Gemini Android app caps recent chats at five in new server-side update

Google is deploying a major interface change to the Gemini app for Android through a server-side update. The change is reaching users without requiring a new download from the app store, following a recent shift that renamed the 'Spark' feature to 'Task'. The rollout is currently expanding to a wider base of Android users.

The navigation drawer has been reorganized to prioritize speed and clarity. The search function has moved to the top-right corner of the screen. 'New chat' remains the first item in the list, but 'Library' has been promoted from the bottom of the drawer to sit directly beneath it. To prevent the menu from becoming cluttered, the app now displays only five recent conversations by default. Users must tap a 'More' option to view the full list of past chats.

For subscribers to the AI Ultra tier, the expanded navigation menu includes specific tools such as Images, Scheduled, Daily brief, Customize, Students, Videos, and Gems. This structure aims to keep the primary interface clean while retaining access to advanced features.

The update also merges previously fragmented settings into a single page. Previously, user preferences were split between the account menu and a separate 'Gemini Settings' section. The new consolidated page begins with 'Manage account' and 'Usage limits'. It is followed by a 'Preferences' section that lists Notifications, Personal Intelligence, Avatar, Task settings, Theme, Skills, Voice, Media, Device controls, Cart and orders, and Gemini Notebook. The 'Theme' entry is the only item on this list marked as new.

Two additional sections round out the settings page. 'Data & privacy' contains options for Import memory, Contact info from your devices, Gemini Apps Activity, Your public links, and the Privacy Help Hub. The final section, 'Get support', lists Help, Report a problem, About, and Updates. The account menu now serves a narrower role, limited to switching accounts, leaving feedback, or accessing help resources.

This Android rollout follows a similar update that reached iOS, macOS, and web users last week, coinciding with the launch of Gemini 4 Argon. Recent developments in the Gemini ecosystem also include Gemini Notebook becoming available as a Connected App, a shift for free users to 'Auto' models with new thinking levels, and the introduction of a 'Map' tool that replaced the '/' shortcut with an '@' symbol.