Gemini in Google Sheets does not appear or cannot see the data: causes and fixes

Symptoms

• The Gemini button (the star) is missing in Sheets
• The panel opens but answers questions about the sheet in general terms
• The =AI() function returns an error

Causes and fixes

1. The account has no Google AI Pro or Workspace plan with Gemini

What to do: Get Google AI Pro on a personal account or ask the admin for a Workspace plan with Gemini

2. You opened the sheet from an account without the subscription while it belongs to another

What to do: Switch accounts in the top right corner and open the file again

3. Data without headers, with merged cells or with mixed types in one column

What to do: Format the range with a header row, remove merges and bring each column to one type

4. The panel sees only the selected range or the active sheet

What to do: Select the range before the request and name it in the request

5. The =AI() function is not available on every plan and in every region, or the admin disabled it

What to do: Check availability in Google's help for your plan; the alternative is Gemini chat with the range pasted in

Common problems and fixes

• Gemini not working: five causes and what to do
• Gemini limits: how many requests on the free plan and Google AI Pro, and what to do when they run out
• Gemini will not open a PDF from Drive or reads it with errors: what to check
• How to delete your data from Gemini and turn off activity saving

About Gemini

Google's chat with access to Drive, Gmail and Sheets, deep research and a localized interface. Paid plans from $14/mo. Free plan available.

Gemini · Alternatives to Gemini