The Complete Guide to Gemini App Features: From Basics to Advanced Usage (Updated June 2025)

Hello. This is the official note editorial department for Google's AI, "Gemini."

Gemini is continuously releasing new features to further enhance the creativity and productivity of our users.

In this article, we will explain everything from niche features to the latest updates in an easy-to-understand way, along with concrete examples of how to use them, so that both newcomers and regular Gemini users can benefit!

As of the end of May 2025, the features introduced in this article are available in the free version of Gemini, with the exception of video generation and GitHub integration. While some features have usage limits, you can still take advantage of Gemini's diverse capabilities within the free tier. We hope you take this opportunity to learn more about the features of the Google AI assistant, the "Gemini app," and make full use of it in your daily activities.

※This article explains the Gemini app features released as of the end of May 2025.
For information on NotebookLM and Gemini in Workspace apps, please refer to the following articles.

Additionally, we introduce the details and benefits of the Google AI Pro paid plan, which allows you to use a full suite of Google's latest AI tools, in the article below, so please be sure to check it out.

※Gemini's responses are not always accurate. Please verify the accuracy of the results yourself when using Gemini.

【Including Use Cases】Explaining 13 Useful Gemini Features

The Gemini app has many features, and we will introduce 13 that are particularly useful!

We will also provide prompts, so please copy them, type them into Gemini, and give them a try.

1. Text Generation

Based on Large Language Models (LLMs), Gemini understands the context and intent of user prompts to generate original responses in real-time.

For example, you can generate a draft for a business email with just a simple prompt like the one below.

You can also handle various text-based tasks such as drafting blog posts, brainstorming ideas for novels, and generating programming code. It is also useful for gathering information and summarizing or analyzing long documents.

Furthermore, by including information in your prompt such as a specific tone (formal or casual) or output requirements (bullet points or tables), you can get more useful results. If you want to learn more tips on how to get the best responses from Gemini, please check out the following article.

2. Asking Questions Using Photos and Images

In addition to text information, Gemini can also understand images.

For example, if you upload a photo of a clothing tag and ask, "What does this laundry symbol mean?", Gemini will analyze the image and suggest care instructions.

Also, on the developer platform "Google AI Studio," you can upload audio and video. It is useful for transcribing audio/video or summarizing their content.

3. Integration with Various Google Apps

Gemini can integrate with various apps such as Google Maps, YouTube, Google Flights, and Google Hotels. It is a very convenient feature that allows you to use your favorite apps together in a single conversation without having to open multiple tabs.
Additionally, by integrating with Google Workspace, including Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, and Google Drive, you can summarize and search for information from your own content to get quick answers.

You can manage the apps that connect to Gemini on this page.
(https://gemini.google.com/apps)

For example, if you provide a YouTube video URL as shown below, you can have it summarize the content.

You can also connect with a wide range of Google apps, such as Gmail, YouTube Music, Google Flights, Google Keep for notes, and Google Tasks for setting reminders.

4. Image Generation

Gemini is equipped with the latest image generation model, "Imagen 4," which allows you to generate images from text. With this feature, Gemini can create images in various styles—such as realistic landscapes, textured oil paintings, or whimsical claymation scenes—simply by having the user describe what they imagine in words.

For example, if you enter the following prompt, Gemini will generate an image for you.

Since you can easily generate high-quality images, try expanding how you use Gemini with Imagen 4, such as turning travel photos into art or generating interior design images for DIY ideas.

We introduce the image generation feature in detail in the article below, so please be sure to check it out!

*As of May 2025, the image generation feature is available in the Gemini app, Whisk, Vertex AI, and Google Workspace apps like Slides, Vids, and Docs.

5. Gemini Live

Gemini Live is a feature that allows you to have free, natural conversations with Gemini, just like talking to a friend. Gemini Live supports over 45 languages, and Japanese is, of course, included.

By using Gemini Live, you can get suggestions for ideas or practice for important presentations or interviews through actual conversations with Gemini.

Furthermore, because Gemini Live can continue previous conversations, you can interrupt the conversation whenever you like or delve deeper into topics that interest you.

Gemini Live also includes live video and screen sharing features. You can ask questions while sharing what you are looking at with Gemini.

After launching Gemini Live, clicking the video button on the left will activate the camera. Clicking the arrow button next to it allows you to use the screen sharing feature to display the screen of other apps.

