How to switch off Gemini in Gmail without hunting through menus
Google users can disable Gemini through Gmail’s smart feature settings, with knock-on effects across Workspace and other Google products.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Gemini may be sitting inside Gmail, but it does not have to stay there. Mashable reports that Google users can switch off the AI features from Gmail’s settings menu in about five minutes.
The move is aimed at people who do not want AI help writing messages, are worried about privacy, or do not need Gemini tools across Google’s apps. The same settings area also controls AI features in other Google services, including Drive, Calendar, Meet, Maps and more, according to Mashable.
You will need Gmail and a laptop, desktop or smartphone to make the change.
How to turn Gemini off in Gmail
Mashable’s walkthrough starts inside Gmail. Open the app or site, then head for the Settings button, shown as a cog icon.
From there, select “See all settings.” In the “General” tab, scroll down until you find “Google Workspace smart features.” Then choose “Manage Workspace smart feature settings.”
A pop-up will show the relevant controls. To remove Gemini from Gmail, switch off “Smart features in Google Workspace,” according to Mashable.
That does more than change Gmail. Mashable says the same toggle also disables the AI features for Drive, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Slides and Meet.
There is a second toggle covering “other Google products.” Mashable reports that turning that off switches Gemini off for Maps, Wallet, Google Assistant and the Gemini app itself.
After changing the toggles, click “Save” at the bottom right of the pop-up. If you change your mind later, Mashable says you can return through the same settings path and turn the features back on.
What changes after Gemini is disabled
Switching off Gemini removes several AI functions from Gmail, according to Mashable. Those include the “Help me write” prompt, AI Overviews, email summaries, search personalization and other AI features.
The keyboard behavior also changes. Mashable says pressing the “/” key will no longer bring up a Gemini prompt once the feature has been turned off.
Gemini does not disappear from view entirely. Mashable notes that the sparkle icon still appears at the bottom of emails even after the AI features are disabled.
Clicking that sparkle icon will not restore the tool on its own. Mashable says users who click it, or try the “Help me write” shortcut, will see a pop-up explaining that Gmail smart features must be turned back on to use Gemini.
The shortcuts listed by Mashable are Ctrl-H on Windows and Option-H on Mac.
So the setting is not buried too far, but it does sit behind a few clicks. For Gmail users who want their inbox back in old-school mode, the switch lives under Workspace smart features.
This story draws on original reporting from Mashable.