Starting July 7, 2025, Google’s AI assistant, Gemini, is getting deeper access to your Android apps—whether you use it or not.
According to an email shared by Android Authority, Gemini will soon interact with messaging apps like WhatsApp, helping with tasks such as sending messages or setting timers, even if you’ve never turned on Gemini Apps Activity.
This sudden change has raised privacy concerns, especially since Google’s initial announcement was vague about how much control users actually have. The good news? Google later clarified that with Gemini Apps Activity turned off, your private chats won’t be reviewed or used to train AI models.
But if you’re uncomfortable with Gemini having any access to your apps, you’ll need to manually disable the feature.
See also: Hate Gemini? Here’s how to revert to Google Assistant
How to disable Gemini’s access to your apps
- Turn off Gemini Apps Activity
- Open the Gemini app, tap your profile picture, and select Gemini Apps Activity.
- Alternatively, visit gemini.google.com/apps, go to the Settings > Activity, and click Turn Off.
- This prevents Google from using your interactions to improve Gemini.
- Double-check after July 7
Since apps could reset preferences after updates, check these settings again after July 7th to make sure Gemini Apps Activity stays turned off. - Delete Past Activity
On the same settings page, you can wipe any previously recorded Gemini App Activity. - Disable the Gemini app
Many Android phones come with Gemini preloaded as a system app, meaning you can’t fully uninstall it. However, you can disable it in your phone’s App Settings.
While Google insists this change is helpful, it’s ultimately the user’s choice whether to allow it or not. If you’d rather keep Gemini at bay, take these steps before the new update comes.