Install Gemini CLI on macOS
Complete guide for installing Gemini CLI on macOS 11 (Big Sur) and later.
Method 1: Install with Homebrew (Recommended)
The easiest way to install Gemini CLI on macOS is using Homebrew:
1. Install Homebrew (if not already installed):
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
2. Install Gemini CLI:
brew install gemini-cli
3. Verify installation:
gemini --version
Method 2: Install with npm
If you prefer using npm or need more control over the installation:
1. Install Node.js:
Option A: Using Homebrew
brew install node
Option B: Download from nodejs.org
Visit nodejs.org and download the macOS installer.
2. Install Gemini CLI globally:
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
3. Fix npm permissions (if needed):
If you get permission errors:
# Option 1: Use a Node version manager (recommended)
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash
nvm install node
# Option 2: Change npm's default directory
mkdir ~/.npm-global
npm config set prefix '~/.npm-global'
echo 'export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc
Shell Configuration
Ensure your shell is properly configured:
For Zsh (default on macOS):
# Add to ~/.zshrc
export PATH="/usr/local/bin:$PATH"
# Reload configuration
source ~/.zshrc
For Bash:
# Add to ~/.bash_profile
export PATH="/usr/local/bin:$PATH"
# Reload configuration
source ~/.bash_profile
Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) Macs
For Apple Silicon Macs, Homebrew installs to a different location:
# Add Homebrew to PATH
echo 'eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> ~/.zshrc
eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"
Common Issues
Command not found: gemini
Make sure the installation directory is in your PATH:
echo $PATH
which gemini
Permission denied errors
Never use sudo with npm. Instead, fix npm permissions:
npm config get prefix
npm config set prefix '~/.npm-global'
Next Steps
Great! Gemini CLI is now installed on your Mac. Configure your API key to start using it: