Pasting images directly into Gemini CLI (Windows)

[umairshahid-1]

Can I directly paste an image from the clipboard into Gemini CLI?

I’ve tried common shortcuts like Ctrl + V and Alt + V (similar to how they work in Codex CLI or Claude Code), but they don’t work in Gemini CLI.

Currently, the only workaround is to:

1. Save the image to a file
2. Then reference that file in the command

This approach is inconvenient and inefficient, especially for quick iterations.

Has anyone found a way to paste images directly from the clipboard into Gemini CLI on Windows, or is there a recommended alternative/workaround?

Any guidance would be appreciated.

[zhyhang]

same issue, in win11, gemini-clie 0.21.3

[nodelabstudio]

ctrl + V works for me.

[SuryenduB]

does not work in windows

[Iamjoosy]

I can second this. does not work on windows. CLI Version 0.29.3 │
│ Git Commit 7f9808c

[jetspiking]

On Windows the feature is implemented using ALT + V. .

The image will be included in the prompt like: [Image ....png]. If you press the left arrow key a couple of times, you see: .gemini\tmp\<workspace>\images\clipboard-<nr>.png.

I was searching for it as well and found it by attempting the shortcut in the manual.

To elaborate further: You don't need to have it on your disk per se. It will automatically copy from your clipboard to your temp folder.

[natthapolvanasrivilai]

If Ctrl+V didn't work, try Alt+V.

[kostakis]

Alt+V Currently works with Windows 11

[YousseFathalla]

ctrl+v works only if you're running out of a project, not in the IDE, for example, when I run Gemini CLI in antigavity i cant use ctrl+V, but if i run it outside Antigravity, it works, BTW alot of things like that happens, i hope u guys consider that that most of dev will be using inside an IDE not at root level outside cuz make sure this bugs are being tested well, inside an IDE, Thanks

[kostakis]

Gemini cli can be run everywhere just open a console IDE or not the behavior must be clear how to paste an image