[Updated] Some users report Gemini app automatically removed from their Pixel devices

5:23 pm (IST): A product expert on the official community forum notified users that the issue has been reported to Google and is currently under investigation.

Original story published on February 25, 2024 follows:

Recent reports have surfaced on Reddit (1,2) and Google’s official support forums (1,2,3) indicating a strange issue affecting some Pixel device owners. Users are claiming that the Gemini update, which replaced the standard Google Assistant on their devices, has been automatically removed, rendering the new AI assistant inaccessible.

The issue lies in the fact that after a period of initial functionality, the Gemini app seems to disappear without warning. Users report that they were able to use Gemini for a while, but the app has since been automatically removed from their Pixel devices. At this point, it’s unclear why the app is disappearing.

While the majority of reports originate from Australia, similar issues have been noted in India, New Zealand, and Malaysia. Matter of fact, I received Gemini on my Pixel 7a a couple of days ago too, however, it defaulted back to Google Assistant. Moreover, I no longer see the pop-up to use Gemini instead of Google Assistant. This suggests that the problem could be more widespread than initially suspected.

NOTE: I replaced Google Assistant with Gemini on the Pixel 7a during the initial launch, however, after a clean install of Android 15 DP 1, I was back with Google Assistant.

Google has yet to release an official statement regarding this issue. It remains to be seen whether the company is aware of the problem and if a fix is in the works. It’s worth pointing out that Google recently faced massive backlash over Gemini’s image generation capabilities. So much so that the company had to hit the pause button on the feature to fix it.

At this time, the reason behind Gemini’s automatic removal is purely speculative. Here are some possible explanations:

• Beta testing limitation: The Gemini update might have been part of a limited beta test, with Google automatically removing the app after a set period.
• Technical glitch: A bug or technical error could be causing the premature uninstallation of the app.
• Planned removal: Google might have intentionally removed Gemini to address unforeseen issues or to prepare for a wider rollout with improvements.

For now, you could try sideloading the Gemini app APK file on your device. This should do the trick for most users. One individual did confirm that this method helped them get Gemini to work:

Out of curiosity, I installed the Gemini apk to test it, and it said it wasn’t available in my region. But then I opened it again and it worked, even in Portuguese, my language. I was surprised. (Source)

We will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as new information becomes available.