Gemini API restricts 2.5 model access to prior active users
Google's September 18 update limits Gemini 2.5 model access to users who actively used them previously. The models are not deprecated and remain served through the API until further notice; Google recommends 3.5 Flash-Lite or 3.8 Flash for new projects.
SessionWatcher editorial · Published · Updated · Source announcement: 2026-09-18
Related guide: How to check your Gemini usage
Access limited to prior active users
Google announced on September 18, 2026 that access to Gemini 2.5 models is limited to users who actively used them in the past. Google says the restriction is intended to ensure reliable performance and maintain capacity for ongoing legacy workflows and new applications.
Sources: Gemini release notes: 2026-09-18
Models remain served through the API
The access restriction is not a deprecation: Google says the 2.5 models will continue to be served through the API until further notice. For new projects, its release notes direct developers to use 3.5 Flash-Lite or 3.8 Flash instead.
Sources: Gemini release notes: 2026-09-18
AI assisted reporting, checked against the linked official sources. Source pages checked 2026-10-03. Editorial process and corrections.