Install Gemini CLI on Windows
Complete guide for installing Gemini CLI on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Step 1: Install Node.js
Gemini CLI requires Node.js 16.0 or higher. Follow these steps:
- 1. Download Node.js:
Visit nodejs.org and download the LTS version for Windows.
- 2. Run the installer:
Double-click the downloaded .msi file and follow the installation wizard.
- 3. Verify installation:
Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and run:
node --version
npm --version
Step 2: Install Gemini CLI
Open Command Prompt or PowerShell as Administrator:
# Install Gemini CLI globally
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
Note: If you encounter permission errors, try running the command prompt as Administrator (right-click → Run as Administrator).
Step 3: Configure PATH (if needed)
If the gemini command is not recognized, you may need to add npm's global directory to your PATH:
- 1. Find npm global directory:
npm config get prefix
- 2. Add to PATH:
- Open System Properties → Advanced → Environment Variables
- Under "User variables", select "Path" and click "Edit"
- Add the npm global directory path (usually
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\npm) - Click OK and restart your terminal
Step 4: Verify Installation
Test that Gemini CLI is installed correctly:
# Check version
gemini --version
# View help
gemini --help
Alternative: Install via WSL (Recommended for Developers)
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) provides a native Linux environment on Windows, offering better compatibility and performance for CLI tools like Gemini CLI.
1. Enable WSL:
# Run in PowerShell as Administrator
wsl --install
# Restart your computer when prompted
2. Set up Ubuntu (default WSL distro):
# After restart, Ubuntu will configure itself
# Create a username and password when prompted
3. Install Node.js in WSL:
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install nodejs
4. Install Gemini CLI:
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
gemini --version
Why WSL? Many developer tools are built for Linux/macOS first. WSL gives you access to the full Linux ecosystem while keeping your Windows desktop. Gemini CLI runs natively in WSL without PATH or permission workarounds.
Enterprise Environment Setup
If you're behind a corporate firewall or need to configure Gemini CLI for your organization:
Configure Corporate Proxy:
# Set npm proxy
npm config set proxy http://proxy.company.com:8080
npm config set https-proxy http://proxy.company.com:8080
# Set environment variable for Gemini CLI
set HTTPS_PROXY=http://proxy.company.com:8080
Use a Private npm Registry:
# Point npm to your organization's registry
npm config set registry https://registry.your-company.com/
# Install from private registry
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
SSL Certificate Issues:
# If your company uses custom SSL certificates
npm config set cafile /path/to/company-ca-cert.pem
# Or temporarily disable strict SSL (not recommended for production)
npm config set strict-ssl false
Installation Verification Checklist
Run these commands to confirm everything is set up correctly:
# 1. Check Node.js version (should be 16+)
node --version
# 2. Check npm version
npm --version
# 3. Check Gemini CLI version
gemini --version
# 4. Check Gemini CLI location
where gemini
# 5. Run a test command
gemini "Say hello"
If all commands return expected output, your installation is complete. If any command fails, check the troubleshooting section below.
Common Issues and Solutions
Error: EACCES permission denied
Solution: Run Command Prompt as Administrator
# Or configure npm to use a different directory
npm config set prefix "%USERPROFILE%\npm-global"
'gemini' is not recognized as a command
Solution: Add npm global directory to PATH (see Step 3)
Network or proxy issues
Solution: Configure npm proxy settings:
npm config set proxy http://proxy.company.com:8080
npm config set https-proxy http://proxy.company.com:8080
Related Questions
Next Steps
Now that Gemini CLI is installed, configure your API key to start using it: