Can I install Gemini on my laptop? Yes, if it runs Windows 10 or 11, or a recent Mac. Google released an official Gemini app for macOS on 15 April 2026 and one for Windows on 10 September 2026. Both are free to download from Google, and they sit on your screen so you can call up Gemini without opening a browser tab. This guide shows what you need, how to install it, what the shortcuts are and what to do if your laptop doesn’t qualify.
Can I install Gemini on my laptop? Short answer
You can install the Gemini desktop app on Windows laptops (Windows 10 or later) and on Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 15 or later. Download it from Google’s own Gemini desktop page. If your machine is older, runs Linux or is a Chromebook, you can still use Gemini in a web browser, which has nearly all the same chat features.
Key takeaways
- Windows: Windows 10 or 11, on x64 or ARM64 processors. Open it with Alt + Space.
- Mac: macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later on Apple Silicon. Open it with Option + Space.
- The base app is free. Some features, such as video creation, need a paid Google AI plan and an adult account.
- Your chat history and memory sync with the web and phone apps when you use the same Google account.
- No official app for Linux is listed, so use the website there.
What you need before you install
| Windows laptop | Mac laptop | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 or Windows 11 | macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later |
| Processor | x64 or ARM64 | Apple Silicon (M-series) |
| Launched | 10 September 2026 | 15 April 2026 |
| Open shortcut | Alt + Space | Option + Space |
| Where it lives | Taskbar or system tray | Menu bar or Dock |
| Account | Google account | Google account (Workspace sign-in for work or school) |
Google’s page for the Mac app names Apple Silicon, so a laptop with an older Intel chip may not be supported. Check the download page before you spend time on it. An internet connection is required, because Gemini runs on Google’s servers rather than on your laptop.
How to install Gemini on a Windows laptop
- Open a browser and go to Google’s Gemini desktop page (gemini.google/desktop).
- Choose the Windows download and run the installer when it finishes downloading.
- Sign in with your Google account.
- Press Alt + Space. A Gemini window should appear over whatever you were doing.
- Pin it to the taskbar if you want a one-click launch as well.
If Windows warns you about running a downloaded file, check that the address you downloaded from belongs to Google. Please don’t use third-party sites that offer a “Gemini installer”. There are unofficial clients around, and they aren’t made by Google.
How to install Gemini on a Mac laptop
- Open the Mac download page from Google (gemini.google/mac).
- Select Download for Mac and open the file you get.
- Drag Gemini to the Applications folder if the installer asks you to.
- Sign in. Work and school users sign in with their Google Workspace account.
- Press Option + Space for a small chat window, or Option + Shift + Space for the full one.
On a work or school Mac, your administrator controls whether the app is switched on. Google says it is on by default for organisations that already have Gemini enabled, and admins can change that in their Generative AI settings. If the download doesn’t work, ask your IT team before you try anything else.
What the desktop app does that the website doesn’t
The big difference is convenience. The app floats above your other windows, so you can ask a quick question about the document in front of you and then go straight back to work. Google lists a few other features:
- Window and screen sharing (Mac). Share part of your screen and ask about a chart or an error message. Press both Command keys to share screen context.
- Voice dictation (Mac). Speak and have text typed into any app.
- Connected apps. It links to Gmail, Drive, Docs and Calendar, so it can draft or summarise from your own files.
- Local files. It can summarise files from your computer into Docs and Sheets.
- Tasks. It can run multi-step chores in the background and asks for your approval at each step.
- Creative tools. Image creation with Nano Banana, and video creation with Gemini Omni for paid users.
Google says most of the native extras arrived on macOS first, with more coming to Windows over time. So if you’re on Windows, expect a simpler app today than on a Mac. Features also vary by country, language and plan.
Can I install Gemini on a laptop that doesn’t qualify?
You still have good options. None of them need a download.
- Use the website. Go to gemini.google.com in any modern browser. You get chat, image creation and file uploads.
- Add it as a browser app. Chrome and Edge let you install a website as its own window. That is a shortcut to the site, not Google’s native app, but it gives you a separate window and a taskbar icon.
- Use the phone app. The Android and iPhone apps share the same history as the web version.
- Try Gemini inside Google apps. Gmail, Docs and Sheets have their own Gemini buttons if your account includes them. Our Gemini in Workspace section covers those.
Is the Gemini desktop app free?
The app itself costs nothing to download, and you can chat with a free Google account. Some features need a Google AI subscription. Google’s own pages say that its Gemini Spark agent and Gemini Omni video tool require one, and that those tools are for people aged 18 and over. Google doesn’t list prices on the desktop page, so check your account for current plan details.
Fixing common install problems
| Problem | What usually helps |
|---|---|
| Download button missing | Check your operating system version and processor against the table above |
| Shortcut does nothing | Another app may be using the same keys. Change the shortcut in Gemini’s settings |
| Can’t sign in on a work laptop | Ask your administrator whether Gemini is enabled for your organisation |
| App opens but features are missing | Features vary by plan, country and platform. Windows has fewer native extras than Mac |
| Chat history not showing | Make sure you are signed into the same Google account on every device |
A few privacy tips
Because the app can look at your screen and files, treat it like any assistant with access to your work. Share only the window you need. Don’t paste passwords or client secrets into a chat. On a company laptop, follow your employer’s rules about AI tools. And remember that answers can be wrong, so check names, figures and dates before you rely on them. If you want better results from your first conversations, our list of Gemini prompts is a good place to start.
Frequently asked questions
Can I install Gemini on my laptop for free?
Yes. The Gemini desktop app is free to download from Google, and you can chat with a free Google account. Some features, such as video creation with Gemini Omni and the Spark agent, need a paid Google AI subscription and an adult account.
What do I need to run the Gemini app on Windows?
Google lists Windows 10 or later on x64 or ARM64 processors. The Windows app launched on 10 September 2026. Download it from Google’s Gemini desktop page, sign in with your Google account and press Alt plus Space to open Gemini over your active window.
Does the Gemini app work on Intel Macs?
Google’s desktop page lists Apple Silicon MacBooks running macOS 15 Sequoia or later. It does not mention Intel Macs, so they may not be supported. Check Google’s download page for your model, or use Gemini in a web browser instead.
Is there a Gemini app for Linux or Chromebook?
Google’s desktop page lists Windows and macOS only. On Linux or a Chromebook, open Gemini in a browser. Unofficial desktop clients exist, but they are not made by Google, so be careful about what you install and what data you give them.
What is the keyboard shortcut for Gemini on desktop?
On Windows it is Alt plus Space. On Mac, Option plus Space opens a small chat window and Option plus Shift plus Space opens the full chat. You can customise shortcuts in the Gemini app settings if they clash with another program.
Is Gemini on my laptop different from the website?
The chat models are the same, but the app adds quick access and desktop features. Google says Mac gets more native tools, such as screen sharing and voice dictation, and Windows will gain more over time. Your history syncs across devices when you use one account.
So, can you install Gemini on your laptop?
If it’s a Windows 10 or 11 machine or a recent Apple Silicon Mac, yes, and the setup takes a couple of minutes. If not, the website gives you most of what the app does. Either way, install only from Google’s own pages. We keep our guides independent of Google, and you can read how we check them on our how we test page. For more help, return to the Google Edits homepage.
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