For example, you can ask questions while showing what you see at a travel destination with your camera, or have someone teach you how to use a smartphone while sharing your screen.

We introduce Gemini Live in detail in the article below, so please be sure to check it out!

As of May 2025, Gemini Live is available in the Gemini mobile app for Android and iPhone, or via Gemini integrated into Android smartphones and tablets.

6. File Uploads

In addition to the photo and image data mentioned earlier, Gemini can read various file formats such as PDFs, Google Docs, and CSV files, and provide answers based on their content.
Click the "+" icon on the right side of the prompt input field to select files from your device, Google Drive, or other sources.

For example, you can upload a corporate financial report and enter the following prompt to easily extract the information you need from the document.

Take advantage of its ability to read various files to have it summarize massive PDF documents or explain complex academic papers in an easy-to-understand way.

7. Data Analysis

With Gemini, you can easily perform data analysis and create charts by uploading multiple spreadsheets.

For example, you can analyze sales data to identify trends or visualize survey results in charts.

Furthermore, charts generated during data analysis can be copied as images, and their titles and axis labels can be edited. Since charts can be used directly in other documents or slides, utilizing the data analysis feature can streamline your report creation process.

Note: Please be aware that charts are not always generated accurately, so we ask that you verify the accuracy of the output.

8. Custom Gems

Custom Gems is a new feature that allows you to customize Gemini to create your own AI expert. By pre-loading prompts, you can create templates, saving time on tedious repetitive tasks or complex assignments.

For example, let's try creating a custom Gem that rewrites input text into appropriate honorifics using the following instructions (custom instructions).

Now, let's enter the following prompt into the "Honorific Editing Gems" we just created.

As you can see, it corrected and edited the text into honorifics according to the custom instructions we set.

In Gem settings, you can add up to 10 files that the Gem will reference as knowledge during chats. By including internal company knowledge, Gemini will create answers based on that information.

Custom Gems allow you to utilize them as topic experts or refine them toward specific goals without having to type the same prompt every time.

In addition, you can utilize the custom Gem feature in various scenarios, such as analyzing complex projects, planning events, or creating effective social media posts.

We also provide a set of pre-programmed Gems (pre-made Gems) so you can start using them right away, so please take advantage of them. You can easily access them from the "Gem Manager" in the menu, and they support multiple scenarios.

Custom Gems are explained in detail in the article below, so please be sure to check it out as well!

9. Deep Research

Deep Research is useful when you need to delve deeply into complex topics or multiple information sources.

For example, it can be used when you want to create a detailed report on specific industry trends, or when you want to compare multiple papers and articles to discover new insights.

Click "Deep Research" at the bottom left of the prompt input form and enter your prompt.

Gemini will first formulate a research plan. You can start the research by pressing "Start Research." You can also edit it by selecting "Edit Plan."

Since references are also displayed in the report, you can easily check the information sources.

Reports created with Deep Research can be exported to Google Docs, making it convenient to edit the report on Google Docs or share it within your company.

Deep Research can significantly shorten the time spent on information gathering and analysis—tasks that would traditionally take hours—such as academic research, market research, competitive analysis, and gathering information for investment decisions, so please try using it.
Deep Research is explained in detail in the article below, so please be sure to check it out as well!

10. Canvas

Gemini's Canvas feature is an interactive space that allows you to efficiently create, edit, and share text and code.

Click "Canvas" at the bottom left of the prompt input form and enter your prompt.

The Canvas screen will appear on the right side of the chat, allowing you to select the entire text or specific parts you want to edit and give instructions to Gemini for revisions.

With the May 2025 update, the Canvas feature can now convert text into "web pages," "infographics," "quizzes," and "conversational audio summaries," enabling diverse content creation that goes beyond traditional text and code generation.

There is a "Create" button in the top right corner of Canvas. By clicking this button, you can generate content.

For example, if you click "Web Page," you can create a web page as shown below.

This feature also significantly expands the scope of application in fields such as education and multimedia content, including creating quizzes for learning or producing audio content in a podcast format.

With Canvas, you can transform coding ideas into practical prototypes for web apps, Python scripts, games, simulations, and other interactive applications.

For instance, if you want to create an email registration form for a website, you can have Gemini generate the HTML for the form and preview how it will look and actually function within the web app.

