To move a Gemini Gem into a Skill, copy its name, description, and instructions into a new Skill. For knowledge files, Google’s manual route puts supported files in a folder with the Skill’s SKILL.md. Google limits each Skill’s files to 100 MB and excludes several file types. Google’s Gemini Apps Help explains the steps and limits.

Google says remaining Gems will also migrate automatically as draft Skills. For personal accounts, its Help page and Workspace announcement describe November 17, 2026 differently. The Help page says personal Gems for users 18 and older become read-only; the Workspace announcement says Gems move to Settings and remain usable.

Recreate a text-only Gem

For a Gem without knowledge files, create a Skill and copy over the Gem’s name, description, and custom instructions. Google says Skills use the open Markdown-based SKILL.md format. They can be invoked in an existing Gemini chat and combined with other Skills. (Gemini Apps Help; Google Workspace announcement)

Move a Gem’s knowledge files into a Skill

AI with Surya’s screen-recorded tutorial demonstrates creating and invoking Gemini Skills, combining them, and working through a Gem migration.

Google’s manual instructions put the Gem’s files and the new Skill’s SKILL.md together in a folder, which you then upload as the Skill. Follow this order:

  1. Download the Gem’s knowledge files. Google’s instructions say to download each file individually.
  2. Create a folder for the Skill. Its name must match the Skill’s name, using lowercase letters and hyphens between words.
  3. Move the downloaded files into that folder. This gathers the Gem’s knowledge files for upload.
  4. Create the Skill and copy over the Gem’s name, description, and instructions.
  5. Download the Skill’s ZIP file. It contains the SKILL.md file.
  6. Put SKILL.md in the folder with the Gem’s files.
  7. Upload the folder using “Replace skill.” Google says the Skill includes the files after upload.

AI with Surya’s screen-recorded tutorial demonstrates creating and invoking Skills, combining them, and working through a Gem migration.

Check the file limit and excluded formats

A Skill can contain up to 100 MB of files. For an automatic migration that exceeds the limit, Google says it removes the largest files first. For a manual move, choose files that fit within the limit.

Google lists these file types as unsupported for the migration:

  • GitHub files
  • Audio and video files
  • Legacy Microsoft Office files: .doc, .xls, and .ppt
  • Archives: .zip, .tar, .7z, .rar, .gz, and .tgz
Check the file types and total size before uploading; they determine which knowledge files can accompany the Skill.

Check a migrated Skill before relying on it

Google describes remaining Gems as becoming draft Skills. For education accounts, Google’s transition guide tells users to review and activate migrated drafts before using them.

Google’s transition dates depend on the account

Google’s Gemini Apps Help says personal Gems for users 18 and older become read-only on November 17, 2026, and are removed from Gemini Apps on December 17, 2026. The September 30 Workspace announcement says Gems move to Settings on November 17 and users can continue creating, editing, and using them. Those statements differ on what personal-account users can do on November 17.

For Workspace business and enterprise accounts, Google says Gems can no longer be created, edited, or used no sooner than March 1, 2027. For education accounts, that milestone is no sooner than June 1, 2027. Google says remaining Gemini-app Gems will migrate to draft Skills at those transitions. (Workspace announcement)

Skills in the Gemini app do not automatically sync with Skills in Workspace apps, so Google says users must create a separate Skill for Workspace. In an October 13, 2026 update, Google said the Workspace Skills rollout was delayed until further notice. (Workspace announcement; October 13 update)