Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Gemini CLI?

A: Gemini CLI is a command-line interface that brings Google's powerful Gemini family of models directly to your terminal, allowing you to interact with them for various tasks without leaving your command line.

Q: Is Gemini CLI an official Google product?

A: Yes, Gemini CLI is an official, open-source tool developed by Google/Alphabet's Developer Relations team. GeminiCLI is an unofficial, fan-made resource hub.

Q: How does Gemini CLI differ from other AI CLI tools?

A: Gemini CLI is built specifically around Google's Gemini models, providing optimized access to their capabilities. It offers tight Google Search integration, is fully open-source, and benefits from Google's continuous model improvements.

Q: Is the code generated by Gemini CLI reliable?

A: While Gemini generally produces high-quality code, it's always good practice to review and test any generated code before using it in production. The quality depends on how clearly you describe what you need.

Q: How do I install Gemini CLI?

A: Official installation methods for Gemini CLI:

Method 1: Run directly from GitHub (no installation required)

Method 2: Global installation (recommended)

After installation, you can use the gemini command directly.

Q: What are the system requirements?

A: Gemini CLI works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It requires Node.js version 18 or higher and an internet connection to communicate with Google's API servers.

Q: Do I need to create a Google account to use Gemini CLI?

A: Yes, you need a Google account to get an API key from Google AI Studio, which is required to use Gemini CLI.

Q: What can I do with Gemini CLI?

A: You can use it to generate text, translate languages, write different kinds of creative content, answer questions informatively, debug code, summarize content, and much more, all from your terminal.

Q: Can Gemini CLI process images?

A: Yes, when using the Gemini Pro Vision model, you can analyze images by using the --file flag with supported image formats.

Q: Does Gemini CLI support plugins or extensions?

A: Yes, Gemini CLI has a plugin system that allows extending its functionality. You can find community-developed plugins or create your own using the plugin API.

Q: Is it free to use?

A: Usage of the Gemini models through the CLI is subject to the pricing and free tiers of the Gemini API. Please refer to Google's official pricing page for the most up-to-date information.

Q: Is there a limit to how much I can use Gemini CLI?

A: Google provides generous free quotas for the Gemini API, but there are rate limits and monthly usage caps. Once you exceed the free tier, your Google Cloud account will be charged according to the pricing model.

Q: How can I monitor my API usage?

A: You can monitor your API usage through the Google Cloud Console. Gemini CLI also includes a command to check your current usage:

Q: What is MCP and how do I use it?

A: MCP (Model Context Protocol) is a protocol that allows Gemini to interact with external servers. Through MCP, Gemini CLI can connect to services that provide additional functionality, such as file operations, web searching, image generation, and more.

Connect to an MCP server:

Or use the command in chat:

Q: What built-in tools does Gemini CLI provide?

A: Gemini CLI includes several powerful built-in tools:

• grep: Search for patterns in files
• terminal: Execute shell commands
• file-read/write: Read and write files
• web-search: Search the internet for information
• web-fetch: Download content from URLs
• memory: Store and retrieve long-term memories

To see available tools in chat:

Q: What is the Memory feature and how does it work?

A: The Memory feature allows Gemini CLI to store and retrieve information, even between sessions. This is particularly useful for project-specific context, personal preferences, or commonly used settings.

Save a memory:

List all memories:

Delete a memory:

Q: How large a codebase can Gemini CLI handle?

A: Gemini CLI supports up to a 1M token context window, meaning it can process and understand large codebases. This enables it to analyze entire project structures, understand relationships between files, and answer questions in the context of the whole codebase.

Q: I'm getting authorization errors. What should I do?

A: Check that your API key is correctly set either in your environment variables or in the Gemini CLI configuration. You can set it with:

Q: How do I update Gemini CLI?

A: To update to the latest version, run:

Q: Gemini CLI is responding slowly. How can I improve performance?

A: Try using the --stream flag for real-time responses, reduce the complexity of your prompts, or consider using a smaller model for faster responses on less complex tasks.