Authentication Error Fixes
Resolve authentication issues and API key problems when using Gemini CLI.
Common Authentication Errors
❌ "API key not provided"
Error: GOOGLE_AI_API_KEY environment variable is not set or accessible
Solutions:
1. Set environment variable:
# Linux/macOS
export GOOGLE_AI_API_KEY="your_api_key_here"
# Windows (Command Prompt)
set GOOGLE_AI_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
# Windows (PowerShell)
$env:GOOGLE_AI_API_KEY="your_api_key_here"
❌ "Invalid API key"
Error: API key format is incorrect or key is invalid
Solutions:
1. Verify API key format:
- Should start with "AIza" followed by 35 characters
- Total length should be 39 characters
- Contains only alphanumeric characters and dashes
2. Generate a new API key:
Visit Google AI Studio to create a new API key.
Quick Fixes
Check environment variable
echo $GOOGLE_AI_API_KEY
Next Steps
Still having authentication issues? Try these resources: