The Gemini app for Windows is out now, free to download from gemini.google/desktop. Google released it on 10 September 2026 for Windows 10 and Windows 11, with Alt + Space summoning a floating overlay over whatever is on screen. Two of its headline features need a paid Google AI subscription.
What the Gemini App for Windows Does
It is a native desktop client for Gemini, the assistant Google, the Mountain View search company, has been building into its products and which has already replaced Google Assistant on Android phones. Rather than a browser tab, it runs in the background and answers a keyboard shortcut.
- Alt + Space overlay: a floating Gemini window opens on top of the app you are using, then closes back out of the way.
- Gemini Spark: Google’s agent, which takes multi-step tasks such as research or planning and works through them using Connected Apps.
- Workspace context: prompts can pull from Gmail, Google Drive and Google Docs, so a thread or a document can be summarised without copying text across.
- Nano Banana: image generation inside the app.
- Gemini Omni: video generation inside the app.
- Notebooks and Recents: a sidebar for saved notebooks and earlier conversations.
Google describes the app as “lightweight and quiet,” saying it “runs without slowing down your PC”, and says it will add “more native desktop capabilities over time.” The Mac version shipped roughly five months earlier, in April 2026, according to 9to5Google.
Which Features Need a Paid Google AI Plan
The download costs nothing, but the two most-promoted features do not come with it. Google’s own announcement carries a footnote stating that Gemini Spark and Gemini Omni require a Google AI subscription, that availability varies, and that users must be 18 or over.
| Feature | What Google says you need |
|---|---|
| Gemini app for Windows itself | Free; no subscription stated |
| Alt + Space overlay and chat | Free; no subscription stated |
| Gemini Spark agent | A Google AI subscription; availability varies |
| Gemini Omni video generation | A Google AI subscription; availability varies |
Google does not spell out which tier in the app announcement. ChromeUnboxed has reported that Spark reaches the 20-dollar-a-month Google AI Pro tier in the United States and Ultra subscribers elsewhere, while excluding the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Nigeria, and that Omni covers AI Plus, Pro and Ultra subscribers. That breakdown comes from a single outlet and Google has not published it as part of this launch.
Alt + Space Is Already Taken on Many Windows PCs
Alt + Space is not a free shortcut. In Windows it has long opened the system menu for the active window, PowerToys claims it, and Microsoft assigned it to the Copilot app, the AI assistant it promotes on Windows 11 and the reason for the dedicated Copilot key on newer keyboards.
Microsoft has explained how Windows settles the clash: the Copilot app registers the combination through the Windows RegisterHotKey function, and Windows hands the shortcut to whichever app registered it first and is running in the background. In practice, on a PC with both installed, whichever of Copilot or Gemini started first wins, and the outcome can change after a reboot.
To hand Alt + Space to Gemini, switch it off on the Microsoft side: open Copilot, select the profile button, open Settings and turn off the Alt + Spacebar option, or set “Pressing Alt+Spacebar will” to Nothing.
How to Install the Gemini App for Windows
- Go to gemini.google/desktop on the PC you want it on.
- Download and run the installer. Google lists Windows 10 and Windows 11 as supported.
- Sign in with the Google account you want the app tied to, including any Workspace account whose Gmail and Drive you want it reading.
- Press Alt + Space to test the overlay. If Copilot opens instead, disable its Alt + Spacebar shortcut as above.
What Google Has Not Said
As of 12 September 2026, the app is available and Google has published no further rollout schedule. Google’s post does not list supported languages, does not name the subscription tiers behind Spark and Omni, and does not say which of the “more native desktop capabilities” it has promised come next or when. Engadget reported that the app is starting in English only, a detail Google’s own announcement does not address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Gemini app for Windows.
Is the Gemini App for Windows Free?
The app itself is free to download from gemini.google/desktop. Google’s announcement states that Gemini Spark and Gemini Omni require a Google AI subscription, so the agent and video generation features are not included.
Does the Gemini App Work on Windows 10?
Yes. Google says the app is available for both Windows 10 and Windows 11, and it launched globally on 10 September 2026.
What Happens if Copilot Already Uses Alt + Space?
Windows gives the shortcut to whichever app registered it first and is running in the background, so the result depends on start-up order. Turning off the Alt + Spacebar option in Copilot’s settings leaves the shortcut to Gemini.
Is There a Gemini Desktop App for Mac?
Yes. The Mac version launched in April 2026, about five months before the Windows release, according to 9to5Google.
Do I Need a Copilot+ PC to Run the Gemini App?
Google has not stated any special hardware requirement beyond Windows 10 or Windows 11. Its announcement describes the app as lightweight and says it runs without slowing down the PC.
