Google AI Mode adds chat history search on Android, file uploads on iOS

Google AI Mode now supports searching previous chat conversations on Android and iOS, according to 9to5Google. The feature, previously limited to web, is rolling out widely on mobile devices.

Chat history search

Users can access the new search capability through a "Search threads" bar at the top of the navigation drawer in the Google app or AI Mode homepage. Tapping the search field opens a fullscreen interface for finding and continuing previous conversations.

The search interface includes a settings gear icon that links to the full My Activity page for managing conversation history.

File uploads on iPhone

Google has also rolled out a redesigned prompt box on iOS that was previewed at I/O 2026 in May. The new interface replaces the bottom-docked sheet with a floating rounded rectangle.

More significantly, the iOS app now includes a 'plus' menu with the ability to upload files directly from mobile devices. File upload functionality was already available at google.com/ai but had not been present in the mobile apps.

According to the report, these prompt box changes are not yet widely available on Android.

What this means

The addition of chat history search addresses a basic usability gap in Google's AI interface, allowing users to reference or continue previous conversations without scrolling through their entire history. File upload on mobile brings feature parity with the web version, enabling users to share documents, images, and other files with Google's AI directly from their phones. These are incremental improvements to Google's AI Mode rather than new model capabilities, focusing on user experience refinements.