How to Use Gemini AI Image Generator (Free)
The Gemini AI image generator is built into Google’s Gemini app, and you can use it free with a Google account. Open Gemini, choose Images from the sidebar (or just ask in a chat), describe the picture you want, and Gemini creates it with Google’s Nano Banana 2 image model. You can then edit the result in plain words and download it.
Quick answer: Go to gemini.google.com (or open the Gemini app), sign in, open the sidebar and choose Images. Pick a template or type a prompt that starts with “create” or “draw”, names a style and describes the subject and setting. To change an image, open it and click Chat. To save it, hover over it and click Download full size.
Table of Contents
What You Need to Use the Gemini Image Generator
- A Google account, signed in to Gemini on the web or in the Gemini mobile app.
- Age: Google’s help page says you must be 13 or over (or the applicable age in your country) to generate images, and 18 or over to edit images.
- Gemini in a supported language and country. School accounts may have extra restrictions.
No paid plan is needed. Google’s Gemini Apps limits page lists “Image generation with Nano Banana 2” as available without a Google AI plan. New to Google’s AI tools? Our guide to NotebookLM (now Gemini Notebook) covers another free Gemini feature.
How to Create an Image With Gemini AI (Web)
- Go to gemini.google.com on your computer and sign in.
- Click Open Sidebar at the top left, then click Images.
- Choose a template, or type your own prompt. Google suggests starting with an action word such as “draw”, “generate” or “create”, naming a style (photorealistic, watercolour) and describing the subject, action and setting.
- Send the prompt and wait for the picture.
- Not quite right? Reply in the same chat with what to change: “make the sky orange”, “add a dog”, “make it look like a pencil sketch”.
Example prompt: “Create a bright watercolour illustration of a fox reading a book under an autumn tree, warm golden light, soft background.”
How to Use the Gemini Image Generator on Android
- Open the Gemini app on your Android phone.
- Tap the Menu button at the top left, then tap Images.
- Pick a template or type your prompt, then send it.
- To save a picture, touch and hold the image and tap Save. Share creates a public link instead and does not save the image to your phone.
How to Edit an Image or Your Own Photo in Gemini
- Open the sidebar (on the web) or the Menu (in the app) and choose Library.
- Click the image you want to change, or upload a photo from your device.
- Under the image, click Chat.
- Type the change you want in the text box at the bottom, for example “replace the background with a beach at sunset”, and click Submit.
Editing is for users 18 and over. Only upload photos you have the right to use, especially pictures of other people, and keep Google’s rules in mind: Gemini may remove images when a prompt appears to break its Terms of Service or Prohibited Use Policy.
Download or Export Your Gemini Images
- Download (web): hover over the image and click Download full size.
- Export to Google Docs: under the image, click More, then Export to Docs.
- Find old images: they are in Library in the sidebar.
Gemini Image Generator Free vs Paid: What Changes
| Feature | No plan (free) | Google AI plan |
|---|---|---|
| Create images with Nano Banana 2 | Yes | Yes |
| Download resolution (Nano Banana 2) | 1K | 2K |
| “Redo with Pro” (Nano Banana Pro) | No | Yes |
| Usage limits | Standard | Higher (Plus 2x, Pro 4x standard) |
Paid subscribers can take an image made with Nano Banana 2 or Nano Banana 2 Lite, click More at the bottom right, then Redo with Pro to remake it with Nano Banana Pro, which Google says adds more detail and better text in images.
Which model you get depends on the Gemini model you pick before asking: with Flash-Lite Gemini uses Nano Banana 2 Lite (faster, but not designed for several reference images or many edits), and with Flash or Pro it uses Nano Banana 2, which accepts multiple reference images.
Is There a Gemini AI Image Generator Limit?
Yes, but Google doesn’t publish a fixed number. Its help pages mention a daily quota for Nano Banana 2 images, say free users get “standard limits”, and note that limits may change without notice, including when demand is high. Image requests also use more of your allowance than simple text chats. If you hit the limit, try again later.
How to Tell a Gemini Image Is AI-Generated (SynthID)
Google’s SynthID technology embeds digital watermarks in content generated by Google’s AI models. These watermarks are not visible. To check a picture, upload it to Gemini on the web with Add files and ask “Was this image created or edited by Google AI?” Google’s SynthID help page has the details.
Prompt Tips for Better Gemini AI Images
| Add this | Example |
|---|---|
| Action word | “Create…”, “Draw…”, “Generate…” |
| Subject and action | “a cat chasing autumn leaves” |
| Style | “photorealistic”, “watercolour”, “3D cartoon”, “flat vector” |
| Setting and light | “in a park at golden hour” |
| Colours and mood | “bright pastel colours, cheerful” |
| Shape | “wide landscape image” or “square image” |
- Change one thing at a time with Chat instead of rewriting the whole prompt.
- Use original characters and designs rather than brand logos or famous characters.
- Want ready-made ideas? Try our Halloween AI photo prompts for Gemini and ChatGPT or the free AI portrait prompt generator.
Gemini vs Other Free AI Image Generators
Gemini is a good choice if you already use Google, because it saves images to your Library and exports to Docs. If you prefer ChatGPT, see our guide on how to use the ChatGPT image generator. To compare more options, including tools with no login, see the best free AI art generators.
FAQ
Is the Gemini AI image generator free?
Yes. Image generation with Nano Banana 2 is available without a Google AI plan. Paid plans add higher limits, 2K downloads and Redo with Pro.
How do I use the Gemini AI image generator on my phone?
Open the Gemini app, tap Menu at the top left, tap Images, then choose a template or type a prompt. Touch and hold an image and tap Save to download it.
How many images can Gemini generate per day?
Google doesn’t give a fixed number. Free users get standard limits with a daily quota, paid plans get higher limits, and limits can change with demand.
What is Nano Banana in Gemini?
Nano Banana is the name of Google’s image models in Gemini. Nano Banana 2 makes images on Flash and Pro, Nano Banana 2 Lite on Flash-Lite, and Nano Banana Pro is for paid subscribers through Redo with Pro.
Why won’t Gemini generate my image?
You may have reached your daily limit, be under the age needed (13 to create, 18 to edit), be in an unsupported language or country, or your prompt may break Google’s policies. Try a different prompt or try again later.
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