Google Lets Schools Turn Off Gemini Apps

Google plans K-12 controls that disable standalone Gemini apps while keeping Google Search available for students.

Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Secondary Education

Isometric editorial illustration of a row of plain wall switches in a beige corridor, the leftmost switches set to off, connected to one shared cable trunk. — Google plans to let K-12 schools switch off standalone Gemini apps for student accounts while keeping Google Search available, with AI Overviews and AI Mode tied to Search. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should schools be able to block AI tools for students while keeping search?

Google plans to let K-12 schools disable standalone Gemini apps while leaving Google Search on. Student accounts would start with Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Search turned off until administrators enable them.

Why it matters

Google Vice President and General Manager of Education Chris Phillips said Search and AI are deeply integrated, which limits how far schools can separate AI features from search. Google has not announced a way to disable AI Overviews and AI Mode alone.

Google's planned controls let administrators enable Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search individually, but turning off Gemini does not require disabling Search. Google has not announced when the controls will launch or how AI Overviews and AI Mode will be handled.

The players

Google

Google is the technology company behind the Gemini apps, Google Search and Google Classroom tools affected by the plan.

Chris Phillips

Chris Phillips is Google's Vice President and General Manager of Education, who stated that Search and AI are deeply integrated.

New York City Department of Education

The New York City Department of Education is the nation's largest public school district, which announced a one-year moratorium on student-facing generative AI.

The details

Under the plan, K-12 student accounts would start with the listed Google products switched off until administrators enable them, and Search's AI components would remain part of the search service. Administrators seeking to block AI Overviews and AI Mode would have to turn off Search itself. Google also plans a Guided Learning pilot in select U.S. schools later in November, designed to prompt students through problem-solving rather than give direct answers.

Sept. 2: New York City announced a one-year generative AI moratorium for students.
Nov. 2: A Google executive described Search-AI integration at an educator meeting.
Nov. 3: Google announced K-12 student accounts would start with services off.
Later in November: Google plans its Guided Learning pilot in select U.S. schools.
2026-27 school year: New York City's student generative AI moratorium takes effect.

Policy Context

Google's plan follows New York City's one-year moratorium on student-facing generative AI for grades 2-K through eighth during the 2026-27 school year. The company's controls let schools restrict specific products, while the moratorium restricts the practice district-wide.

Parents and school administrators should check whether their district has adopted Google's controls once they launch, since Gemini and Search can be enabled separately. Turning off Gemini apps does not require disabling Search, which keeps search access intact for students.

The takeaway

Schools weighing AI tools for students can now enable or disable Google's products individually, but AI Overviews and AI Mode remain tied to Search. Districts should review the settings as they roll out.

What happens next

Google plans to pilot Guided Learning in select U.S. schools later in November and has said it will share more information with schools in the coming months.