To disable the Gmail features controlled by Google Workspace smart features while keeping familiar tools such as inbox categories, Smart Compose, standard Smart Reply and summary cards, leave Smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet on and turn Smart features in Google Workspace off. This is not a universal switch for every artificial intelligence feature that may appear in Gmail. Personal accounts enrolled in Google Workspace Experiments may require a separate, permanent opt-out, while work or school accounts may be affected by administrator policies, licences and organisation-level settings.
Google’s help pages were checked on October 1, 2026, but Gmail features roll out continuously. The controls and results visible to you can depend on your account type, subscription, country, language, device and participation in testing programmes.
What the three smart feature settings control
Gmail uses three similarly named controls. They work independently, so changing one does not automatically change the others.
Smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet
Keep this setting on if you want Gmail’s established convenience features. Google lists the following examples under this control:
- Automatic email filtering and categorisation, including Primary, Social and Promotions
- Smart Compose text suggestions while you write
- Standard Smart Reply suggestions for quick responses
- Summary cards above relevant messages, including cards for travel and package tracking
This control is separate from the Workspace-wide setting. Turning off Workspace smart features should therefore not disable these Gmail-specific tools while this setting remains on.
Smart features in Google Workspace
Turn this setting off to stop the cross-Workspace experiences governed by it. These can include adding events from Gmail to Calendar, personalised search in Drive and eligible Google Workspace with Gemini features that summarise content, create drafts or find information.
Google also identifies this as the control for turning off features such as an artificial intelligence overview in Gmail search and the Gemini side panel when those features depend on Workspace smart features. However, it is safest to describe the result as disabling Workspace-linked Gemini features rather than every Gemini or experimental feature in Gmail. Google offers Gmail features through several routes, including eligible Google Artificial Intelligence plans, Google Workspace plans, broad personal-account releases and Workspace Experiments.
Smart features in other Google products
This setting lets Workspace information personalise supported products outside Workspace. Examples for personal accounts can include restaurant reservations in Maps, suggested tickets and loyalty cards in Wallet, and certain personalisation in the Gemini app or Google Search.
You can leave this setting on if you want those connections. It is not the principal control for Workspace-linked Gemini features inside Gmail. Other account controls, including Web and App Activity, may also affect personalisation outside Workspace.
What should remain and what may disappear
| Feature or experience | Action | Expected result |
|---|---|---|
| Primary, Social and Promotions categories | Keep Gmail, Chat, and Meet smart features on | Should remain available |
| Smart Compose | Keep Gmail, Chat, and Meet smart features on | Should remain available |
| Standard Smart Reply | Keep Gmail, Chat, and Meet smart features on | Should remain available |
| Travel, package and other Gmail summary cards | Keep Gmail, Chat, and Meet smart features on | Should remain available |
| Gemini side panel and other Workspace-linked Gemini tools | Turn Workspace smart features off | Unavailable when controlled by this setting |
| Artificial intelligence overview in Gmail search | Turn Workspace smart features off | Should be disabled because Google requires both smart-feature settings |
| Events from Gmail added automatically to Calendar | Turn Workspace smart features off | Unavailable |
| Personalised Workspace search in Drive | Turn Workspace smart features off | Unavailable |
| Workspace Experiments features | Opt out of Workspace Experiments | Experimental access is permanently removed |
| Maps, Wallet and other non-Workspace personalisation | Choose the other Google products setting separately | May remain available if that setting is on |
Do not confuse standard Smart Reply with Gemini Suggested Replies. Standard Smart Reply offers short response choices and is associated with the Gmail, Chat, and Meet smart-feature control. Suggested Replies can provide longer, context-aware responses and may be offered through an eligible plan, a personal-account release or Workspace Experiments. Availability and the correct way to disable it therefore depend on how your account received the feature.
Change the settings on your device
The Workspace smart-feature setting applies to the Google Account you select. If you use several Gmail addresses, check the profile picture or account name before making changes.
On a computer
- Open Gmail and select the Settings gear.
- Select See all settings.
- On the General tab, scroll to Smart features.
- Make sure Turn on smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet remains selected.
- Scroll to Google Workspace smart features.
- Select Manage Workspace smart feature settings.
- Turn off Smart features in Google Workspace.
- Choose separately whether to keep Smart features in other Google products on.
- Select Save.
On Android
- Open the Gmail app and tap Menu.
- Tap Settings and select the account you want to change.
- Under General, keep the Gmail smart-features option on if you want categories, Smart Compose and related tools.
- Tap Google Workspace smart features.
- Clear the box beside Smart features in Google Workspace.
- Set Smart features in other Google products according to your preference.
On an iPhone or iPad
- Open Gmail, tap Menu and then tap Settings.
- Under General, open Data privacy.
- Keep the Gmail smart-features setting on.
- Open Google Workspace smart features.
- Turn off Smart features in Google Workspace.
- Tap Done if that option appears.
Google notes that some changes made on a computer are not reflected in the mobile app. If the app does not show an expected notification or setting, update Gmail and check the same Google Account in a web browser.
Handle experiments and managed accounts
If you joined Google Workspace Experiments with a personal account, do not rely on the Workspace smart-feature switch as the only way to remove experimental Gmail tools. Google lists features such as Help me write, Proofread, Suggested Replies, conversation summaries and Gemini-assisted drafting as possible Workspace Experiments features. The selection can change, and individual features may roll out gradually.
To remove access provided through Workspace Experiments, use Gmail on a computer:
- Open Gmail and select Settings.
- Find the Workspace Experiments programme notification.
- Select Opt out and confirm the choice.
- Refresh the browser.
This decision is permanent. Google says that an account that exits Workspace Experiments cannot rejoin. Opting out also removes experimental access across the programme, not only a single Gmail feature. If you merely want to disable Workspace-linked personalisation, change the smart-feature setting first and opt out only if experimental features remain or you want to leave the testing programme completely.
For a work or school account, the options may differ. A Google Workspace administrator can control Gemini access, licences and service settings for the organisation. You may be unable to change a setting, may not see the same menu as a personal account, or may continue to see an interface element because of an organisation-level configuration. Contact the administrator if your controls are locked or the result does not match the documented personal-account behaviour.
After making changes, reopen Gmail and test the specific features you wanted to remove. Try the Gemini side panel, a natural-language Gmail search and a new message. Workspace-linked features should be unavailable when their required smart-feature setting is off. If Help me write, Suggested Replies or another artificial intelligence tool remains, check whether the account is enrolled in Workspace Experiments, has an eligible paid plan or is receiving the feature through a broader Gmail release. Meanwhile, categories, Smart Compose, standard Smart Reply and summary cards should continue working if the separate Gmail, Chat, and Meet setting remains on.
