Google introduces tools for transferring memory and chat history to Gemini

On March 26, 2026, Google announced a major update for its AI assistant, aimed at simplifying the transition for users from other platforms. The main barrier when switching AI is the need to start interactions from scratch, losing accumulated context, which often deters people from testing new solutions. To solve this problem, developers introduced new migration tools for consumer accounts. These features allow users to directly transfer their memories, personal preferences, and full chat history from third-party generative AI applications into the Gemini ecosystem.

The process of importing basic preferences and memories is implemented via a simple semi-automatic mechanism. Users need to go to Gemini settings and select the new import option, after which the system will suggest a specially crafted text prompt. This prompt needs to be copied and pasted into the dialogue window of the AI application the user previously used. The third-party neural network will generate a detailed summary of key facts about the user: for example, their personal interests, names of relatives, or the place where they grew up. The received response then simply needs to be copied and pasted back into Gemini, after which the assistant will instantly analyze the information and securely save these details in its context for use in future conversations.

In addition to basic facts and preferences, the new update offers the ability to fully transfer the entire archived conversation history. For this purpose, a feature for uploading ZIP archives with data is provided, which users can export beforehand from other AI services. By uploading this archive to their settings, users can seamlessly continue conversations from the exact point where they were interrupted in another application. Imported archives are integrated into the working environment: users can search through old dialogue threads and continue to develop them directly within the Gemini interface.

Such integration of past conversations is part of a broader concept of Personal Intelligence, which the company is developing. This concept implies that the assistant becomes maximally useful when it combines externally transferred knowledge with information from internal Google services, such as Gmail, Google Photos, and search history, provided the user has granted access to them. For example, if the imported chat history contains a dialogue comparing hotels for an upcoming trip to Barcelona, Gemini will be able to use this data in conjunction with other personal information to create a personalized itinerary directly around the area the user ultimately chose.

To visually and conceptually reflect these changes in how user data is processed, developers are updating the application's interface. The feature previously called "past chats" will be renamed "memory" over the next few weeks. This change in nomenclature is intended to emphasize the system's ability to actively remember conversation content and use this accumulated experience for more accurate performance in new interaction sessions.

Although memory and chat history import tools began appearing in settings on the day of the announcement, the implementation has a number of strict limitations, as reported by the application's Product Group Lead, Mariam Sanglaji. At the current stage, updates are available exclusively for regular consumer accounts. Business and Enterprise level corporate users, as well as accounts for individuals under eighteen years of age (U18), are currently not supported by the migration system. Due to the absence of additional clarifications in the official announcement, the technical or legal reasons for such exclusions for specific account types are not specified.

The geographic availability of new features also has certain limitations, making this release gradual. Specifically, at launch, import tools are not available to users located in the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom (UK), and Switzerland (CH). For all other consumers, the introduction of these standardized tools significantly lowers the barrier to entry when switching digital assistants, making the transition to the Google ecosystem fast, secure, and requiring no retraining of the assistant.