Google has announced the introduction of a homescreen widget for its Gemini application on Android devices, following its previous availability on iOS. This new widget is designed to be resizable and can be configured in two distinct styles, alongside various size options. It integrates all the functionalities available in the Gemini Android app and serves as a convenient shortcut to access these features. Additionally, the company has expanded the maximum number of attachments permitted per prompt in Gemini to ten files or images.
The new widget was first reported by 9to5Google and adheres to Google’s Material 3 design principles, showcasing Dynamic Colour theming and rounded edges. Members of the Gadgets 360 team have also confirmed its availability on Android devices.
Users can access the widget by either long-pressing the Gemini app icon or long-pressing an empty area on the homescreen to open the widgets menu. While only one widget is displayed at a time, it can be adjusted to showcase two different styles: bar and box. The widget can also be resized in each style to accommodate more or fewer features as desired.
The bar-style widget allows users to set up Gemini in five different configurations. At its smallest, it occupies a 1×1 space, featuring a sparkle icon that launches the app. Users can extend it to a 5×1 size, revealing additional buttons including microphone, camera, gallery, file upload, and Gemini Live. Each button redirects users to the corresponding section within the app’s full-screen interface.
In contrast, the box-style widget features a search bar at the top with the prompt “Ask Gemini” and a microphone icon. Tapping this text field launches the app for users to input their queries. Other accessible features in this configuration include options for camera, file upload, gallery, and Gemini Live. This widget can be configured from a minimum size of 2×2 to a maximum of 5×3 on the homescreen. Importantly, the Gemini widget does not perform tasks directly; users are redirected to the app for functionality.
