Google has announced the availability of a native Gemini application for Windows, following its earlier release on Apple computers. The app can now be downloaded and installed on Windows machines.
First launch and privacy options
On first launch the application prompts the user to choose whether to automatically send error reports to Google and whether to accept cookie collection settings. These choices can later be adjusted in the app's settings.
Sign-in, chat history and quick launch
The Gemini app can be used without signing in, but signing into a Google account is required to view past conversations and chat history. The app supports a system-wide quick launch: pressing Alt + Space opens Gemini above the currently active window.
Features and integrations
The Windows app supports the same core features as the browser version, including editing and generating images and videos. It also integrates with certain Google services such as Gmail and Google Docs.
Access permissions and a reported glitch
By default the Gemini app is granted access to Google services, but the integration may not always work seamlessly. In some cases the app only finds items (for example, a message searched for in Gmail) after the user turns the access permission off and then back on. These settings can be changed in Settings (click the gear icon in the bottom-left corner) under the "Connected apps" submenu.
Users who do not want the AI to interact with their Google services can disable the feature by toggling off the corresponding blue switch.
Conclusion
The native Gemini app brings the browser experience to Windows as a standalone application, with media editing and Google service integrations available out of the box; users should, however, review access permissions and be aware of a minor initial connectivity issue that may require toggling permissions.
