Chrome 150 for iOS Lets Users Minimize Gemini AI Window Mid-Chat

Google rolled out Chrome 150.0.7871.34 for iPhone and iPad, adding the ability to minimize the Gemini AI chat window without losing an active conversation.

Previously, minimizing the Gemini floating window closed it entirely, wiping any ongoing exchange. Now the window collapses into a pill-shaped icon at the bottom of the screen, where it stays live until the user returns to it.

What Changed for Gemini Users

Users can tap the pill to reopen the chat and continue with follow-up questions. To close the session completely, they tap the “x” button on the pill.

Google’s iOS release notes confirm the assistant remains active in the background while minimized. That means users can navigate to another site while Gemini processes a query, then return to the response when ready.

The feature requires a signed-in Google account and remains limited to supported regions, consistent with earlier Gemini availability on iOS.

Other Changes in the Update

The Chrome 150 App Store changelog also lists shortcut pinning on the new tab page, which lets users add frequently visited sites more quickly from the new tab screen.

Google bundled the usual stability and performance improvements alongside both changes.

The Gemini window update is the most visible functional shift in the release. The shortcut-pinning addition and performance work affect a broader set of users but involve no significant behavioral change.

Broader Context

The iOS update extends a pattern of incremental AI integration across Chrome’s mobile and desktop surfaces.

On desktop, Google has been testing a persistent Gemini button pinned directly to the Chrome Toolbar, according to earlier reports. That feature has not yet reached a stable release.

Google also recently issued a separate Chrome Security Update addressing seven vulnerabilities. That patch applies across platforms and is unrelated to the iOS feature additions in Chrome 150.

Chrome for iOS requires iOS 16 or later and is available as a free download through Apple’s App Store. Google typically stages updates over several days before they reach all users.