Quick Answer
Since ChromeOS M134, Gemini has replaced Google Assistant on Chromebooks. Click the Gemini icon in the shelf or press the dedicated Gemini/Assistant key if your keyboard has one, then type or speak your request. There’s no “Hey Google” hotword support on the new Gemini integration, unlike the old Assistant.
What Actually Changed
If you’ve had a Chromebook for a while, you may remember triggering Google Assistant with a keyboard shortcut or voice hotword for quick questions, timers, or calculations. Google has been transitioning that functionality to Gemini, its newer AI assistant, across ChromeOS. On updated devices, opening what used to be Assistant now opens the Gemini app instead. Some older Chromebooks that haven’t yet received the relevant ChromeOS update may still show the classic Google Assistant toggle in Settings.
How to Use Gemini on a Chromebook
Step 1: Check what your Chromebook currently has
Go to Settings > Search and Assistant. If you see a “Gemini” entry, your device has already switched over. If you still see “Google Assistant,” your Chromebook hasn’t received the update yet.
Step 2: Open Gemini
Click the Gemini icon in the shelf, or use the launcher search to find it. On newer keyboards, a dedicated key opens it directly.
Step 3: Ask a question or give a command
Type your request, or click the microphone icon to speak it. Gemini can answer questions, summarize text, help draft an email, or open certain settings depending on what’s asked.
Step 4: Use the older Google Assistant, if still available
On a Chromebook that hasn’t switched yet, open Settings > Search and Assistant > Google Assistant and toggle it on. It works the same way it always has, with voice activation available from that same settings page.
Still Stuck?
If neither Gemini nor Google Assistant appears anywhere in Settings, the feature may be disabled by a school or work management policy, which is common on managed education and enterprise Chromebooks. If Gemini opens but responses seem to lag or freeze, check whether the Chromebook itself is running slow generally, since AI features are more sensitive to low memory than most built-in apps.
FAQ
Can I bring back the “Hey Google” voice hotword?
Not on Gemini. Voice hotword activation was tied to the old Google Assistant and hasn’t carried over to the Gemini integration on Chromebooks.
Does Gemini work offline?
No, it requires an active internet connection to process requests, the same as Google Assistant did.
Will every Chromebook eventually get Gemini instead of Assistant?
Google has been rolling the change out gradually by ChromeOS version, so timing depends on your specific model and update channel rather than happening for every device at once.
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