Google’s Gemini Now Capable of Controlling YouTube Music on PC and Android

Google has significantly enhanced its Gemini AI chatbot by rolling out a new extension that integrates YouTube Music. This update, available on both desktop and Android platforms, allows users to find, play, and control music directly from YouTube Music through Gemini.

Previously, Google Assistant held a distinct advantage over Gemini due to its music control capabilities. However, with this new extension, Gemini has closed the gap, providing similar functionalities. First reported by 9to5Google, the extension is now accessible to all Gemini users, although it is disabled by default and must be activated manually.

Activating the Extension

To enable the YouTube Music extension, users need to visit https://gemini.google.com/extensions on either their PC or Android phone. Once activated, the extension can be utilized through the Gemini website or the Android mobile app by entering prompts in English.

Using the Extension

With the extension enabled, users can ask Gemini to “show, find, or play music from YouTube Music.” Specific commands such as “Find [song name] by [artist]” allow the chatbot to locate and play desired tracks. Additionally, Gemini supports various playback controls, including: Pause, Resume or play, Stop, Skip or next, Previous, Restart or go back.

Google has noted that background play on Android devices is limited to YouTube Music Premium members.

Current Limitations

Despite the wide rollout, the extension’s functionality on PC is not fully operational yet. Currently, users attempting to play music on a PC will receive a message stating, “I can’t assist you with playing media yet, but I can provide you with a link to the song on YouTube Music.”

This YouTube Music extension for Gemini, which was first identified earlier this month, represents a significant enhancement to the chatbot’s capabilities. While it would have been advantageous to have this functionality from the start, its introduction now offers a more robust user experience for Gemini users across multiple platforms.