What to know
- Google is preparing a setting that opens Gemini directly in a Live voice conversation.
- The option would let you bypass the usual text chat and start in Gemini Live by default.
- We found the dormant strings in the unreleased Google app v17.61.19.sa.arm64 build; the setting is not available to users yet.
Gemini normally opens into its text-based chat, leaving users to switch to Live when they want a voice conversation. Google is now preparing a more direct route for people who primarily use Gemini by voice.
A teardown of Google app v17.61.19.sa.arm64 reveals a new default-start setting called “Open Gemini in Live.” Its accompanying description makes the behavior explicit: Gemini would go straight to a Live conversation instead of opening chat first.
Gemini could open directly in a Live conversation
The new setting appears designed for users who prefer speaking with Gemini over typing prompts. Enabling it would change Gemini’s starting point rather than introducing a different voice mode: the app would open directly in Live and skip its regular chat screen.
The broader Gemini Live capability is already public and has been documented by Google, including in its April 7, 2025 guide. What is new in this build is the dedicated option to make Live the default destination whenever you open Gemini.
The new strings, seen below, point to both the visible setting and the preference key that would store the choice:
The title and subtitle leave little ambiguity about the intended behavior. Rather than requiring an extra tap to enter the voice interface, the setting would take users straight into a Live conversation. That could make Gemini feel more like a voice-first assistant for anyone who routinely starts interactions by speaking.
This remains dormant-strings-only evidence, and the setting is not available to users yet. We’ll watch future Google app builds for signs that the direct-to-Live option is moving toward release.
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