The better way to use Gemini on the Mac

Google's Gemini Mac app, released in April, has drawn criticism for missing features and intrusive background processes. Users report that the app installs a background helper and updater without permission, silently re-adding them if removed, while also lacking basic macOS functionality like reliable multi-window support. The app's shortcomings have led some users to prefer using Gemini through Safari's "Add to Dock" feature instead.

Back in April, Google joined OpenAI and Anthropic in offering a dedicated Mac app https://9to5mac.com/2026/04/15/google-launches-gemini-mac-app-heres-what-it-offers/ for its AI chatbot software. Two months later, it’s clear that Gemini for Mac isn’t as good as it could be. Gemini for Mac isn’t a very good macOS app Because I’m interested in AI technology and its progression over time, I’ve used Gemini on my Mac regularly since before the Mac app was rumored. I’m also a Safari user. For that reason, my solution to using Gemini on the Mac has been Safari’s “Add to Dock” feature https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/add-to-dock-ibrw9e991864/mac . When Gemini first arrived on the Mac as a dedicated app, I still preferred my Safari “Add to Dock” instance. I just like that Command + N opens a new chat window, and I can have many open chat windows. This way of multitasking is better for me than switching between conversation threads. I’m more likely to forget about a task in a chat thread if it’s not an open window on my Mac. Missing features and app icon jail I also have at least one chat thread that doesn’t actually work on Gemini’s Mac app. It works fine in the Safari “Add to Dock” version, though, since that’s just the website presented as an app. Instead of letting me continue the chat, Gemini’s Mac app replaces the text entry box with a button to open the website. I’d rather just use my Safari web app version where it works fine. The use of the word “yet” in the message is doing a lot of work at this point. Another complaint is the icon. Gemini’s Mac app is in icon jail. Icon jail is a dumb Apple behavior https://9to5mac.com/2025/08/08/macos-tahoe-fix-gray-box-icons/ for app icons on macOS Tahoe that aren’t drawn in the exact shape and size that Apple forces. While that’s an Apple-forced problem for Mac apps that predate Apple’s dumb rule, the Gemini Mac app arrived months after macOS Tahoe was released. Then there’s the thing that prompted me to mention how I’m using Gemini on my Mac in the first place. This week on Daring Fireball https://daringfireball.net/linked/2026/06/04/google-gemini-mac , John Gruber wrote about why he uninstalled the Gemini Mac app: The thing that really turns me off about the Gemini Mac app is Google’s gall. The Gemini app installs a background helper named “GeminiAppLauncher” in your login items. It also installs “GoogleUpdater” as a process with the privilege to launch in the background whenever it wants. Gemini never asks for permission to install either of these, and, most arrogantly, if you, as an informed user, remove either of them, the Gemini app silently adds them back. There is no setting in Gemini to disable this. This made me realize that I’ve literally kept the Gemini Mac app around just to check for app updates. While there are occasional updates, they haven’t fixed my two issues with the software yet. Do more with your Apple products Apple AirTag 2 | Add Find My tracking to keys, bags, bikes, more https://amzn.to/4vjNWN1 Beats USB-A to USB-C Cable | The official CarPlay cable https://amzn.to/4mpKs7K FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. https://9to5mac.com/about/ affiliate our homepage http://9to5mac.com/ for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on exclusive stories https://9to5mac.com/feature/exclusive/ , reviews https://9to5mac.com/guides/review/ , how-tos https://9to5mac.com/guides/how-to/ , and subscribe to our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/9to5mac