounts and company Google Workspace accounts, and disabling the features also turns off other AI-powered functions like grammar suggestions and smart compose.

  • Google is progressively rolling out Gemini AI features in Gmail and Google Docs with a giant toolbar that many users find intrusive.
  • Disabling Gemini requires unintuitive steps (toggling settings in Gmail rather than Docs) and disables other AI features like grammar checking and smart compose.
  • Personal Google account holders have limited control options; Google Workspace accounts leave feature control entirely to IT administrators.

How it unfolded

  1. Report Wired publishes guide to disabling Gemini features

    Justin Pot at Wired publishes instructions on how to disable Gemini AI toolbars and prompts in Gmail and Google Docs, noting the feature rollout varies across users.

  2. 18 weeks quiet
  3. Event Gemini bar rollout begins in Google Docs

    Google begins testing a giant Gemini AI bar at the bottom of the screen in Google Docs, with some users selected as part of the test pool.

What people are saying verbatim

“Have you noticed how desperate tech companies are to get you to use their artificial intelligence features, even if you don't want to use them?”

Justin Pot, Tech writer · Wired

“Click Gemini in the menu bar, then hover over Bottom bar preferences and select Turn off.”

Justin Pot, Tech writer · Wired

“Google has a history of undoing changes like this.”

Justin Pot, Tech writer · Wired

“For company-issued Workspace accounts, it's up to the administrator to decide which AI features you do and don't see.”

Justin Pot, Tech writer · Wired