How can I turn off Google Gemini™ and AI features in Google Docs™?

Why You Might Want to Turn Off Gemini™ AI Features#

Google Gemini™ and its suite of AI features in Google Docs™ can certainly be useful for brainstorming, drafting, or refining content quickly. Tools like "Help me write," summarization, and in-context suggestions aim to boost productivity.

However, for writers and anyone needing to dive into deep work, the constant presence of these AI tools can be a significant distraction — especially since Google added the Gemini bottom bar, an always-visible "Ask Gemini" box at the bottom of every document, plus a "Help me write" prompt that hovers next to your cursor. If your goal is sustained focus and uninterrupted creative flow, you might find these features more disruptive than helpful.

Updated July 2026: Google has reorganized these settings since this article was first published. Docs now has its own control for the Gemini bottom bar, and the old single Gmail™ setting has been split into two separate toggles. The steps below reflect the current interface.

The Quick Fix: Hide the Gemini Bottom Bar (Right in Docs)#

The most visible Gemini element — the AI box at the bottom of your document — can now be turned off directly inside Google Docs™:

1. Open a document in Google Docs™.
2. Click Gemini in the menu bar at the top of the document.
3. Select "Bottom bar preferences" from the drop-down menu.
4. Turn off the bottom bar.
5. Refresh the browser tab for the change to take effect.

This removes the ever-present AI box from your screen. It only hides the bottom bar, though — features like "Help me write" and "Refine" suggestions are controlled by a different setting.

The Full Switch-Off Is Still Hidden in Gmail™!#

To disable "Help me write," "Refine" suggestions, and other Gemini integrations across Google Docs™, you still — weirdly — need to visit your Gmail™ settings. That is where Google keeps the master controls for smart features across Google Workspace. There are now two separate settings, and it's the second one that affects Docs:

1. Open Gmail™ on your computer.
2. Click the Settings icon (the cogwheel ⚙️) in the top right corner and select See all settings.
3. In the General tab, scroll down to "Smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet". Turning this off disables AI features inside Gmail™, Chat, and Meet — see our Gmail™ guide for details.
4. Scroll slightly further to the section "Google Workspace smart features" and click Manage Workspace smart feature settings.
5. In the panel that opens, toggle off "Smart features in Google Workspace" and click Save.
6. Refresh Google Docs™ or close and reopen your document for the changes to take full effect.

The Workspace toggle in step 5 is the one that disables Gemini in Google Docs™ — including the "Help me write" button, "Refine" suggestions, and other AI prompts — and it applies to Sheets™, Slides™, Drive™, and Calendar as well.

What You Give Up: The Trade-Offs#

These toggles control more than just Gemini. Turning them off also disables some long-standing non-AI conveniences, including:

• Spelling and grammar suggestions in Google Docs™
• Smart Compose and Smart Reply in Gmail™
• Priority inbox sorting and package tracking in Gmail™
• Automatic Calendar events created from emails

If you rely on any of these, you may prefer to keep the smart features on, use the bottom-bar fix above, and simply ignore the remaining AI buttons.

Using a Work or School Account?#

If you use Google Workspace through an employer or school, your administrator ultimately controls whether Gemini is available. With smart features turned off you will see far fewer AI prompts, but some Gemini elements (like the side panel) may persist until your admin disables Gemini for the whole organization.

Regain Your Focus#

While AI tools offer exciting possibilities, having control over when and how they appear is crucial for maintaining productivity, especially for tasks that demand deep concentration. By following these steps, you can tailor your Google Docs™ environment to better suit your workflow.

Happy (focused) writing!

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Next Step: Master Your Writing Environment#

• Set Your Own Default Styles - Now that you've turned off distractions, take the next step in personalizing your workspace by setting your favorite fonts and colors as the permanent default.