Gemini Desktop
Native desktop client for Google Gemini on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Features global hotkeys, Spotlight-style Quick Chat, and zero data collection.
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What is Gemini Desktop?
Gemini Desktop is a free, open-source native desktop client for Google Gemini AI, built for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It provides a privacy-first desktop-native experience for using Google's Gemini AI assistant without relying on a browser tab, featuring dedicated app windows, global hotkeys, and zero telemetry or data collection.
Key features include Spotlight-style Quick Chat that can be summoned from anywhere with a global hotkey, multi-tab conversations for keeping multiple chat contexts open simultaneously, peek-and-hide functionality for instant app visibility toggling, response notifications when the app is unfocused, always-on-top mode for multitasking, launch-at-startup option, and customizable keyboard shortcuts. The app uses Google's official authentication and loads the official Gemini web interface in a native Electron wrapper.
This tool is ideal for power users who want faster keyboard-driven workflows with Gemini, developers seeking a privacy-focused open-source client, and anyone tired of switching between browser tabs. It's particularly suited for users on Windows, macOS, or Linux who want a dedicated AI assistant window with native OS integration and system tray support.
Gemini Desktop pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Completely free and open-source under MIT license. No paid plans, subscriptions, or premium tiers. The project is genuinely open-source with zero cost for all features across Windows, macOS, and Linux. All functionality including Quick Chat, multi-tab conversations, global hotkeys, and system tray integration is available without any payment.
Gemini Desktop pros
- Completely free and open-source with MIT license
- Zero telemetry and no data collection
- Native desktop experience on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Spotlight-style Quick Chat with global hotkey
- Multi-tab conversations for multiple chat contexts
- Peek and hide toggle for instant visibility control
- Response notifications when app is unfocused
- Always on top mode for multitasking
- Launch at startup option with minimized opening
- Customizable keyboard shortcuts in settings
- Google authentication with secure session storage
- System tray integration for quick access
- Lightweight Electron-based architecture
- Active development with regular releases
- No sponsorship or affiliation with Google
- Print current page to PDF with hotkey
- Cross-platform architecture with per-arch installers
Gemini Desktop cons
- Not code-signed on macOS requiring quarantine removal
- Unofficial project not affiliated with Google LLC
- No official warranty, provided as-is
- Requires Google account for authentication
- Still in early development (v0.11.x)
- May have platform-specific bugs per release notes
- Arm64 baseline upgrade validation issues on Windows
- macOS tray icon handling had recent fixes
- No official Google support channel
Frequently asked questions about Gemini Desktop
What is Gemini Desktop?
Gemini Desktop is a native, open-source desktop client for Google Gemini AI that provides a privacy-first experience with native controls, global hotkeys, and zero telemetry. It's a dedicated desktop application instead of using Gemini in a browser tab, built with Electron for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Is Gemini Desktop free?
Yes, Gemini Desktop is completely free and open-source under the MIT license. There are no paid plans, subscriptions, or premium features. All functionality is available at no cost.
What operating systems does Gemini Desktop support?
Gemini Desktop supports Windows (x64 and ARM64), macOS (Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3 and Intel), and Linux (AppImage and Debian/Ubuntu .deb packages). Per-architecture installers are available for each platform.
How do I trigger Quick Chat?
Quick Chat is triggered with Ctrl+Shift+Alt+Space on Windows/Linux or Cmd+Shift+Alt+Space on macOS. This Spotlight-style prompt can be summoned from anywhere. You can customize hotkeys in Settings.
Does Gemini Desktop collect my data?
No, Gemini Desktop has zero telemetry and no data collection. It only connects to Google domains for Gemini access. Authentication is handled by Google, and sessions are stored using Chromium's standard local mechanisms. Read the Transparency Report and Privacy Policy for full details.
Is this an official Google product?
No, Gemini Desktop is an unofficial, open-source project and is not affiliated with Google LLC. Gemini and Google are registered trademarks of Google LLC. The project is independently developed by Ben Wendell (bwendell) under the MIT license.
How do I install on macOS?
Download the appropriate DMG for your chip (arm64 for Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3, x64 for Intel). Since the app is not code-signed yet, on first launch you must remove quarantine by running: xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/Gemini Desktop.app" in Terminal.
What keyboard shortcuts are available?
Available shortcuts include: Ctrl+Shift+Alt+Space (Cmd+Shift+Alt+Space on macOS) for Quick Chat toggle, Ctrl+Shift+Space (Cmd+Shift+Space on macOS) for Peek and Hide, and Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on macOS) to print current page to PDF. Hotkeys are customizable in Settings.
Where can I download Gemini Desktop?
Download the latest release from the GitHub Releases page at github.com/bwendell/gemini-desktop/releases. Version-specific installers are available for each platform with architecture-specific filenames.
Can I contribute to Gemini Desktop?
Yes, contributions are welcome. The project is open-source with MIT license. For setup instructions, coding standards, and workflow expectations, see docs/CONTRIBUTING.md in the GitHub repository. The project has 8 contributors and is actively maintained.