Google Gemini widget now available on iPhone – launch Google’s AI from your iOS home screen
The Google app on iPhone is one of the most used third-party applications on iOS, and thanks to Gemini, it’s now even better.
With the launch of iOS 18Google’s search widget has been revamped, now offering customizable shortcuts. One of those shortcuts is Google Gemini, the company’s impressive AI chatbot that was previously only available on iPhone by opening the Google app and switching tabs.
Now, with the tap of a button, you can instantly launch Gemini and ask it anything you want, from simple questions like the size of London to more complex ones like the meaning of life. The ability to launch Gemini directly from your iPhone’s home screen is a huge upgrade from the previous Google Search widget, and gives iPhone users the ability to interact with Google AI in the same way that Google Pixel owners do.
Google Gemini isn’t the only new addition to the Google Search widget, 9to5Google reports that the entire bottom row under Search can be changed to one of the following values:
- Activity: The second tab of the app that shows Open Tabs, Search History, and Saved Pages
- Twin
- Homework: Google Lens
- Incognito
- Lens
- Screenshots: Google Lens
- Search song
- Translate
- Translate – Camera
- Translate – Voice
- Search by voice
Want to add Google Gemini to your iOS home screen?
Google has made it incredibly easy to add the Gemini shortcut to your Google Search widget and it is incredibly responsive to use. Simply follow the steps below and you will be using Gemini on your iPhone every day, seriously, it is that good.
Want to learn more about Gemini’s capabilities? Check out our Google Pixel 9 Pro Review.
Google Gemini on iPhone
(Image: © Future / Apple)
- Enter jiggle mode (tap and hold an icon) on your iPhone’s home screen
- Tap Edit, then tap Add Widget and select the Google medium widget.
- Tap the + on the right side of the Google widget
- Select up to 4 shortcuts including Gemini
I’ve selected Gemini, Lens, and Song Search for my Google Search widget and I can already see the benefit. Lens is Google’s take on the upcoming Visual Intelligence coming to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, while Song Search is an alternative to Shazam. Combined, all 3 shortcuts make the Google Search widget one of the best currently available on the iPhone.
While you wait for Apple Intelligence and all of Apple Intelligence’s features to arrive on iPhone, you can try out Gemini right away.
