Connect Google Gemini Beta
Add MerchLens AI to Gemini as a custom app, then ask about your sales, best sellers, stock and buying plans in Gemini. It takes about three minutes.
New in Gemini. Google started rolling out custom apps in mid-2026, and the menus are still changing. If a step doesn't match what you see, or Gemini can't finish connecting, email support@merchlensai.com and we'll help.
What you need
- A personal Google account. Work and school accounts can't add custom apps yet.
- You must be 18 or older, in the United States, and using Gemini in English.
- Keep Activity turned on in Gemini. Custom apps don't work while it's off.
- Some accounts also need a Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription, because custom apps run through Gemini Spark.
- A computer for the setup, at gemini.google.com. Once it's added, it works in the Gemini phone app too.
- Your connector link from MerchLens AI (step 1).
Set it up
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Copy your connector link
In MerchLens AI, open the 🔧 Tools menu, choose 🔌 Connect a chatbot, and click Copy link.
It looks like
https://mcp.merchlensai.com/. Treat it like a password: anyone who has it can read your store's numbers.…/mcp -
Open Connected Apps in Gemini
At gemini.google.com, click Settings & help at the lower left, then Connected Apps.
Not there? On some accounts it's inside Personal Intelligence.
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Add MerchLens AI
Under Custom apps (it may say Custom apps for Spark), click Add a custom app. Paste your connector link and click Next.
MerchLens AI doesn't need a sign-in, so there's no password to enter. If Gemini shows an approval screen, approve it.
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Use it in a chat
In a chat, type @ and pick MerchLens AI, then ask your question. Mentioning it makes sure Gemini looks up your store's numbers.
Try it
Every MerchLens AI tool only reads data; none of them can change your store.
What Gemini can see
- Shared: daily sales totals, sales by product, brand and collection, products and stock levels, forecasts, discounts, customer segments as counts, your buying and marketing plans, and your weekly AI briefings.
- Never shared: customer names, emails, phone numbers or addresses, and your Shopify login.
- How fresh: updated every night, and through the selling day while MerchLens AI is running.
Troubleshooting
I don't see Connected Apps or Add a custom app
Google is still rolling this out. Check every item under What you need: a personal account, the US, English, Keep Activity on, and an AI Pro or Ultra plan if your account needs one. Also look inside Personal Intelligence.
Gemini says it couldn't connect
Copy the link again from 🔌 Connect a chatbot. The whole link must be pasted, including the long code in the middle and /mcp at the end, with nothing after it.
It connected, but Gemini doesn't use it
Check that Keep Activity is still on, and start your question with @MerchLens AI.
The answers use old numbers
The connector panel in MerchLens AI shows when the data was last updated. If it's more than a day old, open 📤 Export for ChatGPT and click Export now. That refreshes the data for every chatbot.
I use Gemini with a work Google account
Work and school accounts can't add custom apps in the Gemini app yet. On Gemini Enterprise, an administrator can add custom servers for the company; ask yours, or use a personal account for now.
I shared my link by mistake
Email support@merchlensai.com and we'll issue a new link right away. The old one stops working, and you add MerchLens AI to Gemini again with the new one.
Using another chatbot? See all guides. Gemini's menu names were checked in October 2026 and may change.