How to Use Gemini Live Plus Button on Android

Google rolled out a practical update to Gemini Live on Android this week. The new plus button lets you add photos, files, Drive items, and share your screen without leaving an active conversation.

Previously, you added context in the Gemini overlay first, then switched to Live. That extra step is gone when you start Live inside the Gemini app. Reports from 9to5Google and others confirm the change appears in Google app stable version 17.68 on Android.

This guide shows exactly how to use it.

What Changed in the Gemini Live Controls

Open Gemini Live from inside the Gemini app and you will see a new plus icon on the far left of the bottom controls. Tap it and a carousel appears with four options: Share screen, Photos, Files, and Drive.

The camera button moved next to the audio waveform. Microphone mute and the close button stay on the right, unchanged. Screen sharing now sits inside the plus menu, so it takes one extra tap.

The plus menu does not appear if you launch Live from the Gemini overlay that floats over other apps. You must open the full Gemini app first. iOS does not have this update yet.

How to Start Gemini Live and Open the Plus Menu

1. Update the Google app on your Android phone if it is not already on version 17.68 or later. Check Settings > Apps > Google > App details.
2. Open the Gemini app directly. Do not use the overlay or power button shortcut for this feature.
3. Tap the Live button to begin a conversation.
4. Look for the plus (+) icon on the left side of the Live controls.
5. Tap it. The carousel opens with Share screen, Photos, Files, and Drive.

Once you select an item, Gemini Live continues the voice conversation with the new context. You can keep talking while it processes the photo or file.

Adding Photos, Files, and Drive Content

Photos pulls from your device gallery. Select one or more images and ask questions about them in real time. This works well for identifying objects, explaining diagrams, or getting feedback on a screenshot.

Files lets you pick documents stored on your phone. PDFs and common formats are supported. Drive connects to your Google Drive so you can pull in shared documents or recent files without downloading them first.

After you add something, continue speaking. Gemini responds using both your voice and the attached content. You can interrupt at any time for follow-ups.

For more ways to work with visual input in Gemini, see our guide on guided vision for Gemini Live.

Screen Sharing from the Plus Menu

Screen share is now inside the plus carousel. Tap plus, then Share screen. Android prompts you to allow screen recording for the Google app. Choose whether to share the entire screen or a single app.

Once sharing starts, Gemini can see what is on your display and answer questions about it. This is useful for troubleshooting an app, explaining a webpage, or getting help with a form.

To stop, pull down the notification shade and end the screen sharing session. The Live conversation continues until you close it.

Tips for Better Results

• Start Live from the Gemini app, not the overlay, if you want the plus button.
• Speak clearly after adding a photo or file. Give Gemini a moment to process before asking complex questions.
• For long documents, ask specific questions rather than requesting a full summary in one go.
• Check your Google app version if the plus button is missing. A restart of the app sometimes helps after an update.
• On Pixel and Galaxy devices the feature works the same once the Google app is updated.

Availability and Limitations

The redesign is rolling out with Google app 17.68 on Android. Not every user sees it at the same time, so server-side flags may control the rollout. It is not available when Live starts from the overlay, and it has not reached iOS yet.

Gemini Live still requires an internet connection for full responses. Some advanced visual features may work better on newer devices with stronger on-device processing, but the plus menu itself is a standard UI change.

Conclusion

The new plus button removes a small but frequent friction from Gemini Live on Android. Adding a photo or document no longer forces you to leave the conversation and come back. For most users this is a straightforward quality-of-life improvement that makes Live more practical for everyday tasks.

Update the Google app, open Gemini, start Live, and try the plus menu. You will see the difference the first time you need to reference something on your phone while talking.

Sources

• 9to5Google: Gemini Live redesign makes it easier to add context to chats (October 26, 2026)
• Chrome Geek and related reports confirming Google app version 17.68 behavior
• Google app release notes and user reports on Android