Getting Started with Gemini

This lesson walks you through everything you need to start using Google Gemini — from creating your account to having your first conversation and understanding the interface.

Signing Up and Accessing Gemini

Getting started with Gemini takes less than a minute if you have a Google account.

Step 1: Go to Gemini

Open your browser and navigate to gemini.google.com. You can also access Gemini through the Google app on your phone or by searching on Google and clicking the Gemini tab.

Step 2: Sign In

Sign in with your Google account. If you do not have a Google account, you will need to create one — it is free and takes about two minutes.

Step 3: Accept the Terms

The first time you use Gemini, you will be asked to accept the terms of service. Review them and click "Continue."

That is it. You are now ready to use Gemini.

Other Ways to Access Gemini

Gemini is available across multiple platforms:

• Web — gemini.google.com in any browser
• Android — The Gemini app or the Google app
• iOS — The Google app (Gemini is built in)
• Google Workspace — Gemini appears as a sidebar in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Slides
• Google Search — Gemini-powered AI overviews appear at the top of search results

The Gemini Interface Walkthrough

When you open Gemini, you will see a clean, simple interface. Here is what each part does:

The Chat Area

The main area is where your conversation happens. You type your message in the input box at the bottom and Gemini responds above it. Conversations flow naturally — you can ask follow-up questions, clarify, or change direction at any time.

The Input Box

At the bottom of the screen, the input box is where you type your prompts. You will notice several icons:

• Microphone — Speak your prompt instead of typing
• Image upload — Attach photos or screenshots for Gemini to analyze
• File upload — Upload documents (PDFs, text files, etc.)
• Camera — Take a photo directly (on mobile)

The Sidebar

On the left side, you will find:

• New chat — Start a fresh conversation
• Recent conversations — Access your chat history
• Gems — Your custom Gemini personas (we will cover these shortly)
• Settings — Manage your account, preferences, and model selection

Model Selection

At the top of the chat, you can select which Gemini model to use. Free users have access to Flash and limited Pro usage. Gemini Advanced subscribers can choose from all models, including Ultra.

Your First Conversation

Let us walk through a practical first interaction. Type something conversational to get started:

I'm new to Google Gemini. Can you explain what you can help me
with in one paragraph?

Gemini will respond with a summary of its capabilities. Notice a few things:

1. The response is formatted — Gemini uses headings, bullet points, and bold text to organize its answers
2. The tone is conversational — Gemini aims for a helpful, natural tone
3. You can follow up — Ask a follow-up question without repeating context

Try a Follow-Up

After Gemini responds, try asking:

Which of those would be most useful for a college student?

Gemini remembers the context of your conversation and will tailor its answer to what it just told you. This is called a multi-turn conversation — Gemini maintains context throughout the chat.

Try Something Practical

Now let us try a real task:

Write a professional email to my professor requesting a meeting
to discuss my research paper. Keep it brief and respectful.
The paper topic is renewable energy policy.

Notice how Gemini produces a ready-to-use email. You can then ask it to adjust the tone, make it shorter, or add specific details.

Understanding Gems (Custom Geminis)

Gems are one of Gemini's most useful features. A Gem is a customized version of Gemini that you configure for a specific task or role.

What Are Gems?

Think of Gems as saved instructions. Instead of typing the same context and preferences every time you start a new chat, you create a Gem that already knows:

• What role to play (e.g., writing coach, coding tutor, recipe helper)
• What tone to use
• What format you prefer
• Any specific knowledge or rules to follow

How to Create a Gem

1. Click on Gems in the sidebar
2. Click Create a new Gem
3. Give your Gem a name (e.g., "Email Editor")
4. Write instructions describing what you want the Gem to do

Here is an example of Gem instructions:

You are my professional email editor. When I give you a draft
email, you should:
- Fix grammar and spelling
- Make the tone professional but warm
- Keep emails concise (under 200 words when possible)
- Suggest a better subject line
- Point out anything that could be misunderstood

5. Click Save

Now, whenever you open this Gem, Gemini already knows exactly what you want. Just paste in your email draft and it will edit it according to your instructions.

Pre-Made Gems

Google provides several pre-made Gems to get you started:

• Learning coach — Helps you study and understand topics
• Brainstormer — Generates creative ideas
• Career guide — Helps with job search and career decisions
• Writing editor — Polishes your writing
• Coding partner — Helps you write and debug code

These are good starting points, but creating your own Gems tailored to your specific needs is where the real value lies.

Essential Settings to Configure

Before you start using Gemini regularly, configure these settings:

Response Language

Go to Settings and set your preferred response language. Gemini supports dozens of languages. You can also ask Gemini to respond in a specific language within any conversation.

Dark Mode

If you prefer dark mode, toggle it in Settings. Gemini respects your system preferences by default, but you can override this.

Extensions

In Settings, check your Extensions. These are connections to Google services:

• Google Workspace — Connect Gmail, Docs, Drive
• Google Flights — Flight search and booking
• Google Hotels — Hotel search and recommendations
• Google Maps — Location and directions
• YouTube — Video search and analysis

Enable the extensions relevant to your workflow. These allow Gemini to access and work with your data in these services.

Tips for Your First Week

As you start using Gemini, keep these tips in mind:

Start with tasks you already do. Do not try to learn "AI prompting" in the abstract. Instead, bring Gemini into your existing workflow — draft that email, summarize that article, or brainstorm ideas for your project.

Be specific. "Help me write something" is vague. "Write a 200-word LinkedIn post about my experience transitioning from teaching to tech, targeting other career changers" gives Gemini the context it needs.

Use follow-up messages. Your first prompt rarely produces the perfect result. Refine by saying things like "Make it shorter," "Use a more casual tone," or "Add an example about remote work."

Try different types of tasks. Write emails, analyze images, ask research questions, get help with spreadsheet formulas, brainstorm names for a project. The more you experiment, the faster you will find where Gemini adds the most value.

Do not worry about "perfect prompts." Write naturally. If Gemini misunderstands, just clarify. You do not need special formatting or magic words.

Key Takeaways

• Access Gemini at gemini.google.com with any Google account — it is free to start
• The interface includes a chat area, input box with multimedia support, sidebar for history and Gems, and model selection
• Gemini maintains context within a conversation, so ask follow-up questions naturally
• Gems are custom Gemini personas that save your preferred instructions and roles
• Enable Google extensions in Settings to connect Gemini with Gmail, Drive, Maps, and other services
• Start with tasks you already do, be specific in your requests, and use follow-ups to refine results