Gemini Gems: How to Create One, and What Changes Next

Gems were Google's answer to a simple frustration: explaining the same job to Gemini over and over. You set one up with instructions and reference files, and it behaves the same way every time you open it. Plenty of small businesses built Gems for writing, customer replies and planning.

There's news to know before you build another one. Google has announced that skills will replace Gems, and it'll move your Gems across automatically. This guide covers how Gems work today, from Google's own help pages, and what the change means for the Gems you rely on.

What are Gemini Gems?

A Gem is a custom version of Gemini that you set up for a purpose. You give it a name, write instructions describing how it should behave, and can add knowledge files for it to refer to. Google's release notes described Gems as a simple way to customise Gemini toward specific goals.

Google also offers premade Gems under Premade by Google, with examples such as a career guide, a writing editor and a brainstormer. You can make a copy of some of them and adjust the instructions.

How do I create a Gem?

On a computer, Google's steps are:

1. Go to gemini.google.com and open the sidebar.
2. Choose Gems. If you've never made one, it may sit under Settings and help.
3. Choose New Gem.
4. Give it a name and write its instructions.
5. Optionally, add files under Knowledge.
6. Preview it in the panel on the right, then choose Save.

If your instructions are rough, Gemini can rewrite them for you before you save. Google's help page also notes you need to be signed in, and Gems can't be used with Gemini Live.

What should a Gem's instructions say?

Treat it like briefing a new member of staff. Say who it works for, what it does, how it should sound and what it should never do. Here's an instruction block you can adapt.

Copy this prompt

You help [business name], a [type of business] serving [customers].
Your job: [draft replies / plan social posts / summarise documents].
Tone: [plain, warm, confident]. Use [British / American] spelling.
Always ask one clarifying question if the request is missing [key detail].
Never invent facts, offers or dates. If you're unsure, say so.

Can a Gem use my files?

Yes. Under Knowledge you can upload files from your device or add them from Google Drive. Google says a Gem uses the latest version of a Drive file, which is handy for a living document such as a service menu or FAQ. Adding from Drive needs Keep Activity switched on and Workspace connected. You can also add notebooks as a source.

Remember that anyone you share a Gem with can see its instructions and files, so keep sensitive client documents out of shared Gems.

How do I use, edit or share a Gem?

• Use: open the sidebar, choose Gems, pick one under My Gems, type your request and submit.
• Edit: open it under My Gems, change it and save.
• Delete: open the Options menu next to it and choose Delete.
• Share: choose Share next to the Gem, add an email address and pick Viewer or Editor, or copy a link. General access can be public, anyone with the link, your organisation or private.

A Gem you create on the web also appears in the mobile app and in the Gemini side panel in Workspace.

Are Gems going away?

Yes, in their current form. In its release notes for the Gemini app, Google said skills will soon replace Gems as the tool for tailoring instructions for specific tasks, and that it'll migrate your Gems into skills when Gems go away.

Google's transition page sets out the order: personal Google Accounts first, from November, then Workspace business, enterprise and non-profit accounts, and education accounts after that. Google says your Gems and any supported files will move across for you.

There are a few things to know before the switch:

• Gems from Google Labs, the interactive mini-apps, go away with Gems.
• Google says skills lose most of the default tools Gems had, such as Canvas and Deep Research.
• Sharing for skills is due to arrive later.
• Google doesn't say whether premade or shared Gems move across, so keep a copy of any instructions you rely on.

Should I move my Gems to skills now?

You don't have to, because the move is automatic. But if a Gem runs part of your business, I'd do three things now: copy its instructions into a document, download its knowledge files, and note which tools it uses. Google's transition page explains how to move one early, by creating a skill manually and replacing it with a folder that holds your instructions and files.

The new home is Customize, where skills sit alongside your connected apps. I've written up how to create and use Gemini skills step by step.

Copy and paste this prompt

Here are the instructions from a Gem I use: [paste].
Rewrite them as a skill: a short lowercase name with hyphens, a one-line description of when to use it, and clear instructions.
Flag anything that relies on Canvas or Deep Research so I can plan around it.

Five Gems worth having while they last

If you're new to Gems, these are the ones I'd set up first. Each one turns straight into a skill later, so the effort isn't wasted.

• A writing editor that tightens your drafts and keeps your tone.
• A reply helper loaded with your FAQs and service details.
• A content planner that knows your audience and your main platforms.
• A meeting summariser that turns notes into decisions and next steps.
• A proposal checker that reads a draft and asks the questions a client would ask.

Keep each Gem focused on one job. A Gem that tries to do everything ends up doing nothing well, and a focused one is far easier to move into a skill when the time comes.

What are the common mistakes with Gems?

• Instructions that are too vague. "Be helpful" tells it nothing. Say who it serves and what good looks like.
• Too many files. Give it the documents it needs for this job, not your whole drive.
• Out-of-date knowledge. If you upload a file rather than linking it from Drive, update it when things change.
• Sharing without checking. Anyone with access sees the instructions and files.

Gems vs ChatGPT custom GPTs vs Claude Projects

They solve the same problem in slightly different ways. Gems, and soon skills, are Gemini's way to save instructions and files. In ChatGPT, people use custom GPTs and ChatGPT Projects. In Claude, Projects hold instructions and documents for a body of work. If your team uses more than one assistant, write your instructions in a shared document so you can paste them into whichever tool you're using.

Tools that work with Gemini Gems

Google Drive is the natural home for a Gem's knowledge files, because the Gem picks up the latest version. Google Docs works well for the instruction text you'll want to keep through the switch to skills. For the jobs Gems usually help with, Canva handles visuals, Notion or Trello keeps processes written down, and Gmail and Google Calendar sit beside Gemini in Workspace.

If you'd like help setting up AI assistants around how your business runs, this is how I work with business owners.

Frequently asked questions

What are Gems in Gemini?

Gems are custom versions of Gemini you set up with a name, instructions and optional knowledge files, so it handles a job the same way every time.

How do I create a Gem in Gemini?

On gemini.google.com, open the sidebar, choose Gems, then New Gem. Add a name, instructions and any knowledge files, preview it and save.

Are Gemini Gems being replaced?

Yes. Google says skills will replace Gems and that Gems will be migrated into skills automatically, starting with personal Google Accounts from November.

Can I share a Gemini Gem?

Yes. Choose Share next to the Gem, add someone as a Viewer or Editor, or copy a link. Anyone with access can see the instructions and files.

Can a Gem use files from Google Drive?

Yes. You can add Drive files as knowledge, and the Gem uses the latest version. This needs Keep Activity switched on and Workspace connected.