How to Use Gemini Live Plus Button on Android

Google rolled out a plus button to Gemini Live on Android in late October 2026. It lets you add photos, files, Google Drive items, or share your screen while already talking, without switching back to the main Gemini overlay first.

The update arrived in Google app stable version 17.68. It is currently Android-only and appears when you start Live from inside the Gemini app, not from the overlay. Camera access sits one tap away next to the waveform, while screen sharing now lives inside the plus menu.

This guide shows exactly how to start a Live session, open the plus menu, and use each option. All steps follow the official Gemini Apps Help documentation and reports from the rollout.

What you need before starting

You need an Android phone or tablet with the Gemini app installed and signed in. Gemini Live requires the latest Google app. Update it from the Play Store if the plus button does not appear.

Gemini must be set as your assistant or you open it from the app. The plus menu is not available if you launch Live from the power-button overlay. Notifications for Gemini Live must be enabled if you plan to share your screen or keep the session in the background.

Google states that Live features roll out gradually, so the plus button may take a day or two to reach every device after the Google app update.

Start a Gemini Live session

Open the Gemini app on your Android device. At the bottom of the chat, tap the Live button (the waveform icon) or swipe left. The first time you may choose a voice and grant microphone permission.

You can also say “Hey Google, let’s talk Live” if voice activation is on. Once the Live interface appears, the controls sit at the bottom: plus on the far left, camera next to the waveform, mute, and end on the right.

Open the plus menu and add context

While Live is active, tap the plus (+) button on the far left. A carousel opens with four options: Screen share, Photos, Files, and Drive.

Select the item you want. For Photos or Files, pick from your gallery or storage. For Drive, browse your connected Google Drive. For Screen share, follow the on-screen permission prompt to capture the full screen.

After you add the content, continue talking. Ask Gemini to describe the photo, summarise the PDF, or explain the error message visible on your screen. The conversation stays in the same Live session.

Previously you had to attach items in the main Gemini overlay and then switch to Live. The plus button removes that extra step for most users.

Share your screen or camera

Screen sharing now requires one extra tap because it sits inside the plus menu. Tap plus, choose Screen share, and confirm the capture permission. Your full screen is shared with Gemini.

To stop, return to the Gemini app and tap to turn off screen sharing, or swipe down from the top and tap Stop on the Screen Sharing notification.

Camera remains one tap away. Tap the camera icon next to the waveform to stream video from your rear or front camera. You can switch cameras with the on-screen control. The camera turns off automatically if you leave the app, lock the screen, or put Live on hold.

Google’s help page notes that screen sharing also stops if Live is held or the screen locks, and it does not resume automatically.

Tips for better results

Enable notifications for Gemini Live under Settings > Notifications > Google > Live with Gemini so background and lock-screen continuation works.

You can interrupt Gemini by speaking (if the setting is on) or by tapping the screen. Mute the microphone if you need Gemini to finish speaking while you review something.

Connected apps such as Google Calendar, Tasks, Keep, and Maps can still work inside Live. If a requested app is not connected, Gemini prompts you to enable it in settings.

For visual tasks, the official Android guidance recommends starting Live, then using camera or screen share for real-time help, such as fixing a physical object or choosing between photos.

Limitations and troubleshooting

The plus menu does not appear when you start Live from the Gemini overlay (long-press power button). Open the full Gemini app instead.

If the button is missing, confirm the Google app is version 17.68 or newer and that you are on Android. iOS has not received this layout yet.

Screen sharing requires Live notifications to be enabled. Camera and screen sharing are privacy-controlled: both stop when you leave the app or lock the device.

Gems cannot be used with Live at this time. Work or school accounts have limited Connected App support (Calendar, Keep, Tasks).

Related visual tools on Android

If you frequently search what is on your screen, Circle to Search on Android offers a complementary long-press gesture that circles items without starting a full Live conversation. The two features work well together: use Circle to Search for quick lookups and Gemini Live plus button for ongoing discussion of photos or screens.

Conclusion

The plus button makes Gemini Live more practical for real-world tasks. You can start talking and add a photo, file, Drive document, or your screen without breaking the conversation. Update the Google app, open Live from the Gemini app, and tap plus to try it.

Official details are available in Google’s Gemini Apps Help under “Talk naturally with Gemini Live.” The rollout continues, so check for the button after the next Google app update if it has not appeared yet.

Sources

• Google Support: Talk naturally with Gemini Live (Android)
• 9to5Google: Gemini Live redesign with plus button (October 26, 2026)
• Chrome Geek: Gemini Live plus button menu coverage
• Android.com: Gemini Live camera and screen sharing guidance