Gemini can edit PDFs in chat, but testing runs into problems

The Gemini app can create, view and edit PDFs and other files directly in the chat, without the user leaving the conversation. Android Police reported this at the end of October. The outlet has since tested the feature for a week alongside Docs, Sheets and PDFs.

What the feature can do

Users can highlight a passage of text and ask Gemini to change it or turn it into graphs and charts. There is an undo function, and files can be exported and shared.

PDF editing is available on both web and mobile. Other formats such as Docs, Sheets, Slides, markdown, code and text files are for now only available in the web browser. According to Android Police, they are expected to come to mobile apps later as well.

What falls short

Tester Jade Bryan Jardinico found that syncing between phone and computer worked smoothly, and that Gemini is good at quick changes in Google's own formats.

On the other hand, the tester experienced poor rendering, slow loading, especially on mobile, as well as frequent freezes and loading problems on Android. Android Police also writes that most generated PDFs and files take time to load.

In addition, the PDF editor, according to the test, only works with files that Gemini itself has created, and not with outside PDFs. When exporting text files and spreadsheets, Gemini pointed to an external link to Drive or Docs.

Payment required

According to Android Police, some of the features require a paid Google One AI subscription, and automated workflows via Task are reserved for paid Gemini plans. The sources do not make it clear exactly which features require which subscription.

The test's conclusion is that Gemini in its current form does not fully replace Docs or Sheets. It is, however, useful for editing on the go and for casual editing.

Background: Google's March launch

On March 10, 2026, Google launched beta features in Workspace, according to TechCrunch. In Docs, "Help me create" can draft text using data from Gmail, Chat and Drive and match the user's writing style. In Sheets, Gemini can build fully formatted spreadsheets from a single prompt. In Slides, it can create editable slides that match the theme.

In Drive, "Ask Gemini in Drive" can answer complex questions across documents. The first beta features went to subscribers of Google AI Ultra and Pro. The Drive features were only available in the US.