Google Opens Gemini and Search to External Apps Through Connected Apps Platform

Google Connected Apps are getting a new developer platform. On October 28, 2026, Google announced a preview of the Connected Apps Platform, which centralizes the creation, testing, review, and management of integrations for Gemini and Google Search. This allows external services to be available directly in Gemini’s conversational interface or in Search.

When submitting an integration, developers specify whether it should work in Search, the Gemini app, or both products. Google says access to the preview will be opened gradually, without providing a precise schedule for individual countries or a general availability date.

Google Connected Apps and unified integration development

The platform offers two technical paths for connecting services. The first is a cloud-based Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, and the second is Android MCP using AppFunctions. Registration, testing, and publishing are handled through Google Connected Console. During the preview, the documentation also mentions self-service onboarding and OAuth 2.1 for sign-in and granting permissions.

The main aim is to reduce the need to prepare separate integrations for Gemini and Search. After the user signs in, a service can provide relevant data or perform an action within a Google product. The company gives tasks such as making a reservation or placing an order as examples, where users may not need to go directly from a search result to the service’s separate website or app.

Google already lists more than 50 Connected Apps across Search and Gemini. According to the company, partner integrations from Adobe, Experian, Localiza, and Peloton are available in Gemini. It plans to add them to Google Search in the coming weeks. Calm is expected to be added to both products.

Rules for data and app publication

The Google Connected Apps Platform includes rules for app verification and publication. According to the documentation, they cover minimizing transferred data, transparency in data processing, and security measures. The policy also sets requirements for secure data processing and prohibits manipulative or harmful behavior.

Such rules are particularly important for integrations that work with third-party accounts. The crucial factors will be the scope of permissions an app requests, the data it transfers, and how users see or confirm individual actions.

What is not yet clear

Google did not specify a geographic rollout plan for the preview in its announcement. TechCrunch reports that the public preview is intended for developers in the US, but Google’s primary materials, as currently available, only refer to access being opened gradually. The geographic scope therefore cannot be considered explicitly confirmed by Google.

It is also not known exactly how Connected Apps will appear in Search results or for which tasks Google will require additional user confirmation. The impact on how services are discovered, website traffic, or the rate at which integrations are used can only be assessed after broader deployment.

For now, it will be worth watching the expansion of the preview, the arrival of the announced partners in Search, and the first practical cases of approved, rejected, or removed apps. These will show how the platform’s rules work with real integrations.

Verified and updated: October 29, 2026 06:24