Google Chrome takes up 4GB of storage on your computer for AI, if you have space
Source: 9to5Google
Google Chrome now “silently” installs about 4 GB of AI models—Gemini Nano—on your computer. The files are added in the background when certain Gemini‑in‑Chrome features (e.g., Help me write or on‑device scam detection) are enabled.
Where the files are stored
The models are saved in a folder named OptGuideOnDeviceModel, inside a file called weights.bin.
Source: The Privacy Guy.
How Chrome manages the storage
- Chrome downloads a Gemini Nano model that matches the user’s hardware.
- Updates are applied automatically in the background.
- If free disk space falls below a defined threshold, Chrome automatically deletes the model to free space.
“Chrome actively manages disk space to ensure the user doesn’t run out. The Gemini Nano model is automatically deleted if the device’s free disk space drops below a certain threshold.” – Google developer documentation
Disabling or removing the model
- The file can be deleted manually, but Chrome will re‑download it unless the on‑device AI setting is turned off (Settings → System).
- On Windows, the toggle is visible; on macOS (Chrome v147) it may not appear.
- Google announced a rollout of a setting that lets users more easily disable the feature and prevent future downloads.
Reference: The Verge.
Updates from Google
In a statement to 9to5Google, Google confirmed that:
- The practice of downloading Gemini Nano has been in place since 2024.
- The model will be removed automatically when storage is low.
- A user‑controllable setting is being rolled out to allow disabling the download entirely.
Background on Gemini Nano in Chrome
Google has offered Gemini Nano for Chrome since 2024 as a lightweight, on‑device model. It powers:
- Security features such as on‑device scam detection.
- Developer APIs that run locally without sending data to the cloud.
The model is designed to uninstall itself if the device runs low on resources. In February, Google began rolling out the ability for users to turn off and remove the model directly from Chrome settings. More details are available in the Chrome Help Center article.