Google is rolling out Gemini in Google Docs and Gmail, and disabling it is complicated for some users
Since April, Google has been gradually rolling out the Gemini bar in Google Docs to selected users. For personal accounts, it can be disabled through Smart features in Gmail (which also disables proofreading and smart compose); for business Workspace accounts, only the administrator decides. The Bye Bye Gemini extension for Chrome is an alternative.
Since April 2026, Google has been gradually rolling out a large bar with the Gemini assistant at the bottom of the screen in Google Docs, so far only to a selected group of users — according to the source, the feature appears unevenly across users and has been spreading to additional accounts in recent weeks. Users who see the bar and do not want it can easily turn it off through the Gemini menu in Google Docs by selecting Bottom bar preferences > Turn off.
Completely removing AI elements from Google Docs (the Gemini menu, the audio button and the bottom bar) is more complicated and works only for personal Google accounts with an @gmail.com address. In Gmail, users need to open Settings > See all settings > the General tab and disable Smart features. Google then prompts the user to reconsider disabling the feature. According to the source, this setting does not mention Google Docs at all, yet it affects Docs too. Disabling Smart features also removes other features in Gmail — grammar corrections, automatic spelling correction, smart compose, smart reply, nudges and built-in spellcheck (browser spellcheck continues to work). A separate Gemini button remains in the top-right corner of the Docs interface even after disabling the setting.
For Google Workspace accounts (business accounts managed by an employer), individual users cannot disable AI features themselves — the administrator decides. As an alternative, the source mentions the Bye Bye Gemini extension for Chrome, which uses CSS to hide all Gemini elements in Gmail, Docs and Drive and also removes AI Overviews from Google search results.
Why it matters
Anyone who does not want an AI assistant in their work tool must follow a complicated process through Gmail settings, which also disables other useful features such as proofreading; with business accounts, users have no choice at all and depend on the IT department to decide.
Two audiences, two different impacts
What this means
For individuals
Users of personal Google accounts (@gmail.com) who see the Gemini bar in Google Docs and do not want it can turn it off, but completely removing AI features from Docs requires disabling Smart features in Gmail, which also disables proofreading, smart compose, smart reply and spellcheck.
For a business
In companies using Google Workspace, the administrator alone decides whether Gemini is displayed or disabled in Docs and Gmail. Individual employees cannot disable the feature themselves, making this a matter of company IT policy.
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Event sources
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