How to Check and Disable the 4 GB Gemini AI File Secretly Saved by Google on Windows Laptops

Google Chrome browser is known to secretly save the Gemini Nano artificial intelligence (AI) model, approximately 4 GB in size, to users’ computers without notification or prior permission.

This discovery was first revealed by privacy researcher Alexander Hanff. He found a file named “weights.bin” stored in a special Chrome folder, measuring around 4 GB.

The file is the local (on-device) version of the Gemini Nano AI model used by Google to run various AI features in Chrome.

KompasTekno observations confirmed the file’s presence on several Windows 11 laptops used for testing, as shown in the image below.

The 4 GB file size burdens some users, particularly those with small storage capacities like 256 GB laptops or limited internet data quotas.

For PC users on Windows 11, the method to locate the file is as follows:

Meanwhile, for Mac users, open Terminal and enter the following command:

If present, users can manually delete the “weights.bin” file. However, simply deleting it will cause Chrome to re-download the file without the user’s knowledge.

There is a way to deactivate it. According to Google, disabling this option means the AI model will no longer be downloaded or automatically updated. The steps are as follows:

On Windows, users can also permanently block the download via registry settings, as summarised by KompasTekno from Android Headlines.

Chrome version 147 introduces an “AI Mode” button in the address bar. Many users assume this AI feature runs using the locally downloaded Gemini Nano model.

Hanff also accuses Google of potentially violating EU privacy rules, specifically the ePrivacy Directive, by storing data on users’ devices without explicit consent.

Google states that Gemini Nano has been available in Chrome since 2024 as a lightweight AI model that runs directly on the device.

According to Google, the model supports security features such as fraud detection and developer APIs without sending user data to the cloud.

Google also notes that the AI model will be automatically deleted if the device runs low on storage space.

“In February, we began rolling out the ability for users to disable and delete the model directly from Chrome settings. Once disabled, the model will no longer be downloaded or updated,” Google said in its official statement.