This feature significantly improves the efficiency of prototyping and design improvements that used to be time-consuming, so please give it a try.

We introduce Canvas in detail in the following article, so please be sure to check it out as well!

11. Video Generation

By simply describing the image of the video you want to generate in words, you can easily create high-quality videos ranging from very realistic landscapes to advanced virtual spaces.

Click "Video" below the prompt input form and enter your prompt.

Not only can you generate videos, but you can also express your intended ideas as videos exactly as you imagined them, creating various styles of videos such as scenes that look like they are from a movie or creative animations.

With the latest model, Veo 3, you can now also generate videos with audio.

*As of May 2025, the video generation feature is only available in Gemini app in Google AI Pro and Gemini app in Google AI Ultra.

We introduce video generation in detail in the following article, so please be sure to check it out as well!

12. Personalization

Gemini's personalization feature is a function that can output personalized responses.

When this feature is enabled, Gemini can refer to your past conversation history and search history to provide responses optimized for your preferences.

For example, if you ask, "Suggest activities I can enjoy with my family this weekend," it might suggest outdoor activities if you have searched for them in the past, or suggest museums or movie theaters if you tend to prefer indoor activities. To use the personalization feature that utilizes Google Search history, select "Personalization (Preview)" from the model selection screen in the top left.

When using the Google Search history connection feature for the first time, select "Connect Now" on the screen that appears to connect the Gemini app with your Google Search history.

You can also tell Gemini information you want it to remember during your chat.

Saved information can be viewed on the settings page, where you can also add or delete it.

By using the personalization feature, Gemini will be able to understand you better.

*As of May 2025, the personalization feature can be disabled at any time from settings. For more details, please check the information regarding how your saved data is handled.

13. GitHub Integration

Gemini's GitHub integration feature is designed to improve developer productivity.

By connecting your GitHub account to Gemini, you can efficiently handle development tasks such as code reviews, bug fixes, and feature additions while directly referencing repository contents.

To set up GitHub integration, access the "Apps" section from the Gemini settings screen and enable the connection with your GitHub account.

Once connected, Gemini will be able to reference the contents of any repository, including private ones.

As of May 2025, GitHub integration is only available in Gemini App in Google AI Pro and Gemini App in Google AI Ultra.

2 Tips for Using Gemini More Conveniently!

Here, we have collected tips that will help you use Gemini more conveniently once you know them. We are also introducing some lesser-known features, so please be sure to check them out!

1. Export to Various Services

By using Gemini's export feature to various services, you can paste Gemini's responses directly into Gmail or Google Docs.

For example, if you want to use an email draft directly in Gmail, select "Draft in Gmail" from the share button located below the response.

Additionally, for tabular output, exporting to Google Sheets is also possible.

Try utilizing exports to Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Sheets to make your experience with Gemini even more comfortable.

2. Verify Responses with Double-Check

By using Gemini's double-check feature, you can verify whether information supporting the response exists on the web. When Gemini can evaluate the information, the relevant words or sentences will be highlighted, and you can click on them to see supporting or contradictory information.

The double-check feature can be used simply by clicking "Double-check response" directly below the answer.

When you press the button, it will find content similar to the response as shown below. On the other hand, if there is no content similar to the response, it will highlight that text in orange to alert you. Below is a response to the question, "Tell me about major festivals in Japan held in 2025 by month."

If there is contradictory information, you can investigate the details to verify the information.

This feature is based on efforts to prevent hallucinations and is particularly important when handling information where accuracy is critical, such as the latest news or scientific claims.

Make the most of Gemini's features!

Gemini possesses a variety of features, including not only text generation but also integration with Google services, a double-check function, custom Gems, Deep Research, and image and video generation.

Furthermore, while Gemini's capabilities are extensive, they will continue to evolve through daily learning.
New features are also scheduled to be released sequentially, and we will introduce them in future Gemini official note articles.

If you have any feedback after using Gemini, such as 'I liked this,' 'This way of using it didn't work well,' or 'I want you to do more of this!', we would love to hear it. You can access Gemini as follows.

・Web version (gemini.google.com)
・Gemini app on Android phones, switch from Google Assistant
・Access from the Gemini app on iOS phones

Please make wide use of the latest Gemini for business and hobbies, and provide feedback using the 👍👎 buttons on the product!