# Install Gemini CLI In Headless Linux

Tired of leaving your terminal for AI tasks? [**Gemini CLI**](https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli) is an open-source AI agent that brings the power of Google's Gemini directly to your command line. It's a fantastic alternative to tools like Claude Code, offering a seamless AI experience right where you work.

While Gemini CLI typically defaults to a browser-based login, this can be problematic for **headless Linux** environments (servers or systems without a graphical user interface). Thankfully, there's a straightforward way to authenticate using a **Gemini API key**, making it perfect for your GUI-less setup.

## Setting Up Gemini CLI with an API Key

Here's how to get Gemini CLI up and running on your headless Linux machine:

### 1\. Create Your Gemini API Key

The first step is to generate an API key for authentication.

  * Navigate to **Google AI Studio** and create your API key: [https://aistudio.google.com/apikey](https://aistudio.google.com/apikey)

Once you have your API key, you need to make it accessible to Gemini CLI. Add the following line to your shell's configuration file (either `~/.bashrc` for Bash or `~/.zshrc` for Zsh):

```shell
export GEMINI_API_KEY=<YOUR_API_KEY_HERE>
```

**Important:** Replace `<YOUR_API_KEY_HERE>` with the actual API key you just generated. After adding the line, **remember to source the file** to apply the changes to your current terminal session. You can do this by running:

```bash
source ~/.bashrc
# OR
source ~/.zshrc
```

### 2\. Install Gemini CLI

Before installing, ensure you have **Node.js version 20 or higher** installed on your system. If you don't, you'll need to install it first.

Once Node.js is ready, install Gemini CLI globally using npm:

```shell
sudo npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
```

### 3\. Launch Gemini CLI and Authenticate

Now you're ready to launch Gemini CLI\! Simply execute the `gemini` command in your terminal:

```shell
gemini
```

During the initial launch, you'll be prompted to choose a theme and an **authentication method**. **Crucially, select "Use Gemini API Key"**. Gemini CLI will automatically detect the `GEMINI_API_KEY` environment variable you set, allowing for seamless authentication without a browser.

## Troubleshooting Authentication Issues

Encountering problems during authentication? Here are a couple of common solutions:

  * **Verify Your API Key:** Double-check that your API key is correctly set as an environment variable by running:

    ```shell
    echo $GEMINI_API_KEY
    ```

    This command should display your API key. If it's empty or incorrect, re-verify the steps in the "Create Your Gemini API Key" section.

  * **Clear Previous Session Data:** If you've previously attempted to launch Gemini CLI and encountered authentication failures, there might be leftover configuration files causing issues. Delete the `~/.gemini` folder to clear these settings and then try launching Gemini CLI again:

    ```shell
    rm -rf ~/.gemini
    ```

    After deleting the folder, run `gemini` again and select the "Use Gemini API Key" authentication method.

With these steps, you should have Gemini CLI running smoothly on your headless Linux system, ready to bring powerful AI capabilities directly to your command line.

**Have you tried using Gemini CLI in a headless environment before? Share your experience in the comments below\!**