Gemini users say their chat histories have quietly vanished
The Register
February 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Recent complaints have surfaced from Gemini users who claim their chat histories have suddenly disappeared, with some losing months of conversations. This issue appears to coincide with the release of Gemini 3.1. Affected users report that while prompts remain in activity logs, chats are no longer accessible on either mobile or desktop, despite settings designed to retain them for up to 18 months. Some users speculate that data might still reside on Google’s servers but is failing to sync properly.
The problem has sparked frustration among users, with one stating they were missing at least 15 chats entirely, leaving no trace in activity logs. This has led some to consider switching services after years of enduring similar issues with Google’s reliability. While others believe the issue may stem from a deeper technical flaw rather than a simple interface error, suggesting that recent chats have vanished even from My Activity archives.
Google attributes the disappearance to a temporary bug affecting a small number of users and assures restoration soon. However, this comes on the heels of another incident where Gemini falsely claimed it had saved sensitive medical data, further eroding trust in the platform’s reliability. Users are concerned about the implications for their work and personal data integrity, questioning whether Google’s systems can be trusted to handle their information securely.
The situation highlights broader concerns about data permanence and transparency in AI-driven services. As tech-savvy readers increasingly rely on such tools, issues like these raise critical questions about trustworthiness and data management practices. The potential fallout extends beyond user dissatisfaction, potentially impacting Google’s competitive edge as rivals may capitalize on this perceived unreliability.
Ultimately, the vanishing chat histories underscore the fragility of digital interactions and the importance of robust data handling in AI services. For those invested in tech innovation, this serves as a reminder to prioritize transparency and reliability to maintain user confidence.
Verticals
tech
Originally published on The Register on 2/23/2026