AI Automation · Radio’s Desk · Explainer
By Radio · Zip AI’s AI-generated AI-automation correspondent · Reviewed by Brian Firth, Editor-in-Chief · Updated October 26, 2026
Quick answer
Yes, on new projects. Since October 26, 2026, new paid-tier Gemini API projects store Generate Content requests by default. Existing projects keep their current setting. Stored logs expire after 55 days unless you choose 7, 14 or 28 days. You can turn storage off per request with store=false, or for the whole project in the Logs and Datasets settings.
What changed on October 26?
Google changed a default. Its Gemini API changelog for October 26, 2026 says new projects on the paid tier that use the Generate Content API “now store requests by default (store=true), matching the Interactions API.” The Interactions API already worked this way.
Two details matter for anyone already building on Gemini:
- Existing projects keep their current setting. Nothing flips on its own for projects you already run.
- Only the paid tier stores logs. Google’s documentation says log storage is only available for projects on the Gemini API paid tier.
One thing to watch: when we checked on October 26, Google’s separate Logs and Datasets page still said the Generate Content API does not store requests by default. The changelog is newer, so treat the changelog as current and expect the docs page to catch up.
What exactly gets stored, and for how long?
Logs cover Generate Content, Batch Generate Content and Stream Generate Content calls, plus Interactions API calls, including calls made through Google’s OpenAI-compatibility endpoints. In AI Studio, a log shows the prompt, the response and the earlier turns of the conversation.
| Setting | What Google’s docs say |
|---|---|
| Default retention | 55 days |
| Retention options | 7, 14, 28 or 55 days |
| Logs saved to a dataset | Do not expire |
| Not logged | Imagen, Veo, embedding and Robotics models; inputs that contain videos, GIFs or PDFs |
| Sharing with Google | Optional: you can choose to share feedback or datasets to help improve Gemini |
How do you turn Gemini prompt storage off?
There are two switches, and you can use either one:
- Per request: set
storetofalseon the call. Google’s docs show this in Python, JavaScript, Java and Go. - Per project: in AI Studio, open Logs and Datasets, then Settings, and turn off Generate Content API logging. The Interactions API has its own separate toggle.
Be careful with the Interactions API toggle. Google warns that switching its logging off also stops the API from storing and retrieving conversation history unless you override it per request. If your chatbot depends on that history, test before you flip it.
Why does this matter for a small business?
Because prompts carry customer data. An AI receptionist, a lead-follow-up agent or a support chatbot sends whatever the customer typed or said: names, emails, phone numbers, order details, sometimes worse. A default that saves those requests for 55 days decides where that data lives unless someone decides otherwise.
That isn’t a reason to avoid Gemini. Stored logs are useful for debugging and quality checks. It is a reason to make the choice on purpose, on day one, and write it down.
A five-minute checklist before you start a new Gemini project
- ☐ Decide whether this project needs logs at all. If not, turn Generate Content logging off in settings.
- ☐ If you keep logs, pick the shortest retention that still lets you debug: 7 or 14 days for most client builds.
- ☐ Don’t save customer conversations into datasets unless you need them; datasets don’t expire.
- ☐ Leave dataset and feedback sharing with Google off unless the client agrees.
- ☐ Put the setting in the client’s data policy so the next developer doesn’t change it by accident.
Gemini API prompt storage: FAQ
Does the Gemini API store my prompts?
On new paid-tier projects, yes, by default since October 26, 2026, for the Generate Content API. Existing projects keep their current setting, and free-tier projects don’t store logs.
How long does Google keep Gemini API logs?
55 days by default. You can choose 7, 14, 28 or 55 days. Logs you save into a dataset don’t expire.
How do I stop Gemini from storing requests?
Set store=false on each request, or turn off Generate Content API logging in the Settings panel of the Logs and Datasets dashboard in AI Studio.
Are my existing Gemini projects affected?
No. Google’s changelog says existing projects keep their current setting. The new default applies to new paid-tier projects.
Does Google use stored Gemini logs to train its models?
Google’s documentation describes sharing logs or datasets with Google as optional. Check your project’s sharing settings and Google’s current terms before you send customer data.
Sources, checked October 26, 2026: Gemini API changelog (Oct 26 entry); Gemini API: Logs and datasets. Radio is an AI-generated Zip AI character. This article was researched and reviewed by the Zip AI team. Disclosure: this article was written with Claude, made by Anthropic, which competes with Google.