Gemini appears in Chrome by default, but you can remove it in three places

Gemini is Google's AI assistant that appears in Chrome's sidebar, search bar, and new tab page. If you do not want it there, you can turn it off without uninstalling Chrome or changing your search engine. The process takes less than a minute and works the same way on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Gemini is not a separate extension you can uninstall like other add-ons. Instead, it is built into Chrome itself. You disable it through Chrome's settings by toggling off the features that show it. Depending on where Gemini appears for you, you may need to adjust one setting or all three.

Key Takeaways

  • Gemini appears in three places in Chrome: the sidebar, the search bar, and the new tab page, and you can turn off each one separately.
  • You disable Gemini through Chrome Settings under "Appearance" and "Search engine", not through Extensions.
  • Turning off Gemini does not affect your search results, bookmarks, passwords, or any other Chrome feature.
  • If Gemini reappears after an update, the same steps will turn it off again.

Disable Gemini in the Chrome sidebar

The sidebar is the vertical panel on the left side of your browser window. If Gemini appears there when you open a new tab or search, follow these steps to remove it.

Open Chrome and look at the left edge of the window. If you see a small icon that looks like a circle with a dot, or text that says "Gemini", click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of that sidebar panel. Select "Remove" or "Hide". The sidebar will close when ready.

If the sidebar does not appear at all, Gemini is not showing there and you can skip this step. Move on to the search bar or new tab page settings instead.

Turn off Gemini in the search bar

When you click the search bar at the top of the page, Gemini may appear as a suggested action or button. To remove this, open Chrome Settings by clicking the three-dot menu in the top right corner and selecting "Settings".

In the left sidebar of Settings, click "Search engine". Under "Search engine used in the address bar", you will see your current search engine (usually Google Search). Click the dropdown next to it and make sure "Google Search" is selected, not "Google Search with Gemini" or any variant that includes Gemini's name. If a Gemini version is selected, switch back to the standard Google Search option.

Close the Settings tab. The next time you use the search bar, Gemini should no longer appear as an option.

Remove Gemini from the new tab page

The new tab page is what you see when you open a fresh tab in Chrome. Gemini may appear as a card or section on this page. To remove it, open a new tab and look for a Gemini card or widget.

If you see a Gemini card, hover your mouse over it and look for an X icon or three-dot menu in the corner. Click the X to remove it from the new tab page. If you see a three-dot menu instead, click it and select "Remove" or "Hide this card".

If Gemini does not appear on your new tab page, this step is not necessary. Some Chrome versions or regions do not show Gemini there by default.

Check Chrome Settings for Appearance options

For a more complete removal, you can also adjust Chrome's Appearance settings. Open Chrome Settings again by clicking the three-dot menu and selecting "Settings".

In the left sidebar, click "Appearance". Scroll down and look for any toggle or option related to "Gemini", "AI features", or "Google Assistant". If you see a toggle that is turned on, click it to turn it off. The exact wording varies depending on your Chrome version, but the toggle will be clearly labeled.

Some versions of Chrome may not have this toggle yet. If you do not see it, the other steps above are sufficient to remove Gemini from your view.

What happens after you disable Gemini

Once you turn off Gemini, it will no longer appear in the sidebar, search bar, or new tab page. Your search results remain unchanged, and Google Search still works exactly as before. You can still use Chrome's other features like bookmarks, history, extensions, and sync without any interruption.

If you change your mind later, you can turn Gemini back on by reversing these steps. Go to Settings, find the same toggles or options, and turn them back on. You can also re-enable the sidebar by clicking the icon on the left edge of the window.

Gemini may reappear after a Chrome update

Google sometimes re-enables Gemini features when Chrome updates to a new version. If Gemini suddenly appears again after you disabled it, this is usually why. The steps above will turn it off again, and you can repeat them as often as needed.

If you find yourself disabling Gemini repeatedly, check whether a Chrome update happened around the time it reappeared. You can see your Chrome version by clicking the three-dot menu, hovering over "Help", and selecting "About Google Chrome". If an update is available, Chrome will show you the version number and install it automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling Gemini slow down Chrome or affect my bookmarks?

No. Turning off Gemini does not change how Chrome runs, your browsing speed, or any of your saved data. Your bookmarks, passwords, history, and synced information remain exactly as they were.

Can I disable Gemini on my phone or tablet?

The steps are similar on mobile Chrome. Open Chrome Settings, tap "Appearance", and look for the Gemini toggle. On some Android devices, you may also see Gemini in the Google app itself, which has separate settings. Check your device's app settings if Gemini appears outside of Chrome.

What if I do not see Gemini anywhere in Chrome?

Gemini may not be available in your region or Chrome version yet. Google is rolling it out gradually, so some users do not see it at all. If it is not there, you do not need to disable anything.

Does disabling Gemini affect Google Search or my search results?

No. Disabling Gemini only removes the AI assistant from Chrome's interface. Your search results, search engine, and how Google Search works remain unchanged.

Can I use Gemini somewhere else if I turn it off in Chrome?

Yes. Gemini is available on Google's website, in the Google app, and in Gmail. Disabling it in Chrome does not affect those other places. You can still use Gemini there if you want to.