The Gemini Live plus button is now showing up on Android, and it fixes a long-standing annoyance: you can add photos, files, Drive documents or your screen while you’re already talking. Before, you had to set all that up first. According to 9to5Google, it’s live in the stable Google app version 17.68.
Here’s the short version before the details.
- What’s new: a plus button on the left side of the Gemini Live screen
- What it opens: Share screen, Photos, Files and Drive
- Who gets it: Android users on Google app 17.68, rolling out now
- Not yet: iOS, and Live sessions launched from the Gemini overlay
Those limits matter if you open the menu and find nothing there. We cover why below.
What the new Gemini Live plus button actually does
Tap the plus and a small carousel slides up with four choices: Share screen, Photos, Files and Drive. You pick one, and Gemini can use it in the same conversation. No need to hang up and start over.
That’s a real change in how Live feels. Say you’re talking through a recipe and want Gemini to look at a screenshot. Or you’re mid-call about a budget and need it to read a spreadsheet in Drive. You just add it and keep talking.
Here’s how common actions change, based on the 9to5Google report.
| What you want | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Add a photo or file | Attach it in the Gemini overlay before starting Live | Tap plus, then pick Photos or Files mid-chat |
| Pull in a Drive document | Set it up before going live | Tap plus, then Drive |
| Share your screen | Direct button on the Live screen | Tap plus, then Share screen (one extra step) |
| Open the camera | Button on the Live screen | Button now sits next to the waveform |
The table shows the trade: adding things is easier, but sharing your screen takes one more tap than it used to.
What moved, and what costs you an extra tap
The camera button now sits next to the audio waveform instead of its old spot. The microphone mute switch and the close button on the right haven’t moved. NewsBytes reports the same layout change.
Screen sharing is the one that got slower. It’s now tucked inside the plus menu, so if you share your screen all the time, expect a small change in muscle memory.
If you use Gemini heavily in the car, our guide to Gemini in Android Auto covers how it pulls in your flights and photos there.
Why you might not see the plus button yet
There are three likely reasons. First, you may not have Google app 17.68 yet. Open the Play Store and check for an update. Second, 9to5Google says the menu isn’t available when you start Live from the Gemini overlay. Launch it from the Gemini app instead.
Third, the rollout may simply be gradual. The report doesn’t say whether it’s server-side or tied to the app update, and it gives no percentage of users covered. So if it’s missing after you update, give it a few days.
iPhone users are out of luck for now. The same report says iOS doesn’t have the plus menu yet.
Three easy ways to use it today
Start with troubleshooting. Open the plus menu, share your screen, and ask Gemini why a setting or app screen looks wrong. It sees what you see, so you don’t have to describe it.
Next, try photos. Snap a shelf, a receipt or an error message, then add it from Photos while you’re mid-question. You get an answer without typing a single description.
Last, use Drive. If you keep notes, trip plans or study material there, you can bring a file into the chat and talk through it out loud. That’s the part that turns Live from a novelty into a useful tool.
A mute change is still only a test
Earlier this month, Android Headlines reported that Google was testing a different Live layout. It had a new waveform and a speaker icon in the top-right corner to silence Gemini’s spoken replies. That came from a teardown of Google app 17.65.17, not from Google.
Google hasn’t confirmed that test or given a release date. Don’t count on that mute control being part of this update.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the plus button in Gemini Live?
It’s on the left side of the Live screen. Tapping it opens Share screen, Photos, Files and Drive.
Why can’t I see the Gemini Live plus button?
Update the Google app to 17.68 and start Live from the Gemini app, not the overlay. If it’s still missing, the rollout may not have reached you.
Does the new Gemini Live redesign work on iPhone?
Not yet. The 9to5Google report says the plus menu is Android-only for now.
Do I still need a paid plan for Gemini Live?
This update doesn’t change plans. For what each tier keeps, see our look at the Gemini free tier changes.
Is it worth the extra tap?
For most people, yes. Adding a file or photo mid-conversation is something you’ll use far more often than screen sharing, so the trade favors you. If you share your screen constantly, you’ll grumble for a day or two and then adapt. I’d update the Google app today and try it on a real task, like asking Gemini to summarize a Drive doc while you cook.
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