Google rolls out minimize button for Gemini overlay on Android
Google has begun a gradual rollout of a new minimize feature for its Gemini assistant overlay on Android devices. The update adds a visible 'Minimize Gemini' button that shrinks the full-screen overlay into a small draggable bubble, letting users switch to other apps while Gemini continues processing in the background. Reports suggest only a limited number of users currently have access to the feature.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The full-screen Gemini overlay previously locked users out of their phones, forcing them to wait through conversations before doing anything else—an obvious friction point for multitaskers. Adding a persistent, discoverable minimize option addresses feedback that earlier test versions lacked visible controls, signaling Google is refining Gemini's usability based on real-world use rather than just adding features. This kind of interface polish matters as Google positions Gemini as a daily-use assistant competing with tools like ChatGPT.
- Google is rolling out a minimize button for the Gemini overlay on Android.
- Minimizing shrinks Gemini into a draggable bubble so users can multitask.
- The rollout is gradual, with only limited users currently seeing the feature.
Google Pixel 9 smartphone — Gemini features like the new minimize overlay land first and feel most at home on Google's own Pixel phones. The Pixel 9 puts Gemini right at your fingertips with a long press of the power button, so you can multitask between chatting with AI and everything else on screen.
See Google Pixel 9 smartphone on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: androidauthority.com, 2026-09-04
Published there as: “Google’s new Gemini feature aimed at multitaskers is starting to roll out”
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