Need a one-off brainstorm you do not want sitting in your Gemini recent chats? Google offers Temporary Chat in the Gemini web and mobile apps for some personal accounts. The feature changes what appears in your chat history; it should not be mistaken for a universal “nothing is stored” switch.
What Temporary Chat changes
Google’s help page says a Temporary Chat does not appear in Gemini Apps Activity or recent chats. To start one, sign in with a personal Google Account in the Gemini web or mobile app and choose the Temporary Chat option. When you leave it, you will no longer have access to that conversation from recent chats.
There are trade-offs: Google says Temporary Chat cannot use Gems, some connected apps that require Keep Activity, or personalization features. It is not available for work or school accounts, Gemini in Chrome or Gemini in Google Messages. If you do not see the control, account type and app surface may be the reason.
Do not put secrets into a prompt
A temporary conversation is still a conversation with an online service. Avoid entering passwords, verification codes, private customer data, medical records or confidential work material unless your organization explicitly permits it. Review the current Gemini privacy notice for how temporary chats are handled and retained; product policies can change.
For a safer one-off task, remove identifying details first. Instead of pasting a full invoice, ask a generic question about its layout. Instead of including a private email, describe the tone you want and provide a fictional example.
Bottom line: Temporary Chat helps keep a conversation out of the visible activity and recent-chat list, with reduced personalization and integrations. It is not a guarantee of anonymity, and it does not make sensitive prompts risk-free.
Official guide
Google: Use Gemini Apps and start a temporary chat
Featured image: U.S. Air Force image by Tech. Sgt. David Salanitri via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Image source and license.
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