Google adding mute button to Gemini Live after months of user requests

Google is working on adding a mute button to Gemini Live, according to an APK teardown by Android Authority that revealed the feature in development within the Google app. The addition addresses a persistent user request and would allow people to silence their voice input while still receiving audio responses from the AI assistant, making conversations more practical in noisy environments.

What you should know: The mute functionality represents a significant usability improvement for Gemini Live’s conversational AI experience.

• Users have been requesting this feature for months, with some experiencing awkward interactions when background noise gets mistaken for voice commands.
• The mute button will likely replace the existing pause/resume button, offering more granular control over audio input.
• Unlike the current hold/pause function that stops the entire session, the mute button would theoretically allow users to continue receiving Gemini Live output while blocking unwanted audio input.

How it works: The teardown revealed the mute button appearing in both the main Google app interface and the Gemini Live notification panel.

• Android Authority discovered the feature while examining version 16.42.61.sa.arm64 of the Google app and successfully enabled the button for testing.
• The functionality would be particularly useful in noisy environments where ambient sounds interfere with voice recognition accuracy.

The bigger picture: This development is part of Google’s broader push to enhance Gemini Live capabilities throughout 2025.

• Recent additions include integration with other apps, live captions, and camera/screen sharing functionality.
• The consistent feature rollouts demonstrate Google’s commitment to making Gemini Live a more versatile conversational AI tool.

Important caveat: APK teardowns reveal features in development that may not reach public release, as noted by Android Authority’s standard disclaimer about work-in-progress code.