Gemini privacy on Android is controlled by more than one switch. The most important setting is Keep Activity, but Connected Apps, auto-delete, Live recordings, Android permissions and other Google Account controls also affect what is stored or accessible.
Google’s Gemini Privacy Hub was updated in August 2026 and makes an important distinction: Gemini text/activity history, Gemini Live transcripts, and Live audio/video/screenshares do not all use the same improvement setting.
1. Understand what Keep Activity does
When you are signed in and Keep Activity is on, Google stores Gemini Apps activity in your Google Account. This can include prompts, responses, files and other content you share, along with supported connected-app information.
For users aged 18 or over, Google currently says Keep Activity is on by default.
2. Check the auto-delete period
Google currently auto-deletes Gemini Apps activity older than 18 months by default. You can change the period to 3 or 36 months or choose not to auto-delete.
On Android, open Gemini, then your profile and Gemini Apps Activity to review the current setting.
3. What happens if you turn Keep Activity off?
When Keep Activity is off, future chats do not appear in Gemini Apps Activity and Google says they are not used to train its AI models unless you submit feedback.
However, Google still retains those conversations with your account for up to 72 hours so Gemini can provide the service, process feedback and protect users and systems. Turning history off therefore does not mean that every new interaction is instantly discarded.
4. Turning Keep Activity off can reduce Connected Apps
Privacy settings can affect features. Google’s current documentation says that with Keep Activity off, only a smaller set of Connected Apps remains available: Device assistance, Gemini Notebook, Messages, Phone and WhatsApp.
If an integration disappears after changing activity settings, that may be expected behavior rather than a bug.
5. Gemini Live transcripts and recordings are different
If Keep Activity is on, transcripts from Gemini Live chats are saved in Gemini Apps Activity and can be used to improve Google services, including AI models.
Google says Live audio, video and screenshares are not used to improve Google services by default. There is a separate opt-in setting for allowing that material to be used for service improvement.
6. Review the separate Live improvement setting
Inside Gemini Apps Activity, Google offers a separate control titled along the lines of Improve Google services with your audio and Gemini Live videos & screenshares. That setting is off by default and requires Keep Activity to be on.
If you do not want Live recordings or screenshares used for model/service improvement, leave that separate setting off.
7. Delete activity when you no longer want it stored
Gemini Apps Activity lets you review and delete saved interactions. You can remove individual items, a date range or broader activity depending on the controls available in your account.
Deleting Gemini Apps activity does not automatically delete related information held by other Google services. Google notes that services such as Web & App Activity or location-related settings have their own controls.
8. Check Connected Apps separately
Connected Apps allow Gemini to work with other services. Disconnect services you do not need. Fewer connections means less cross-service context available to Gemini for those tasks.
9. Review Android permissions for the Google app
On Android, Gemini is hosted by the Google app even if you installed a separate Gemini app. Camera, microphone, phone, contacts and location access can therefore depend on Google app permissions.
Use the narrowest permission level that still supports the features you actually use. Our Android App Permissions Guide explains the main permission types.
10. Be careful with camera and screen sharing
Gemini Live can receive camera video and full-screen sharing when you enable those features. Before sharing a screen, close banking details, passwords, private messages, health information or other sensitive content you do not want included.
Screen sharing is a powerful context tool, but it should be treated like intentionally showing someone everything visible on your display.
A practical privacy setup
- review Keep Activity and decide whether you want history stored
- choose an auto-delete period that fits your preference
- leave the separate Live audio/video improvement setting off unless you want to opt in
- disconnect Connected Apps you do not use
- review Google app permissions on Android
- delete old Gemini activity when it is no longer useful
- avoid sharing sensitive screens or camera content unnecessarily
For Gemini Live-specific controls and failures, use Gemini Live Not Working on Android?. For the wider AI feature rollout, see Gemini Intelligence on Android.
Official sources
- Gemini Apps Privacy Hub
- Manage and delete Gemini Apps Activity on Android
- Gemini Apps Help: Gemini Live
Last reviewed: September 2026. Privacy controls can vary by age, account type, region and feature availability.
Featured image: Photo by Jonas Leupe on Unsplash.
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