How to Use Gemini: Beginner Guide for 2026

How to use Gemini: open gemini.google.com or the app, sign in with Google, type a prompt and add files if needed. Steps, best features and plans explained.

Quick answer: go to gemini.google.com on a computer, or open the Gemini app on Android or iPhone, and sign in with a Google Account. Type your question in the box at the bottom, click Add files if you want Gemini to read a PDF, document or image, then press Submit. Keep asking follow-ups in the same chat, and start a New chat when you switch topics. The free plan covers most everyday tasks.

Step 1: Open Gemini and sign in

On a computer, go to gemini.google.com and select Sign in at the top right. On Android, open the Gemini app (install it from Google Play if it is not there); on iPhone, download the Gemini app from the App Store. Google lets you try some web features signed out, but you need to be signed in to switch models, save your chats and use the Android app.

You can use a personal Google Account, a school account if your school has turned Gemini on, or a work account on a qualifying Workspace plan (18 or older).

Step 2: Write your first prompt

Type what you want in the box at the bottom and press Submit. The single biggest upgrade most beginners can make is to give context: say who it is for, how long it should be, and what format you want. Compare these two prompts:

• Weak: “Write about mocktails.”
• Better: “Outline a 600-word blog post on summer mocktail recipes for parents, with five recipes and a shopping list.”

Then refine. Ask Gemini to make it shorter, change the tone or turn it into a table. Follow-up prompts in the same chat keep the earlier context, which is faster than starting over.

Step 3: Add files and images

Click Add files next to the prompt box to upload a PDF, document, spreadsheet or photo, then ask about it: “Summarize this contract in plain English” or “What is wrong with this error screenshot?” Gemini can also hand results back as files. Ask for a Google Doc, Sheet, PDF, DOCX, XLSX or CSV and you can download it or save it to Drive.

Step 4: Pick the right model and tool

Gemini picks a model automatically, but when you are signed in you can choose one from the model menu. On the free plan you get Flash-Lite; paid plans add Flash, the Pro model and Gemini 4 Argon, Google’s newest model, which is only on Google AI Pro and Ultra. Read our guide to Gemini 4 Argon access for what it changes.

The tools worth learning first:

• Deep Research: give it a question and it browses many sources and writes a cited report. Best for comparisons and background reading.
• Canvas: a side-by-side editor for longer drafts and code you want to tweak line by line.
• Gemini Live: talk to Gemini out loud on your phone, useful for brainstorming while walking.
• Gems: save a custom assistant with standing instructions, such as “always answer as a Python tutor”.
• Image creation and editing: describe an image or upload one and ask for changes.
• Temporary chat: a chat that does not appear in your history, for one-off private questions.

Gemini plans and prices

Plan	US price	What it adds
Free	$0	Flash-Lite model, Deep Research, Gemini Live, Canvas, Gems, 15 GB storage
Google AI Plus	$4.99 / month	Flash model, 2x Free usage limits, video generation, 200 Flow credits, 400 GB
Google AI Pro	$19.99 / month	Gemini 4 Argon, Pro model, 4x Free limits, 1,000 Flow credits, 5 TB
Google AI Ultra	$99.99 or $199.99 / month	5x or 20x AI Pro limits, highest Argon access, YouTube Premium

Prices from Google’s subscriptions page on November 10, 2026; they vary by country. In Vietnam, for example, AI Plus is ₫132,000 and AI Pro ₫489,000 a month.

Our take: when Gemini is the right pick

Gemini makes most sense if you already live in Google’s apps. It can work inside Gmail, Docs and Drive on paid plans, AI Pro bundles 5 TB of storage that many people would pay for anyway, and Deep Research is one of the best free research tools in any chatbot. If you mostly write or code, it is worth comparing against ChatGPT and Claude; our ChatGPT guide and Claude vs ChatGPT comparison cover those. Like any chatbot, Gemini can make mistakes, so check facts before you rely on them.

Frequently asked questions