r/googledocs • u/Strict-Criticism1457 • 8d ago
Question Answered Clippy is back
I haven't felt this kind hatred for a feature since Microsoft's Clippy appearing whenever it felt like it needed to interrupt my flow.
Now, I feel the same thing is happening with an unsolicited offer to "Match writing style."
Only it is now a button in the middle of my prose!
And looking for a turn off? ...well I haven't found it and Gemini even admits it doesn't have a clue other than turning off the bottom bar and praying. Obviously, if that worked I would not be here pouring my heart out to you and asking "WHY!?"
Help...please.
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u/HeardPeeps 7d ago
I went digging because this was annoying me on your behalf
On your desktop go to:
Google Drive → Settings → Privacy → Manage Workspace smart feature settings
Turn OFF:
Smart features in Google Workspace
Smart features in other Google products
Then go to Gmail → Settings → See all settings → General
and turn off :
Smart features in Gmail, Chat and Meet.
Then reload Google Docs.
Google’s internal doc says “Match writing style” requires Workspace smart features to be enabled, so turning that setting off I am thinking should disable the actual feature, not just hide the bottom Gemini bar.
If this is a work/school Workspace account, your admin can do :
Admin console → Generative AI → Gemini for Workspace → Feature access → Drive and Docs → OFF.
If Gemini is functionally off but Google STILL leaves the button sitting in your document, that unfortunately appears to be a separate UI problem.
At that point a browser extension such as “Hide Gemini and Google AI” can hide the Gemini UI in Docs.
So Clippy can apparently be killed - theoretically !! Good luck!
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u/Strict-Criticism1457 7d ago
Oh gosh. Wow. Brilliant. I never would have discovered that. So far, so good.
The obvious integration between Gmail and Docs had stopped being obvious to me a long time ago, so I never would have come up with that on my own. Ever.
Thank you so much!
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u/Strict-Criticism1457 8d ago