Customize Gemini: Connect Instacart, OpenTable, Canva and 40+ Apps

Fill a grocery cart from a recipe, book a dinner table, or turn an idea into a Canva design, without leaving your Gemini chat.

Checked October 27, 2026. Researched and drafted with help from Grok Bot.

Quick answer

• Connected apps let Gemini work inside other services with your permission: shop on Instacart, book on OpenTable, design in Canva, browse rentals on Zillow, play music on Spotify, and more.
• Google's October 2026 update moved them to one place: in the sidebar, click Customize, then Connectors. Google says Gemini now connects to 40+ apps this way.
• Call an app by typing @ in your prompt (for example @Instacart). If it isn't connected yet, Gemini asks your permission first.
• It's free, but there are rules. You need Keep Activity on. Most shopping and booking apps are US-only, English-only and for personal Google accounts.
• You stay in charge of money. Instacart help says Gemini adds items to your cart. You still review and check out.

Which apps do what (the popular ones)

All of these need a personal Google account for now (not work or school), and Keep Activity on.

Is it worth connecting? The verdict

Quick questions

Where did the apps go? They're under Customize → Connectors in the Gemini sidebar. (If you don't see Customize, click More first.)

Does it cost anything? No Google plan is needed to connect apps. The apps' own costs still apply, like Instacart delivery fees.

Can Gemini pay for my groceries? The Instacart help page describes finding items and adding them to your cart. Plan on reviewing and checking out yourself in Instacart.

Do connected apps work in Gems or Gemini Live? Not Instacart or OpenTable. Google says those two don't work in features like Gems or Gemini Live yet.

What's the difference between this and Tasks in Gemini? Connected apps use the app's official connection, so they're quick and tidy. Tasks in Gemini (formerly Spark) opens a real browser to work on any website. Use apps when one exists; use Tasks when it doesn't.

Before you start

• Use a personal Google account. Work and school accounts don't get these shopping and booking apps yet.
• Turn on Keep Activity. With it off, connected apps don't work on gemini.google.com or iPhone at all.
• Have the app account ready. For Instacart, your Instacart account must be linked to your Google account. Gemini walks you through linking it the first time.
• Know where it works. Instacart and OpenTable work on gemini.google.com and the Gemini mobile app. Canva also works in the Gemini app for Windows.

Step 1: See what's available to you

1. Go to gemini.google.com.
2. In the sidebar, click Customize. (No Customize? Click More first.)
3. At the top, click Connectors. You'll see only the apps available for your account, country and device.
4. Click any app to read what it can and can't do, with example prompts.

Step 2: Connect (or disconnect) an app

• From the Connectors page: find the app and click Add, then follow the on-screen steps.
• From a chat: type @ and pick the app. If it isn't connected, Gemini asks your permission.
• To disconnect: Customize → Connectors, find the app, then More options → Disconnect.

Step 3: Use it in a chat

1. Type your request and add @AppName (or just mention the app by name).
2. Give the details that matter: store, date, time, party size, budget.
3. Click Submit and follow any on-screen steps.

Try it: 3 worked jobs

1. Recipe to Instacart cart

Plan 3 easy weeknight dinners for 4 people, under 30 minutes each, no nuts. Then add everything I need to my cart @Instacart at [store name]. Pick store-brand items when they're cheaper.

What good looks like: a short meal list, then items added to your Instacart cart. Open Instacart, check quantities and swaps, then check out yourself. Tip from Google: Instacart uses your default saved address to find stores. Ask Gemini to list your other saved addresses if you want a different one.

2. Date-night booking that checks your calendar

@OpenTable Find an Italian restaurant near [neighborhood] for 2 people this Friday or Saturday between 7 and 8 pm. Check my calendar first and only suggest times I'm free. Show me 3 options before booking anything.

What good looks like: 3 options with times. You pick one, then Gemini books it through Reserve with Google. The calendar check only works if you've also connected your calendar app. Later you can ask "Move my Friday reservation to 8:30" or "Cancel it."

3. Canva party invite

@Canva Make a birthday party invite for my son Leo turning 8. Dinosaur theme, bright colors. Saturday Nov 14, 2-4 pm, at [address]. RSVP to [phone]. Give me a couple of layout options.

What good looks like: design options you can open in Canva and fine-tune there.

Common mistakes and fixes

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
The app isn't on the Connectors page	Your country, age, account type or device doesn't support it	Check the "Who can use it" table. Try gemini.google.com on a personal account
Gemini ignores the app	You didn't name it	Add @AppName to the prompt
No apps work at all	Keep Activity is off	Turn it on, then reload
Instacart shops at the wrong store	It used your default address	Name the store, or ask Gemini to switch to another saved address
An app doesn't work in your Gem or in Live	Not supported there yet	Use a normal chat
You connected something you don't use	Old connection	Customize → Connectors → More options → Disconnect

Safety and privacy, in plain English

• Connecting an app shares information between Gemini and that app so it can do the job. Read the app's details page before you click Add.
• Review before you pay or book. Ask for options first ("show me 3 before booking") so nothing happens without your say-so.
• Disconnect anything you stop using. It takes 10 seconds and keeps your account tidy.

Prompt pack

What apps can you connect to for me, and what can each one do?

@Instacart Add everything on this list to my cart at [store]: [paste list]. Tell me anything you couldn't find.

@OpenTable What reservations do I have coming up?

@Zillow Find 2-bedroom rentals under $[amount] near [area] that allow dogs, and show me tour times this weekend.

@Canva Turn this into an Instagram post: [text]. Keep it simple and readable.

Same job in other chatbots

Next level

• Book a Table or Fill a Cart With Tasks in Gemini (formerly Spark) covers the browser agent for sites that have no app connection.
• Universal Cart (coming soon) covers Google's new one-cart checkout across stores.