Send messages with the Gemini mobile app on Android

You can ask the Gemini mobile app to send text messages with images for you with the Messages app, which uses your phone’s default messaging app. You can also ask it to help compose and edit messages.

To help you quickly get started, the Messages app will work automatically on your device depending on your device app permissions and other settings. If you upgraded to Gemini from Google Assistant and your Personal Results setting was turned off, you may need to enable the Messages app on your Apps page in Gemini settings. Learn how to manage apps in Gemini.

• An Android phone or tablet.
• An active mobile phone plan.
• The Gemini app, including as your mobile assistant. Learn more about the Gemini mobile app.
  • The Messages app is not supported in Gemini in Google Messages or the Gemini web app.
• Save contact info from your signed-in devices on.
  • With the Messages app, Gemini can help you send messages to contacts saved to your Google Account. Learn how to sync your device contacts to your Google Account.
• The following Android app permissions given to the Google app: Contacts and SMS.
  • Learn how to manage Android app permissions.

Important:

• Apps are not available while using features powered directly by Google Assistant.
• Messages that you create with the Gemini app are not end-to-end encrypted.
• You can use Gemini to send messages even when Keep Activity is off. If Keep Activity is off, a message request that requires certain other apps may not work. For example, asking Gemini to "text the nearest pizza place" would require the Maps app which isn't available if Keep Activity is off.
  • On a connected smart watch, you can only use Gemini to send messages when Keep Activity is on.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open Gemini .
2. Ask it to send a message to one of your contacts.
   • If Gemini doesn’t use the Messages app, add @Messages to your prompt. If the app is disabled, you’ll get the option to enable it.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Tip: You can also say 'Hey Google' to ask Gemini to use a connected app. If 'Hey Google' doesn't work, check if 'Hey Google' and Voice Match are set up.

• Help me write a congratulations message to [contact name] on their 25th anniversary.
  After Gemini's response: Actually, make it a haiku.
  After Gemini's response: Send it to [contact name].

You can ask the Gemini mobile app to send a message in any way that feels natural and conversational to you.

Try these example prompts:

• Send a message to [contact name].
• Text [contact name] [message].
• Ask [contact name] [question].

Tip: By default, the Gemini mobile app uses the last app it used to message the same contact. If the Gemini app uses the Messages app, it uses your default SMS app on your Android device. Learn how to change your default SMS app.

Important:

• For now, this feature only works if Google Messages is set as your default messaging app.
• If you’re outside the US, you need RCS chats turned on. Learn how to turn on RCS chats.
• The Gemini mobile app can’t add images when you reply to a notification.

You can ask the Gemini mobile app to send an image to a contact, either by itself or with a message. You can generate a new image, search for one on the web, or upload your own. For now, only static images in GIF, JPEG, or PNG format are supported.

Try these example prompts:

• Generate a coloring book image of a knight fighting a giant cat.
  After Gemini's response: Send it to my wife and ask her to print it.
• Find a picture of the Eiffel tower.
  After Gemini's response: Send it to mom saying I’m so excited about our trip to Paris!
• <Upload an image> Send this to [contact name].

Important: Even if you disable the Messages app, the Gemini mobile app can still access:

• Your device contacts if the Google app has Contacts permission. Learn how to manage Android app permissions.
• Your notifications if the Utilities app is on. Learn how to manage apps in Gemini.

Important: To use Messages extension, the Google app needs permissions for Contacts and SMS.

Important: Some steps may vary by device and Android version.

The following actions aren’t supported by the Messages app in Gemini:

• Read or summarize your messages directly from your messaging app.
• Create or message group chats.
• Read images or memes in your messages.
• Add or play audio or videos in your messages.
• Read or respond to messages in your device notifications.
  • Gemini only uses the Utilities app to read or reply to messages in your notifications, including those from WhatsApp. Learn more about the Utilities app.

Learn more about how your data is handled when Gemini works with connected apps.