Google tests prominent Temporary Chat button in Gemini app homepage
Google is testing a UI redesign for its Gemini app that moves the Temporary chat feature from a navigation drawer icon to a prominent button on the homepage. The change aims to make privacy-focused conversations more discoverable while maintaining Temporary chats' core privacy guarantee: conversations aren't stored in history, used for model training, or personalization.
Google is testing a redesigned interface for its Gemini app that places the Temporary chat feature directly on the homepage, making it significantly more discoverable.
Current vs. Proposed Design
Currently, users access Temporary chats by opening the navigation drawer and tapping a dotted icon next to "New chat." The tested redesign moves this function to the homepage, positioned to the left of the user's profile avatar. The icon itself is enlarged and removes the circle styling, with a blue highlight appearing when selected.
The change applies to both the mobile app and web interface. On Android specifically, this reorganization helps declutter the navigation drawer, which already contains multiple options. The homepage has sufficient space to accommodate the new button without visual clutter.
Privacy Guarantees Unchanged
Temporary chats, introduced last August, maintain their core privacy features under this redesign. Conversations:
- Don't appear in chat history
- Aren't logged in Gemini Apps Activity
- Aren't used to train Google's models
- Don't personalize the user's experience
This privacy design becomes more relevant as Google expands broader features like Past chats and Personal Intelligence, which do use conversation data for model training and personalization.
Rollout Status
The redesigned interface is appearing on only two of Google's internal Gemini accounts as of March 18, 2026. Widespread availability has not been announced, indicating this remains an early-stage test.
What This Means
Google is addressing a discoverability problem with its privacy-focused chat mode. By moving Temporary chats from a drawer submenu to the homepage, the company appears to be signaling that privacy-conscious users should find this option easily. The timing coincides with broader rollout of data-collecting features, suggesting Google wants to ensure users who prefer non-personalized conversations have quick access to that option. This is a usability refinement rather than a functional change.
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