Gemini Live on Android Adds Mid-Session File Uploads

The update enables users to share photos and documents during active conversations without ending the session.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Life Sciences

Gemini Live on Android Adds Mid-Session File Uploads

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Do you prefer AI interfaces that allow direct file attachments during live voice conversations?

Google has updated its Gemini Live interface on Android to include a plus button, allowing users to attach photos and files during an active session. This feature is now available in stable version 17.68 of the Google app.

Why it matters

This change shifts the workflow for multimodal AI interactions by enabling file and photo input mid-conversation rather than requiring pre-session configuration. It streamlines how users provide visual and document-based context to the model while engaged in a Live session.

The update ships with Google app stable version 17.68. It adds a plus button to the active Live UI, facilitating a carousel-style menu for file, photo, and screen sharing.

The players

Google

A developer of AI models and mobile operating systems currently integrating multimodal capabilities into the Android ecosystem.

The details

Users access the new functionality by tapping a plus button located to the left of the screen during an active Gemini Live session. This opens a carousel menu offering options to share the screen, photos, files, or documents stored in Google Drive. Previously, users were required to attach any supporting media to the Gemini overlay before initiating a Live session. The camera trigger has been relocated to a position directly adjacent to the audio waveform.

October 2026: Google released the Gemini Live interface redesign for Android.

The Tech Race

This move marks a shift in how AI assistants handle active context during voice interactions. It contrasts with standard model interfaces that remain locked once a session begins, positioning Google to better compete in real-time, multimodal analysis.

Android users gain the ability to provide visual information to the AI during an ongoing conversation without ending the session. This feature is exclusive to the Android platform and is currently unavailable on iOS or when using the Gemini overlay.

The takeaway

The update simplifies context-heavy AI tasks for Android users by allowing for real-time document and image sharing. Users should monitor future Google app updates to see if this menu expands to include third-party integrations or cross-platform availability.