Google Gemini Not Working: What to Check

If Gemini will not open or respond, record the error message. Compare the website and official app using one Google account. If Wi-Fi and mobile data are available, test Gemini on each network using the same device.

You can test Gemini through VPNON with a trial for $1.50.

Quick answer

Work through this list before reinstalling anything:

1. Open gemini.google.com in a private window with extensions off. Sign in to the same Google account. Keep the same network and VPN settings. Repeat the same prompt and compare the result with a regular window.
2. Compare the website and official app using one account. Use the same device and network. Repeat the same prompt and record where it works and where an error appears.
3. If Wi-Fi and mobile data are available, test Gemini on each network using one device with the VPN off. Use the same account and prompt. Record the result for each network. A difference alone does not establish the cause.
4. Check the date and time on your device. If they are wrong, correct them in device settings and try opening the website again. Incorrect date and time can cause a certificate verification error in Chrome.
5. If you use a VPN, compare Gemini with and without it using the same device, network, and account. Then select another available VPN server without changing the protocol and repeat the prompt. If the client allows it, test another protocol separately on the selected server. Record each result.
6. If Gemini says your country is unsupported, check your country in the official availability list for the website or mobile app. Website and app availability may differ.

Website: gemini.google.com

Page loading errors in Chrome may involve extensions, cookies, the network, or website problems.

Do this:

1. Update your browser. In Chrome on a computer, open the three-dot menu → Help → About Google Chrome. Click Relaunch if it appears.
   For Chrome on a phone, follow Google’s instructions for your device. In Chrome on a computer, open Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → JavaScript. Select Sites can use JavaScript.
   On a phone or in another browser, use Google’s instructions for your platform.
2. If Gemini works in a private window, return to a regular window. In Chrome on a computer, open the three-dot menu → Extensions → Manage extensions. Turn off extensions and repeat the prompt using the same account. If the error disappears, turn extensions back on one at a time and test after each change.
3. In Chrome on a computer, open Settings → Privacy and security → Third-party cookies → See all site data and permissions. Find gemini.google.com. Click the delete icon next to it and confirm with Delete.
   Open Gemini again. Sign in to the same Google account if needed and repeat the prompt. For other browsers and phones, follow the site data removal instructions for your platform.
4. If sign-in fails and Chrome on a computer shows the Third-party cookies blocked icon in the address bar, click it. Turn on Third-party cookies for the current site and try signing in again. Restore the previous setting if the result does not change.
5. If another supported browser is installed, open gemini.google.com in it. Keep the same network and VPN settings. Sign in to the same Google account and repeat the prompt. Record the result for each browser.
6. If Gemini will not open on a work or school network, report the error message to the administrator. If your organization permits connecting the device to another network, repeat the test using mobile data. Keep the same browser, account, and VPN settings. Share the results with the administrator.

If the error occurs in Google AI Studio or the Gemini API, check availability in your country and the API troubleshooting guide. An API quota error alone does not confirm an outage at gemini.google.com. For broader access questions, see VPN for neural networks.

App: Android and iOS

Google notes that website and mobile app availability may differ. Check the app requirements and availability for your platform.

Android:

1. Open Google Play and tap your profile icon. Select Manage apps & device. Under Updates available, tap See details.
   If an update is available for Gemini, tap Update next to it. Open Gemini after the update and repeat the prompt.
2. Open Android settings and find Gemini in the app list. Force-stop the app. Open Gemini again and repeat the prompt.
   If the error persists, return to the app settings and clear its cache. Test again. Menu names vary by device; follow your manufacturer’s instructions if needed.
3. In Android settings, tap your profile picture → All services. Under Privacy & Security, select System services → Google Play services. Tap Update or Install if available.
   Open Gemini afterwards and repeat the prompt. If your menus differ, follow Google’s instructions for your device.

iOS:

1. Compare your installed app with the official Google Gemini listing in the App Store. Open the App Store. Tap My Account or your picture at the top of the screen.
   Select App Updates. If a Gemini update is available, tap Update next to it. Open Gemini afterwards and repeat the prompt.
2. Close Gemini and reopen it. Repeat the prompt. If the error persists, restart your iPhone and test Gemini again.
   If these steps do not help, follow Apple’s instructions to delete and redownload the app. Deleting it may remove data stored in the app.
3. If the Gemini website will not open in Safari with iCloud Private Relay enabled, open Page Menu → Show IP Address. Try opening the site again. During this test, the site can see your IP address and your network provider can see which site you visit.
4. Check the date and time on your iPhone. If they are wrong, open Settings → General → Date & Time. Turn on Set Automatically if available.
   If it is unavailable or the time remains wrong, follow Apple’s instructions. Test Gemini again after correcting the time.

If the website works but the app does not, use the website temporarily and follow the app checks for your platform. If neither works, continue with the availability, account, and connection checks below.

Region

Check Gemini’s supported countries and requirements for your account type. For a work or school account, ask your organization’s administrator about access.

Typical signs:

• A message that Gemini is unavailable in your country.
• Features work with personal Gmail but are missing from a Workspace or school account.
• Some Gemini features have age restrictions. If Family Link manages the account, ask a parent to check permission to access Gemini and the device, language, and region requirements.

