Gemini: The Google Assistant Replacement Gets a Major Update
Gemini has been available as a Google Assistant replacement for a while now. At first, Gemini wasn’t an especially helpful assistant because it lacked many required features, but Google has been slowly rolling out new features to help round out Gemini.
New Feature Rollout
As reported on 9to5Google, the most recent feature rollout includes the ability for Gemini to make calls and send messages without unlocking your phone. Without this new feature enabled, when you attempt to make a call or send a message through Gemini, you’ll be greeted with the “Please unlock to continue” warning.
Hands-Free Calling and Messaging
With the feature enabled, Gemini can complete the request without you having to unlock your phone’s screen. This is a long-awaited feature because, as it stands, it’s impossible to enjoy true hands-free calling and messaging. Many times, when driving, I’ve needed to place a call but found myself having to pull over to unlock my phone before the call or message could be placed.
Rollout and Availability
The rollout is happening slowly, so you might not have the feature added yet. It’s hard to predict when your phone will receive the new feature because Google isn’t exactly forthcoming on these rollout dates. On my Pixel 9 Pro with Android 15 and the Google app version 15.47.29, the feature is still missing. Turns out the feature is available for version 15.48 of the Google app; until you have that version on the phone, you’ll still have to unlock your device before placing a call or sending a message using Gemini.
Checking for the Feature
You can check to see if you have the feature by opening Gemini, clicking your profile photo, tapping Settings > “Gemini on Lock Screen.” If you see an entry for “Make calls and send messages without unlocking,” congratulations! You have the feature. Otherwise, be patient: the latest version of the Google app eventually will arrive on your phone, and you’ll be able to place calls and send messages, via Gemini, without having to first unlock the device.
Future Features
Once Google sees how welcome this new feature is, perhaps the company will add other functions — like playing music from Gemini or starting Maps navigation — without the user having to first unlock the device. Until those features come to fruition, Android cannot claim true hands-free usage.
Conclusion
The addition of hands-free calling and messaging to Gemini is a significant step forward for the Google Assistant replacement. While the rollout is slow, it’s clear that Google is committed to making Gemini a more powerful and useful tool. With this feature, Android users can finally enjoy true hands-free usage, and we can only hope that Google will continue to add more features to make Gemini an even more compelling alternative to Google Assistant.
FAQs
Q: Will I receive the new feature automatically?
A: No, the rollout is happening slowly, and it’s hard to predict when your phone will receive the new feature.
Q: How do I check if I have the feature?
A: You can check by opening Gemini, clicking your profile photo, tapping Settings > “Gemini on Lock Screen.” If you see an entry for “Make calls and send messages without unlocking,” you have the feature.
Q: When will I get the latest version of the Google app?
A: The rollout of the latest version of the Google app is also slow, so it’s hard to predict when you’ll receive it. You can check for updates in the Google Play Store.
Q: What other features will be added to Gemini in the future?
A: Google has not announced any specific features, but it’s possible that the company will add other functions, such as playing music or starting Maps navigation, without the user having to first unlock the device.
