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Google has finally added long-awaited audio uploads to the file-handling functions of Gemini. Months elapsed, and people were able to drop in pictures, PDF files and even video clips, but no audio. That is now filled, and both free and paid users can now upload recordings directly to Gemini. The relocation is being framed as among the most demanded AI platform changes.
Full-time Feature goes live on platforms
Google has silently enabled audio upload functions today, and they can be accessed on Android, iOS and the web. Users are now able to post MP3, WAV, and the majority of other popular audio files using the same Upload files button that allows uploading of other media. Josh Woodward, Vice President of Google Labs and Gemini, announced the rollout in a post on X, in which he referred to audio uploads as the most requested feature of the platform.
✅ Papercut fixed: You can now upload any file to @GeminiApp. Including the #1 request: audio files are now supported! pic.twitter.com/4Te3xwLC6W
— Josh Woodward (@joshwoodward) September 8, 2025
The feature has been a requested one since file uploads were introduced earlier in the year. Summarising of YouTube videos and short clips was already supported by Gemini; however, there was no ability to directly work with recorded voice memos or larger audio files. The update opens up the possibilities of new use cases such as transcription, meeting note parsing and podcast analysis.
Free and Paid users have different Upload Limits
Google has defined the feature based on the level of subscription. Users of the free-tier version of Gemini are only allowed to upload 10 audio files at a time, although the total duration of the files across their different files should not exceed 10 minutes. Paid plans under Gemini Advanced are provided under AI Pro and AI Ultima, which have much more allowances, with the maximum support of three hours of audio. This balance is replicated in the style of Gemini, which limits uploaded videos to five minutes in the case of free accounts and one hour in the case of paid users.
Audio support is now doubled for the free and tripled for the premium subscribers. These broader limits seem to be aimed at longer audio workflows by the company, and they make the service more useful in professional activities. Although it is not unlimited, the three-hour limit of premium users is quite large in comparison to the competing AI platforms. It also shows that Google has a desire to make Gemini a productivity tool, as opposed to an informal communication tool. The hierarchical levels provide a flexibility of access by casual users whilst restricting the higher-scale processing to the paying subscribers.
Gap: Gemini has the capability to fill this Gap
It is observed that the lack of audio uploads was notable, as the formats that Gemini used were already incredibly wide. Images, PDFs and video were all supported, but an audio file, such as a common one, was not available until recently. The update then makes the input options of Gemini more similar to the normal workflows that feature the voice records or audio contents that are longer in length. The addition is also reasonable considering the interaction of users with AI tools. Some of the most common types of media that people create include voice memos, meeting recordings and podcast snippets.
Allowing the uploads of these files, Gemini extends its reach to the situation when the written or visual input is not feasible. The fact that this feature was highly demanded by the community was emphasised by its public release by Woodward. In the case of Google, addressing those needs will enhance the application of Gemini as a multi-format AI platform that is capable of processing various inputs. The service can be used to provide more device-wide functionality by matching audio uploads to its existing file support.
Wider Implications for Gemini users
The launch shows that Google is still perfecting Gemini according to the expectations of users. The move by the company to place emphasis on audio uploads indicates that the company is cognizant of the feature in productivity-oriented applications. Meeting transcription, research interview analysis transcription, and podcast analysis can now be handled in-app. Simultaneously, the tiered upload restrictions preserve the approach of Google of differentiating between amateur and professional users.
The feature is available to everyone on the free tier, whereas paid plans provide the resources needed to do more intensive tasks. This update sees the Gemini being able to offer a more balanced ecosystem of input options than earlier versions had. Google has filled an important gap in the capabilities of Gemini by adding what executives cited as the most demanded feature. The audio uploads will now be active on platforms, and it is the first step to making the service a key part of the personal and professional workflow.
