Solving Gemini's Persistent 'Ghost Prompt' Loop: The Barcelona Itinerary Glitch

The Persistent 'Barcelona' Prompt: A Common Gemini Glitch

Are you repeatedly encountering a 'Barcelona 7-Day Itinerary' suggestion every time you open a new chat in Gemini? This frustrating phenomenon, often dubbed a 'ghost prompt,' is a common UI loop issue that can disrupt your workflow. While it's intended as an example, for some users, it gets stuck, reappearing multiple times a day despite efforts to clear it. This isn't just an annoyance; it signals a deeper caching or server-side problem.

First Aid: Browser and Device-Level Solutions

Many persistent UI issues, including Gemini's ghost prompt, often stem from local data caching. Before escalating, ensure you've thoroughly addressed these browser and device-specific steps:

Clear Your Browser's Local Data

The first and most crucial step is to clear your browser's cache and cookies, specifically for Google domains. This ensures that no outdated local data is causing the prompt to reappear.

In Chrome: Click the three-dot menu > Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > View permissions and data stored across sites. Search for "google" and clear all associated data.

For other browsers, the process will be similar: look for options to clear site data, cache, and cookies for specific domains.

Test with a Clean Slate

• Incognito Mode: Open an Incognito (or private) window and log into Gemini. If the prompt is gone, a browser extension or a persistent session cookie in your regular browsing profile is likely the culprit.
• Another Browser/Device: Try accessing Gemini from a completely different web browser (e.g., Firefox, Edge) or another device. If the issue disappears, it strongly points to a local cache or session problem on your primary setup.
• Browser Extensions: Temporarily disable all browser extensions to see if one is interfering with Gemini's UI.

Android App Specifics

If you're experiencing this on the Gemini Android app, consider these steps:

• Clear App Data: Go to your phone's Settings > Apps > Gemini > Storage > Clear Cache (and optionally Clear Data, but be aware this will log you out and reset app settings).
• Update/Reinstall: Ensure your Gemini app is updated to the latest version. Older builds can sometimes cause UI loops. If an update doesn't help, try reinstalling the app.

Temporarily Resetting Activity State

Sometimes, resetting how your Google Account interacts with Gemini's suggestions can help break the loop. This involves a temporary toggle of your Web & App Activity:

Navigate to your Google Account > Data & privacy > Web & App Activity. Temporarily toggle it OFF. Refresh Gemini to see if the prompt disappears, then you can turn it back ON.

While not directly related to your google account storage usage, managing these activity settings can sometimes reset how Google services present default content and suggestions across your connected applications, including Gemini.

What Won't Work (and Why)

Users often try to delete chats, log out and back in, or remove individual prompts manually. Unfortunately, these actions are usually ineffective. The 'Barcelona' prompt is a default suggestion, not user-stored data, meaning it cannot be permanently removed through these methods. Deleting chats only clears your conversation history, and logging out/in provides only temporary relief at best.

When All Else Fails: Report the Bug

If you've exhausted all local troubleshooting steps and the ghost prompt persists, it's highly likely a server-side UI bug that requires engineering attention from Google. Since default prompts cannot be permanently disabled by users, reporting it directly is the most effective path to a fix.

Here's how to submit a direct feedback report:

1. Open Gemini in your browser.
2. Click your Profile picture in the top right corner.
3. Select Send feedback.
4. Paste this exact text into the description:

"The default 'Barcelona 7-Day Itinerary' suggestion is caught in a UI loop. It appears constantly on every new chat multiple times a day, even after completely clearing browser cache and data."

5. Ensure the box to include a screenshot is checked (this provides invaluable context for engineers) and click Send.

By following these steps and reporting persistent issues, you contribute to making Gemini a more seamless and user-friendly experience for everyone.