Chrome’s Select text to ask Gemini setting adds a floating menu that pops up whenever you highlight text on a webpage. Tap Ask Gemini in that menu, and Chrome sends the highlighted text straight to Gemini, so you can get a definition or a quick explanation without leaving the page.
This works in Google Chrome on desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux, and ChromeOS). You need Chrome’s AI innovations settings page, which is rolling out gradually, so the option may not appear for everyone yet.
How Do I Turn On the Floating Gemini Menu?
- Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top right corner, then choose Settings.
- Click AI innovations in the left sidebar.
- Click Select text to ask Gemini.
- Under Default behavior, choose Show the floating menu when text is selected.
That’s it. Chrome now shows the floating menu any time you select text on a page.
How Do I Use the Floating Menu to Ask Gemini?
- Highlight any text on a webpage, like a term you don’t recognize or a confusing sentence.
- A small floating menu appears above your selection.
- Click Ask Gemini.
- Gemini opens in Chrome’s side panel with your selected text already filled in, so you can read the answer or ask a follow-up question.
How Do I Block the Floating Menu on Specific Sites?
You don’t have to turn the feature off everywhere just because one site is annoying. Go back to Settings > AI innovations > Select text to ask Gemini, find Sites where the floating menu is blocked, and click Add. Type the site’s address and it stops showing the floating menu there, even though the default behavior stays on for every other site.
FAQ
How do I turn off the floating Gemini menu completely?
Go to Settings > AI innovations > Select text to ask Gemini and choose Don’t show the floating menu when text is selected under Default behavior.
Does turning off the floating menu disable Gemini in Chrome entirely?
No. Turning off the floating menu only stops the text-selection popup. The Gemini side panel, the toolbar icon, and other Gemini in Chrome features stay available unless you turn those off separately.
Why don’t I see the Select text to ask Gemini setting?
Google is rolling this feature out gradually. Make sure Chrome is updated to the latest version. If the setting still isn’t there, it hasn’t reached your account or region yet.
Can I use this on Chrome for Android or iPhone?
The AI innovations settings page and floating menu described here are for Chrome on desktop. Chrome on iPhone and iPad has its own way of using Gemini, covered in our guide linked below.
The floating Gemini menu turns any text you select into a shortcut for a quick answer, without opening a new tab or copying and pasting. Turn it on once in AI innovations settings, and it’s ready whenever you need it.
