Google just gave every Windows 10 and 11 PC a Gemini key I tried it, and its the easiest way to use its AI yet

Date:
Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:35:00 +0000

Description:
Googles new Windows app turns [Alt] + [Space] into a dedicated Gemini shortcut, making its AI faster and easier to access than through a browser.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Googles new Gemini app brings its AI assistant directly to Windows 10 and 11 Pressing [Alt] + [Space] summons Gemini without interrupting your current workflow Its remarkably convenient, although there's still room for improvement You can say goodbye
to opening a browser every time you want to use Gemini on your PC. Google has just released a Windows version of its Gemini app, and its by far the easiest and quickest way to get Googles AI to answer your questions on Windows.

Gemini has had a macOS app for a while now, and now it has finally been
joined by a dedicated Windows version, complete with its own keyboard shortcut. You can summon it from anywhere, no matter what youre doing on your PC, by pressing [Alt] + [Space].

But heres the thing: [Alt] + [Space] is already a little crowded on Windows. It traditionally opens the active windows system menu, and is also the
default shortcut for Microsoft s PowerToys Run utility, a quick launcher for Windows power users that provides instant access to applications, files, calculator functions and system commands. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Google's new Windows Gemini app. (Image credit: Google / Microsoft) On my PC On my PC, installing the Gemini app caused it to take
over the [Alt] + [Space] keyboard shortcut, so it now launches Gemini
instead. Ive been using the new app for a few hours, and the shortcut is a great way to access Gemini almost instantly. It saves me from messing around with browser tabs and breaking my workflow. I love it.

The Gemini app can also connect to other Google apps, including Gmail and Drive. Provided youre in an eligible country, such as the US, and subscribe
to Google AI Pro or Google AI Ultra, you can also hand multi-step tasks over to Gemini Spark, Googles personal AI agent. You may like Gemini Spark is a reason to give Google's AI ecosystem another look I compared Siri AI to
Gemini on Android here were the results I gave Gemini 3.6 Flash and GPT-5.6 access to my entire digital life

The app does everything the web version does, so you can create custom images with Nano Banana and even make high-quality videos with Gemini Omni from inside it. What didn't I like about the app? However, Im not a fan of the way the app permanently displays your location at the bottom of the left-hand sidebar. This creates a significant privacy risk, especially if youre using
it at home. I dont want my home address accidentally ending up in screenshots I take of my desktop, for example. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals
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Theres no obvious way to remove your location either. All you can do is close the sidebar if you dont want it displayed, and thats not a great user experience.

The second thing I didnt like was the lack of a Gemini Live experience in the app, like the one available in the mobile version on both iOS and Android. Live is Geminis voice mode, allowing you to talk to it much as you would a person. It can also look through your phones camera at the world around you, letting you ask questions about what it sees.

I can imagine that a Gemini Live experience capable of seeing whats on your
PC desktop and answering questions about it would be very helpful, but it looks like well have to wait for that. For now youre limited to taking screenshots, then uploading them to Gemini via the app and asking questions about whats on them.

Google says more native desktop capabilities will roll out over time. For
now, its the convenience of combining the Windows app with its keyboard shortcut that wins the day. I hope Google addresses my complaints in a future version, but theyre not enough to stop me choosing the app as my go-to Gemini experience instead of the web version.

If you want to try it, the Gemini app is available globally for Windows 10
and 11 users. You can download it today. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/gemini/google-just-gave-ever y-windows-10-and-11-pc-a-gemini-key-i-tried-it-and-its-the-easiest-way-to-use- its-ai-yet


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