For all the improvements Google has made to Gemini over the last year, the lack of a native desktop app — especially on the Mac — has held it back. ChatGPT and Claude can be used in significantly more complex workflows, largely because of their desktop apps. Google is finally bridging that gap with a native Gemini app for Mac.
With Gemini for Mac, you can share the app window you are working on to give the AI assistant more context and get more help. This will be especially useful when working with files stored locally on your Mac. Until now, you had to upload the files to Gemini on the web to give it relevant context.
Taking a cue from ChatGPT and Claude’s Mac app, you can quickly trigger Gemini anywhere on your Mac by pressing the Option + Space shortcut. ChatGPT uses the same shortcut, so if you have it installed, you’ll need to adjust your keyboard shortcuts.
Besides being able to see what’s on your screen—with the required permission—the Gemini Mac app can do everything you can already do in the web app. This even includes the ability to use Nano Banana or Veo to create AI images, videos, and music.
Diving into Gemini’s Mac app settings will let you control the Connected apps, set instructions for the AI assistant to follow, and toggle Memory on or off.
Gemini Mac app will become even more powerful in the future
Google’s support page says you can do the following with the Gemini Mac app:
- Get quick answers: Instantly ask questions and get information without opening a browser.
- Draft content: Generate ideas, write emails, craft documents or create engaging social media posts.
- Summarise information: Quickly get the main points from long articles, web pages or documents.
- Brainstorm ideas: Use Gemini as a creative partner to explore new concepts and generate innovative solutions.
- Get coding help: Write code, debug or understand complex programming concepts in various languages.
- Analyse images: Upload images and ask Gemini questions about them, or use them to spark new ideas.
Google teases that this is just the beginning, as it plans to add more advanced features to the Gemini Mac app in the future.
In true AI fashion, Google built the initial version of the Gemini Mac app using Antigravity, its AI-powered IDE, going from an idea to a native Swift app within days.
Gemini’s Mac app works with macOS 15 and above, including Intel-powered Macs. You can download it from here.
While even free Google account holders can use the app, you will need an AI Plus, Pro, or Ultra subscription to unlock its full potential.
