On Android, Gemini’s camera, microphone, and location access is governed mainly by permissions for the Google app—the app that hosts Gemini—even if you installed the Gemini app separately. During a Live chat, you can also stop the microphone or camera for that session. These access controls are separate from Gemini Apps Activity, which governs how Live content is retained and, optionally, used to improve Google services.
Turn off the camera or microphone during a Gemini Live chat
For an active Live chat, tap Hold or End to turn off the Live microphone. To share video, turn on video streaming; use the camera control in the session to allow or stop camera access. Google advises: “Respect others’ privacy and ask permission before recording or including them in a Live chat.” Google Gemini Apps Help
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Change Gemini’s Android app permissions
Gemini’s access to device capabilities such as the camera, microphone, and location is based on the Google app’s Android permissions. To review them:
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- Touch and hold the Google app icon.
- Tap App info, then Permissions.
- Select Camera, Microphone, or Location and choose the access level you want, where available.
You can also review access through Android’s Permission manager. Exact labels and options vary by Android version and device. Google Gemini Apps Help: mobile permissions
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Use Android’s device-wide camera and microphone controls
On supported devices running Android 12 or later, swipe down to open Quick Settings and turn off Camera access or Microphone access. These controls affect access more broadly than changing an individual app’s permission. Android’s camera and microphone indicators also show when an app is using those capabilities. Names and availability can vary by device. Android Help: camera and microphone access
Understand what the location permission does—and does not do
Gemini mobile uses the location permissions selected for the Google app. However, Google says Gemini may also receive precise location from another Google service, such as Maps or Android Auto, even if the Google app’s precise-location permission is off. Changing that one permission therefore does not necessarily block location supplied by every Google service. Google Gemini Apps Help: mobile permissions
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Google says precise location processed with permission from a device or browser is not stored in Gemini Apps Activity, and that location Gemini processes is coarsened to a general area before storage. Google’s Gemini Apps Privacy Hub gives an example threshold of an area “larger than 3 square kilometers” and “at least 1000 users”; the page’s publication year is not stated. This should not be read as a universal guarantee for location Gemini receives from other Google services. A place can also remain in chat content if you type it or Gemini’s response refers to it—for example, when asking for restaurants “near me.” Google Gemini Apps Privacy Hub
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Device permissions control whether Gemini can access capabilities such as the camera and microphone. They do not determine how Live chat content is retained or used. Those choices are handled through Gemini Apps Activity and a separate optional improvement setting.
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- Keep Activity on: Google says Gemini Live recordings and transcripts, along with content shared in Live, are stored in Gemini Apps Activity. Google also says Live chat transcripts are used to improve Google services, including AI models.
- Keep Activity off: Google says Live chats remain stored in the Google Account for up to 72 hours to provide the service and process feedback.
- Optional audio and video improvement: Live audio, video, and screenshares are not used to improve Google services by default. A separate setting can allow that use, and Google says it requires Keep Activity to be on.
For Google’s explanations of Live data and Activity controls, see Gemini Apps Privacy Hub and Gemini Apps Activity controls.
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Which control should you use?
| Control | What it changes |
|---|---|
| Live session controls | Stops the Live microphone with Hold or End, or allows/stops camera access for video sharing. |
| Google app permissions in Android | Controls the Google app’s access to camera, microphone, and location for Gemini on Android. |
| Android Quick Settings | Turns camera or microphone access off more broadly on supported Android 12-and-later devices. |
| Gemini Apps Activity and improvement setting | Controls Live content retention and the optional use of audio, video, and screenshares to improve services; it does not replace device permissions. |
| Other Google services’ location settings | May matter because Gemini can receive location from services such as Maps or Android Auto, separately from the Google app permission. |
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