Custom instructions for Gemini in Workspace now available

Custom instructions for Gemini in Workspace now available in more apps

Earlier this year, we introduced the ability for Workspace users to set persistent custom instructions for Gemini in Google Docs. We’re now expanding support for these custom instructions to additional Gemini in Workspace surfaces, specifically:

Ask Gemini in Drive
Ask Gemini in Chat
Gemini side panel in Slides, Sheets, and Gmail

These instructions help personalize your interactions with Gemini and ensure that Gemini adapts to your style, tone, and formatting preferences without needing to repeat them in every conversation, ultimately saving you time and ensuring consistency.

With this update, users can build a set of custom instructions that Gemini respects across these Gemini surfaces. The update ensures that users have a consistent personalization experience across the platform based on their individual needs or preferences.

You can declare preferences in any Gemini in Workspace Surface

All saved instruction can be viewed and managed in the Personalization Setting tab

These instructions are then used to personalize Gemini’s responses across Workspace

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: Get started by opening the side panel, Ask Gemini in Drive, or Ask Gemini in Chat. You can then prompt Gemini to store a specific instruction. You can also access the ‘Your Instructions for Gemini In Workspace” Menu by selecting the hamburger menu > Settings > Personalization. Visit the Help Center to learn more about customizing Gemini in Workspace’s responses with your instructions.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 2, 2026

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers with access to Ask Gemini in Drive, Ask Gemini in Chat, and/or the Gemini side panel in Gmail, Sheets, and Slides. See more details on feature availability here.

Resources

Google Help: Customize Gemini in Workspace’s responses with your instructions

Google has officially expanded persistent custom instructions for Gemini in Workspace to multiple new applications. Initially introduced for Google Docs, this feature allows users to set global preferences so they do not have to repeatedly type the same formatting, tone, or role constraints into every prompt. [1, 2]

The feature began its gradual 15-day rollout on 2 September 2026 and is available across various business and enterprise tiers. [3]

📱 Where Custom Instructions are Supported

The expansion moves custom instructions beyond Google Docs and integrates them into major workflow surfaces: [1]

Ask Gemini in Drive
Ask Gemini in Chat
Gemini Side Panel in Gmail, Google Sheets, and Google Slides [1, 3]

⚙️ How It Works & Limits

Cross-App Sync: Instructions are shared globally across eligible Workspace apps. If you add an instruction while working in Gmail, it automatically carries over to your side panels in Docs, Slides, and Sheets. [2, 4]
Capacity: You can save up to 1,000 distinct instructions to manage day-to-day workflow friction. [2, 4]
Task Overrides: The saved settings apply broadly, but you can override them at any time by giving specific, conflicting constraints in a one-off prompt. [2]
Source Verification: Users can check if their custom settings influenced a specific output by clicking Sources underneath Gemini’s response. [4]

🔧 How to Setup Custom Instructions

The setup path varies slightly depending on whether you are working in a document side panel or within Google Chat.

Method 1: Via Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, or Drive Side Panels

On your computer, open a supported Google Workspace application (like Gmail or Docs).
Click Ask Gemini (the Spark icon) in the top-right corner to pull up the side panel.
Click the Hamburger Menu (three horizontal lines) at the top-left of the panel, then navigate to Settings > Personalization.
Toggle Your instructions for Gemini in Workspace to On, and prompt Gemini to store your preferred guidelines. [3, 5, 6]