Google has implemented restrictions on free access to its Gemini 3 Pro and Nano Banana Pro tools, citing overwhelming demand as the primary reason for the changes. Just a week after their launch, the technology giant updated its access limits for users, significantly altering the previous allowances for free users.
Changes to Access Limits
Initially, free users of Gemini 3 Pro were permitted to generate up to 5 prompts per day, which mirrored the limits set for the earlier version, Gemini 2.5 Pro. Additionally, users could create up to 3 images daily with the Nano Banana Pro model. However, following the recent update, these specific allowances have been replaced with a more ambiguous framework. Google’s support documentation now indicates that free users have “Basic access” to Gemini 3 Pro, meaning that “daily limits may change frequently” based on server load.
In a further reduction, the limit for image generation using Nano Banana Pro has been explicitly decreased to 2 images per day, down from the previous allowance of 3 images.
Impact on Other Features and Paid Subscribers
The capacity constraints are not limited to Gemini tools alone. Earlier this week, Google announced a temporary rollback of new features in NotebookLM, specifically the Infographics and Slide Decks functions. Currently, free users have lost access to these features entirely, while Pro users are subject to “additional limits.”
In a statement regarding these changes, Google acknowledged the challenges posed by high demand, saying, “Due to the overwhelming demand, we’re experiencing some capacity constraints… however, we plan on bringing everything back to normal as soon as we can!”
For paid subscribers, the situation remains stable. There are no changes to the usage limits for Google AI Pro, which allows 100 prompts per day, or Google AI Ultra, which provides 500 prompts per day. This strategic move appears aimed at prioritizing paying customers while Google works to enhance its computing capacity.
These developments reflect the ongoing challenges tech companies face in scaling their services to meet rapidly growing user demand. As Google continues to navigate these limitations, users are encouraged to monitor updates for potential changes to service availability.
