---
title: Enabling Gemini Nano in Chrome
category: AI & Autonomous
icon: "\U0001F916"
sort_order: 18
slug: enabling-gemini-nano
canonical_url: 'https://basaltnotes.com/guides/enabling-gemini-nano'
markdown_url: 'https://basaltnotes.com/guides/enabling-gemini-nano.md'
---
# Enabling Gemini Nano in Chrome

Gemini Nano is built directly into the Google Chrome browser and does not require a manual download. It executes locally on your device for fast, private, offline-capable intelligence. 

Once activated, Chrome will automatically download a ~4 GB language model in the background.

## Prerequisites

- **Chrome Version**: Ensure you are running Chrome Canary (version 128+) or the latest stable version of Google Chrome.
- **Hardware Requirements**: A machine with sufficient RAM (typically 8 GB or more) and a compatible GPU/CPU.

## Step-by-Step Enablement Guide

### 1. Enable Experimental Flags
To enable Chrome's built-in AI APIs, open a new browser tab and configure the following flags:

1. **Optimization Guide On-Device Model**:
   - Navigate to: `chrome://flags/#optimization-guide-on-device-model`
   - Set it to: **Enabled BypassPrefRequirement** (or *Enabled BypassPerfRequirement* depending on your version). This enables the optimization guide to execute models on device across Mac, Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS.

2. **Prompt API for Gemini Nano**:
   - Navigate to: `chrome://flags/#prompt-api-for-gemini-nano`
   - Set it to: **Enabled**. This enables the exploratory Prompt API, allowing Basalt to send natural language instructions to the built-in Gemini Nano model.

3. **Optional Companion APIs** (for extended capabilities):
   - **Prompt API with Multimodal Input**: `chrome://flags/#prompt-api-for-gemini-nano-multimodal-input` → **Enabled**
   - **Writer API**: `chrome://flags/#writer-api-for-gemini-nano` → **Enabled**
   - **Rewriter API**: `chrome://flags/#rewriter-api-for-gemini-nano` → **Enabled**
   - **Proofreader API**: `chrome://flags/#proofreader-api` → **Enabled**
   - **Classifier API**: `chrome://flags/#classifier-api-for-tiny-model` → **Enabled**
   - **Summarizer API**: `chrome://flags/#summarizer-api-for-gemini-nano` → **Enabled**
   - **Summarizer Performance Preference**: `chrome://flags/#summarizer-api-performance-preference` → **Enabled**

### 2. Restart your Browser
After changing the flags, click the blue **Relaunch** button at the bottom of the page to apply the changes.

### 3. Trigger the Model Download
Once restarted, you must trigger Chrome to download the underlying Gemini Nano model:

1. Navigate to: `chrome://components/`
2. Scroll down or search to find the component named **Optimization Guide On Device Model**.
3. Click the **Check for update** button.
4. The status should change to *Downloading* and eventually *Up-to-date* (once the ~4 GB model download completes in the background).

## Verification

After the download finishes, return to your Basalt Notes settings page and check the status. **Browser intelligence** should now show as available and ready for use!