Google is placing Gemini more visibly inside its productivity tools, and not every user wants AI prompts sitting inside the apps they use to write, reply, or search. In Google Docs, some users are seeing a large Gemini bar at the bottom of the document window, along with other AI-related controls.
The good news is that there are a few ways to reduce or remove those interruptions. The less convenient news is that the controls are not all in the place most people would expect, and the best option depends on whether you use a personal Google account or a Google Workspace account managed by an employer.
Start with the Google Docs bottom bar
If the main problem is the large Gemini bar at the bottom of Google Docs, the quickest fix is inside Docs itself. Click Gemini in the menu bar, hover over Bottom bar preferences, and choose Turn off.
That removes the bottom bar from the document view. It is the simplest option because it targets the most visible element without changing broader Gmail behavior or installing anything in the browser.
This feature is not showing up identically for everyone. It appeared for some users as part of testing, was noticed in April in one Google Docs account used for collaboration with editors, and has reportedly appeared for other people in the last few weeks. Some users have never seen it at all.
Know the difference between personal and Workspace accounts
The next step depends on the type of Google account you use. For a personal Google account, meaning an account with an @gmail.com email address, there is more room to change settings yourself.
For Google Workspace accounts, the decision is largely outside the individual user's control. If the account is managed by an employer and uses a company domain, the administrator decides which AI features appear. In that case, the practical route is to contact the IT team, because the user-facing settings may not be enough to remove Gemini from work tools.
That distinction matters because many people encounter Google Docs in both personal and work contexts. A setting that works in a personal account may not be available or effective in a company-managed account.
Use Gmail settings to remove more AI from Docs
For personal Google accounts, the broader switch is located in Gmail, even though the effect can reach Google Docs. Open Gmail, click the gear icon in the top-right corner, then select See all settings. In the General tab, scroll until you find Smart features.
Uncheck the Smart features option. Google will ask you not to disable it, but once the change is applied, return to Google Docs and refresh the page.
When this works, several Google Docs AI elements disappear. The Gemini menu, the audio button, and the bottom AI toolbar are removed from view. A Gemini button may still remain in the top-right corner, but it is less prominent than the larger document controls.
The tradeoff is important. Turning off Smart features does not only affect Google Docs. It also disables AI-powered Gmail features, including grammar suggestions, autocorrect, smart compose, smart reply, and nudges. Gmail spellcheck is also disabled, although browser spellcheck continues to work.
For users who rely on those Gmail tools, this is not a small switch. The decision is between keeping Gmail conveniences and accepting more Gemini presence in Docs, or removing those features to make Docs less crowded with AI controls.
Try a Chrome extension for a wider cleanup
If the Gmail setting does not work, or if losing Gmail's smart features is not acceptable, another option is the Bye Bye Gemini extension for Google Chrome. According to the source, installing it makes Google's AI elements disappear across productivity products including Gmail, Docs, and Drive.
The extension works by using CSS to make those AI elements invisible in the browser. It also removes AI Overviews from Google search results.
This is a different kind of solution from changing a Google account setting. The underlying features are not necessarily turned off at the account level; instead, the browser stops displaying them. That can be useful for users who want fewer AI prompts on screen while keeping certain Google settings unchanged.
Why the choice is still messy
The main frustration is not just that Gemini exists in Google Docs or Gmail. It is that the controls are scattered. A Docs interface problem may require a Gmail setting, and a broader removal may require a Chrome extension.
There are also different preferences among users. Some may prefer Claude, ChatGPT, or a locally hosted Ollama setup. Others may want to avoid using AI altogether. The common need is control over whether those tools appear inside everyday workspaces.
For now, the practical order is simple: hide the Google Docs bottom bar first, try the Gmail Smart features setting if you use a personal account, and consider Bye Bye Gemini if you want a more complete browser-level cleanup. Workspace users will need to rely on their administrator for account-level changes.