Google Gemini lands on Windows as a native desktop app

Google's Gemini AI assistant now runs as a standalone app on Windows 10 and 11, no browser required. The app launched globally on September 10, 2026, following earlier releases on Android, iOS, and macOS. For anyone already using Gemini through Chrome or the web, this means faster access and tighter system integration — without opening a tab.

The shortcut

The default way to call up Gemini is Alt+Space — a keyboard combination that has historically triggered Windows' own search and Run dialog behavior. That conflict may cause some friction at first, particularly for power users who rely on those shortcuts. You can download the app directly from Google's desktop page.

Once open, Gemini does what the browser version does: answer questions, generate images and video, and connect to your Google Workspace apps. You can open, edit, and interact with files across Gmail, Drive, Docs, and other Google services without switching windows. Google says the app is designed to run in the background without slowing your PC, though no specific hardware requirements beyond Windows 10 and roughly 8GB of RAM have been officially confirmed, per Windows Forum Analysis.

What's free, what's not

The base app is free. The more capable features — including Spark, a workflow agent that can act on your behalf across apps, plus video generation and Gemini's Omni model — sit behind a Google AI subscription at around $20 per month. Spark also requires a personal Google Account and you must be 18 or older. Availability of advanced features varies by region.

One gap worth flagging: screen-context sharing and dictation — features that let Gemini "see" what's on your screen and take verbal input — are currently exclusive to macOS on Apple Silicon. Google has promised Windows support in a future update, but no timeline has been given.

Copilot's new competition

Microsoft's Copilot is baked into Windows, Edge, and Microsoft 365, giving it a significant head start on familiarity. Gemini's pitch is Google Workspace integration and a lower barrier for users already in the Google ecosystem. Whether the Alt+Space shortcut and subscription paywall are enough friction to push people back to Copilot remains to be seen, but the free tier at least gives users a low-risk way to try it, per the Google Official Announcement.