More and more users are noticing that their computer suddenly has less free storage space, without a clear reason. In some cases, Google Chrome turns out to be the cause. The browser automatically downloads a large AI file when certain smart features are enabled.
This concerns a file named weights.bin, which is linked to Google’s Gemini Nano AI model. This model supports features such as writing assistance, scam detection, and smart suggestions in Chrome. Because this AI runs locally on your device, a large part of the model is stored directly on your computer. How do you free up that space?
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Step 1: Check if the file is present
To check if the file is on your computer, first open the folder where Chrome stores its user data. On Windows, you can find this location via:
C:\Users\[your name]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\
On macOS, go to:
~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/
Next, look for the folder OptGuideOnDeviceModel. If you see the file weights.bin inside it, it means Chrome has already downloaded the AI model. The file can be approximately 4 GB in size.
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Step 2: Disable local AI features
It is important to first disable Chrome’s AI features before deleting the file. If you don’t, there is a chance that Chrome will automatically download the file again later.
Open Google Chrome and click on the three dots in the top right corner to go to settings. Then choose System and look for the option On-device AI. Turn that feature off so that Chrome no longer uses local AI models.
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Step 3: Manually delete the file
After the AI features have been disabled, you can safely delete the file. Go back to the folder OptGuideOnDeviceModel and delete the file weights.bin. Don’t forget to empty the trash afterwards so that the storage space is actually released.
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Step 4: Check available disk space
Once the file is completely removed, you can check how much storage space you have regained. On Windows, you do this via Settings> System > Storage. On macOS, click the Apple logo in the top left and choose About This Mac > Storage. In most cases, you will see a few extra gigabytes of free space appear.
Conclusion
Google Chrome can unnoticedly download a large AI file when certain smart features are active. Although Gemini Nano offers benefits in terms of speed and privacy, the file can cause problems on devices with limited storage space. By disabling the On-device AI feature and manually deleting the file, you prevent Chrome from taking up several gigabytes of space again without you noticing.