How to Navigate Gemini’s New Side Panel on Android

Google has rolled out a redesigned side panel and settings page for the Gemini app on Android. The changes simplify navigation and gather preferences in one place.

This update follows earlier Spark-to-Task work and is now widely available after a server-side rollout. Search moves to the top-right of the drawer. Library sits higher in the list. Settings that used to live in different menus now share a single page.

Open the new side panel

Open the Gemini app on your Android phone. Tap the menu icon in the top-left corner. The navigation drawer opens.

Search sits in the top-right corner of the panel. Type a keyword to find past chats. New chat remains the first item. Library appears next. Previously it sat lower in the list.

Gemini shows only five items by default. Tap More to expand the full list. On an AI Ultra plan the complete set includes New chat, Library, Images, Scheduled, Daily brief, Customize, Students, Videos, and Gems.

What changed in settings

Tap your profile picture or the gear icon. The account menu now handles only account switching, feedback, and help. All other preferences moved to a unified Settings page.

The Settings page opens with Manage account and Usage limits. Under Preferences you find:

• Notifications
• Personal Intelligence
• Avatar
• Task settings
• Theme (new)
• Skills
• Voice
• Media
• Device controls
• Cart and orders
• Gemini Notebook

Two further sections appear below:

• Data & privacy: Import memory, Contact info from your devices, Gemini Apps Activity, Your public links, Privacy Help Hub.
• Support: Help, Report a problem, About, Updates.

Theme is a fresh option. It lets you pick light, dark, or system default without leaving the main settings screen.

Step-by-step: find and use key items

1. Open Gemini.
2. Tap the top-left menu.
3. Use the search field at the top-right to locate a previous conversation.
4. Tap Library to browse saved items, images, or notebooks.
5. Tap More if you need Scheduled, Daily brief, or Customize.
6. Return to the main screen and open Settings from your profile picture.
7. Scroll to Preferences and toggle Personal Intelligence or open Task settings.
8. Check Data & privacy if you want to review Gemini Apps Activity or public links.

These steps work on any Android device that has received the server-side update. Force-close the app and reopen it if the new layout does not appear immediately.

Tips for faster daily use

Pin frequent chats so they stay near the top of the recent list. Use the search field instead of scrolling through long histories. Open Library when you need generated images or notebook sources without starting a new chat.

In Settings, set Theme once so the app matches your phone. Review Personal Intelligence connections if you want tailored answers that draw from Calendar, Photos, or Maps. Task settings control how Spark-style automations behave after the recent redesign.

For deeper notebook work, see our guide on Gemini Notebook as a Connected App. The side panel and settings changes make those tools easier to reach.

Conclusion

The new side panel reduces clutter while keeping recent chats and Library within one or two taps. Consolidated settings remove the need to hunt across menus for Theme, Skills, or privacy controls.

Update the Gemini app from the Play Store if the redesign is missing. Then open the menu and explore the shorter list plus the single Settings page. The layout matches the version already live on iOS, macOS, and the web after the Gemini 4 Argon launch.

Sources

• 9to5Google: Gemini for Android rolls out side panel and settings redesign (23 October 2026)
• 9to5Google: Gemini app starts rolling out big side panel simplification, settings redesign (28 September 2026)
• Google Gemini app help pages on settings and navigation