Google has announced the launch of a new file upload feature for its Gemini app, which extends the capabilities of its AI assistant to mobile users. The update is rolling out to both Android and iOS users, allowing them to upload files directly within the app, a feature that was previously exclusive to the web version of Gemini Advanced.

Since the launch of Gemini 1.5 Pro in May, which introduced document uploads and data analysis capabilities via spreadsheets, the functionality was limited to the web client. Now with the availability of file uploads on the Gemini mobile app, Gemini Advanced users can now share documents, spreadsheets, and text files directly from their smartphones to ask the AI ​​more questions about it. This update offers users three options to upload files on Android:

Upload File: Users can directly upload a file stored on their device.

Upload from Gallery: This option allows users to select files from their device’s photo gallery using the system photo picker.

Upload from Drive: This feature allows users to upload documents stored in Google Drive, making it easier to access cloud-based files.

Notably, the iOS version of the Gemini app does not support the “Upload from Drive” option. Despite this, this feature set closely matches the file upload capabilities available on the web version of Gemini, providing a more consistent experience across devices.

Gemini AI supported file types for uploading

The file upload feature supports multiple file types, including:
Plain text files: TXT
Document files: DOC, DOCX, PDF, RTF, DOT, DOTX, HWP, HWPX, and documents created in Google Docs
Tabular data files: CSV, TSV
Spreadsheet files: XLS, XLSX, and spreadsheets created in Google Sheets

Users should note that the upload limit is limited to ten files per session, and each file should not exceed 100 MB.

How to use the new file upload feature

To use the new file upload feature on the Gemini app users will first need to ensure they are using the full-screen version of the Gemini app rather than the floating overlay panel.
– Open the full-screen Gemini app on your Android or iOS device.
– Tap the plus icon next to the microphone and camera options in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
– A sheet will slide up, presenting the three available upload options on Android – Upload File, Upload from Gallery, and Upload from Drive (Drive upload is not available on iOS).
– Select the desired files from your device or cloud storage and upload them directly to the Gemini app.

Once files are uploaded, Gemini can analyze and interact with the content, and provide insights, summaries, or other AI-powered assistance depending on the nature of the files.