If you use a personal Google account and a particular Gemini feature is unavailable, check your plan’s supported countries, age requirements, and limits. These are listed in Google’s help for Google AI subscribers.

DNS

DNS converts domain names, such as gemini.google.com, into IP addresses. An error retrieving an address can prevent the website from opening.

What to try:

1. Save your current DNS settings. Choose Cloudflare 1.1.1.1, Google Public DNS 8.8.8.8, or Quad9 9.9.9.9 for the test. Configure it using the provider’s instructions for your device.
2. After changing DNS in Windows, search for Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. Run ipconfig /flushdns to flush the DNS cache. Reopen the browser or Gemini app and repeat the prompt. On other devices, close and reopen the browser or app after changing DNS.
3. To test secure DNS in Chrome on a computer, open Settings → Privacy and security → Security. Turn on Use secure DNS and choose a provider. Try opening Gemini again.
4. On Android 9 or later, find Private DNS in device settings. Select the option to enter a provider hostname and enter dns.google for Google Public DNS. Tap Save and test Gemini again.

Limits:

• After receiving the IP address, the browser connects to the website’s server. If that connection is blocked, the site will not open even when DNS works.
• Changing DNS does not enable Gemini if the work or school account administrator has disabled access.
• DNS and routing choices must comply with your country’s laws and the service terms.

After changing DNS, open Gemini again and repeat the same prompt. Restore your saved DNS settings if the result does not change or new errors appear.

IP

Gemini uses your connection’s IP address as one source of approximate location data.

• If Gemini traffic passes through a VPN, the service sees the VPN server’s IP address instead of your direct connection’s address.
• IPv6 — check your VPN client’s documentation or support to find out whether it routes IPv6 traffic through the tunnel or blocks it outside the tunnel. Use the recommended settings for your platform.
• Split tunneling routes only selected traffic through the VPN. If your client lets you choose apps, check whether browser and Gemini app traffic use the VPN.

Gemini not working with VPN

If Search and YouTube work with a VPN but Gemini hangs, shows a generic error, or reports an unsupported country, follow the connection checks below.

Why:

• Regional product rules still apply when you use a VPN.
• With split tunneling, Gemini traffic may go directly if the app or required addresses are excluded from the VPN.

What to do:

1. Compare the same Gemini prompt with and without the VPN. Use the same device, network, and Google account.
2. Select another available VPN server without changing the protocol and repeat the prompt. Then, if the client allows it, test another protocol separately on the selected server.
3. If the client lets you choose apps for the VPN, open its split tunneling settings. Route browser traffic through the VPN to test the website, or Gemini traffic to test the app. Repeat the prompt.
4. Check whether multiple VPNs or a system proxy are enabled. Save their settings. Turn off additional connections one at a time and repeat the prompt after each change.
   Restore previous settings if the result does not change. For VPN and antivirus settings, follow VPN and antivirus.
5. Test the Gemini website in a private window with extensions off, keeping the VPN connected. Sign in to the same Google account and repeat the prompt.

For client setup, see VPN troubleshooting and Happ on all platforms.

Error table

Account, Family Link, and outages

1. Open Gemini’s account menu and check the email address used to sign in.
2. For a work or school account, ask your organization’s administrator about Gemini access.
3. For an account managed through Family Link, ask a parent to check Gemini permission and the device, language, and region requirements.

Check published Gemini incidents in Google Workspace on the Google Workspace Status Dashboard. Find the Gemini row. If an incident is listed, compare its time and description with your error. An absent entry alone does not rule out a problem.

Where to start checking Gemini

Record the Gemini error message. Compare the website and app using one account. Check official access requirements, then follow the browser, app, and connection checks that apply to your situation.

Follow Google’s access requirements and local law. You can test Gemini through VPNON with a trial for $1.50.

FAQ

Why is Gemini not working on the website but the app is fine?

Extensions, saved browser data, or connection problems may affect the website. Test a private window and another browser using the same account, network, and VPN settings.

Why is the Gemini app not working when gemini.google.com opens?

The mobile app has its own device and availability requirements. Check them in Google’s help, then update and restart the app using the steps for your platform. Use the website temporarily if it works.

Can DNS alone fix “Gemini is not available in my country”?

Changing DNS does not change Google’s country and account requirements. For an unsupported country message, check official Gemini website or app availability. DNS retrieves the website server’s IP address.

Why does Gemini not work with VPN when other sites do?

Gemini has country and account requirements; split tunneling may route its traffic outside the VPN. Compare the same prompt with and without a VPN under the same conditions. Then check the server, protocol, and split tunneling separately using the steps above.

Does changing IP always restore Gemini?

No. For example, changing IP does not enable Gemini access disabled by a work or school account administrator. Check Google’s requirements for your account type.

Is this a Gemini outage?

Check published Gemini incidents on the Google Workspace Status Dashboard. Compare the incident’s time and description with your error. The dashboard covers Google Workspace services; an absent entry alone does not rule out a problem.