This page provides a reference for commonly used Gemini CLI commands, options,
and parameters.
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|
gemini | Start interactive REPL | gemini |
gemini "query" | Query non-interactively, then exit | gemini "explain this project" |
cat file | gemini | Process piped content | cat logs.txt | gemini
Get-Content logs.txt | gemini |
gemini -i "query" | Execute and continue interactively | gemini -i "What is the purpose of this project?" |
gemini -r "latest" | Continue most recent session | gemini -r "latest" |
gemini -r "latest" "query" | Continue session with a new prompt | gemini -r "latest" "Check for type errors" |
gemini -r "<session-id>" "query" | Resume session by ID | gemini -r "abc123" "Finish this PR" |
gemini update | Update to latest version | gemini update |
gemini extensions | Manage extensions | See Extensions Management |
gemini mcp | Configure MCP servers | See MCP Server Management |
| Argument | Type | Description |
|---|
query | string (variadic) | Positional prompt. Defaults to one-shot mode. Use -i/--prompt-interactive to execute and continue interactively. |
| Option | Alias | Type | Default | Description |
|---|
--debug | -d | boolean | false | Run in debug mode with verbose logging |
--version | -v | - | - | Show CLI version number and exit |
--help | -h | - | - | Show help information |
--model | -m | string | auto | Model to use. See Model Selection for available values. |
--prompt | -p | string | - | Prompt text. Appended to stdin input if provided. Deprecated: Use positional arguments instead. |
--prompt-interactive | -i | string | - | Execute prompt and continue in interactive mode |
--sandbox | -s | boolean | false | Run in a sandboxed environment for safer execution |
--approval-mode | - | string | default | Approval mode for tool execution. Choices: default, auto_edit, yolo |
--yolo | -y | boolean | false | Deprecated. Auto-approve all actions. Use --approval-mode=yolo instead. |
--experimental-acp | - | boolean | - | Start in ACP (Agent Code Pilot) mode. Experimental feature. |
--experimental-zed-integration | - | boolean | - | Run in Zed editor integration mode. Experimental feature. |
--allowed-mcp-server-names | - | array | - | Allowed MCP server names (comma-separated or multiple flags) |
--allowed-tools | - | array | - | Deprecated. Use the Policy Engine instead. Tools that are allowed to run without confirmation (comma-separated or multiple flags) |
--extensions | -e | array | - | List of extensions to use. If not provided, all extensions are enabled (comma-separated or multiple flags) |
--list-extensions | -l | boolean | - | List all available extensions and exit |
--resume | -r | string | - | Resume a previous session. Use "latest" for most recent or index number (e.g. --resume 5) |
--list-sessions | - | boolean | - | List available sessions for the current project and exit |
--delete-session | - | string | - | Delete a session by index number (use --list-sessions to see available sessions) |
--include-directories | - | array | - | Additional directories to include in the workspace (comma-separated or multiple flags) |
--screen-reader | - | boolean | - | Enable screen reader mode for accessibility |
--output-format | -o | string | text | The format of the CLI output. Choices: text, json, stream-json |
The --model (or -m) flag lets you specify which Gemini model to use. You can
use either model aliases (user-friendly names) or concrete model names.
These are convenient shortcuts that map to specific models:
| Alias | Resolves To | Description |
|---|
auto | gemini-2.5-pro or gemini-3-pro-preview | Default. Resolves to the preview model if preview features are enabled, otherwise resolves to the standard pro model. |
pro | gemini-2.5-pro or gemini-3-pro-preview | For complex reasoning tasks. Uses preview model if enabled. |
flash | gemini-2.5-flash | Fast, balanced model for most tasks. |
flash-lite | gemini-2.5-flash-lite | Fastest model for simple tasks. |
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|
gemini extensions install <source> | Install extension from Git URL or local path | gemini extensions install https://github.com/user/my-extension |
gemini extensions install <source> --ref <ref> | Install from specific branch/tag/commit | gemini extensions install https://github.com/user/my-extension --ref develop |
gemini extensions install <source> --auto-update | Install with auto-update enabled | gemini extensions install https://github.com/user/my-extension --auto-update |
gemini extensions uninstall <name> | Uninstall one or more extensions | gemini extensions uninstall my-extension |
gemini extensions list | List all installed extensions | gemini extensions list |
gemini extensions update <name> | Update a specific extension | gemini extensions update my-extension |
gemini extensions update --all | Update all extensions | gemini extensions update --all |
gemini extensions enable <name> | Enable an extension | gemini extensions enable my-extension |
gemini extensions disable <name> | Disable an extension | gemini extensions disable my-extension |
gemini extensions link <path> | Link local extension for development | gemini extensions link /path/to/extension |
gemini extensions new <path> | Create new extension from template | gemini extensions new ./my-extension |
gemini extensions validate <path> | Validate extension structure | gemini extensions validate ./my-extension |
See Extensions Documentation for more details.
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|
gemini mcp add <name> <command> | Add stdio-based MCP server | gemini mcp add github npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-github |
gemini mcp add <name> <url> --transport http | Add HTTP-based MCP server | gemini mcp add api-server http://localhost:3000 --transport http |
gemini mcp add <name> <command> --env KEY=value | Add with environment variables | gemini mcp add slack node server.js --env SLACK_TOKEN=xoxb-xxx |
gemini mcp add <name> <command> --scope user | Add with user scope | gemini mcp add db node db-server.js --scope user |
gemini mcp add <name> <command> --include-tools tool1,tool2 | Add with specific tools | gemini mcp add github npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-github --include-tools list_repos,get_pr |
gemini mcp remove <name> | Remove an MCP server | gemini mcp remove github |
gemini mcp list | List all configured MCP servers | gemini mcp list |
See MCP Server Integration for more details.
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|
gemini skills list | List all discovered agent skills | gemini skills list |
gemini skills install <source> | Install skill from Git, path, or file | gemini skills install https://github.com/u/repo |
gemini skills link <path> | Link local agent skills via symlink | gemini skills link /path/to/my-skills |
gemini skills uninstall <name> | Uninstall an agent skill | gemini skills uninstall my-skill |
gemini skills enable <name> | Enable an agent skill | gemini skills enable my-skill |
gemini skills disable <name> | Disable an agent skill | gemini skills disable my-skill |
gemini skills enable --all | Enable all skills | gemini skills enable --all |
gemini skills disable --all | Disable all skills | gemini skills disable --all |
See Agent Skills Documentation for more details.
