# Gemini CLI cheatsheet
This page provides a reference for commonly used Gemini CLI commands, options,
and parameters.
## CLI commands
| Command | Description | Example |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `gemini` | Start interactive REPL | `gemini` |
| `gemini -p "query"` | Query non-interactively | `gemini -p "summarize README.md"` |
| `gemini "query"` | Query and continue interactively | `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 "" "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](#extensions-management) |
| `gemini mcp` | Configure MCP servers | See [MCP Server Management](#mcp-server-management) |
### Positional arguments
| Argument | Type | Description |
| -------- | ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `query` | string (variadic) | Positional prompt. Defaults to interactive mode in a TTY. Use `-p/--prompt` for non-interactive execution. |
## Interactive commands
These commands are available within the interactive REPL.
| Command | Description |
| -------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| `/skills reload` | Reload discovered skills from disk |
| `/agents reload` | Reload the agent registry |
| `/commands reload` | Reload custom slash commands |
| `/memory reload` | Reload context files (e.g., `GEMINI.md`) |
| `/mcp reload` | Restart and reload MCP servers |
| `/extensions reload` | Reload all active extensions |
| `/help` | Show help for all commands |
| `/quit` | Exit the interactive session |
## CLI Options
| 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](#model-selection) for available values. |
| `--prompt` | `-p` | string | - | Prompt text. Appended to stdin input if provided. Forces non-interactive mode. |
| `--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](/docs/reference/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` |
## Model selection
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.
### Model aliases
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. |
## Extensions management
| Command | Description | Example |
| -------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `gemini extensions install ` | Install extension from Git URL or local path | `gemini extensions install https://github.com/user/my-extension` |
| `gemini extensions install --ref [` | Install from specific branch/tag/commit | `gemini extensions install https://github.com/user/my-extension --ref develop` |
| `gemini extensions install --auto-update` | Install with auto-update enabled | `gemini extensions install https://github.com/user/my-extension --auto-update` |
| `gemini extensions uninstall ` | Uninstall one or more extensions | `gemini extensions uninstall my-extension` |
| `gemini extensions list` | List all installed extensions | `gemini extensions list` |
| `gemini extensions update ` | Update a specific extension | `gemini extensions update my-extension` |
| `gemini extensions update --all` | Update all extensions | `gemini extensions update --all` |
| `gemini extensions enable ` | Enable an extension | `gemini extensions enable my-extension` |
| `gemini extensions disable ` | Disable an extension | `gemini extensions disable my-extension` |
| `gemini extensions link ` | Link local extension for development | `gemini extensions link /path/to/extension` |
| `gemini extensions new ` | Create new extension from template | `gemini extensions new ./my-extension` |
| `gemini extensions validate ` | Validate extension structure | `gemini extensions validate ./my-extension` |
See [Extensions Documentation](/docs/extensions) for more details.
## MCP server management
| Command | Description | Example |
| ------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `gemini mcp add ` | Add stdio-based MCP server | `gemini mcp add github npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-github` |
| `gemini mcp add --transport http` | Add HTTP-based MCP server | `gemini mcp add api-server http://localhost:3000 --transport http` |
| `gemini mcp add --env KEY=value` | Add with environment variables | `gemini mcp add slack node server.js --env SLACK_TOKEN=xoxb-xxx` |
| `gemini mcp add --scope user` | Add with user scope | `gemini mcp add db node db-server.js --scope user` |
| `gemini mcp add --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 ` | Remove an MCP server | `gemini mcp remove github` |
| `gemini mcp list` | List all configured MCP servers | `gemini mcp list` |
See [MCP Server Integration](/docs/tools/mcp-server) for more details.
## Skills management
| Command | Description | Example |
| -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| `gemini skills list` | List all discovered agent skills | `gemini skills list` |
| `gemini skills install ` | Install skill from Git, path, or file | `gemini skills install https://github.com/u/repo` |
| `gemini skills link ` | Link local agent skills via symlink | `gemini skills link /path/to/my-skills` |
| `gemini skills uninstall ` | Uninstall an agent skill | `gemini skills uninstall my-skill` |
| `gemini skills enable ` | Enable an agent skill | `gemini skills enable my-skill` |
| `gemini skills disable ` | 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](/docs/cli/skills) for more details.]