Could you please clarify who can use gemini-cli? (AKA "This account requires setting the GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT env var")

[andreagrandi]

What would you like to be added?

Hi everyone,

I promise you that I have read this https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli/blob/main/docs/cli/authentication.md already. Multiple times. And I still can't figure out if I can use gemini-cli or not with my work account 🤷🏻‍♂️

I don't want to use my personal GMail account (because of your data usage policy), I would like to use my work account (we normally have access to Gemini 2.5 Pro in https://gemini.google.com ) but you keep mentioning that I need:

• GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT to be set to my project ID: which project ID? I don't know anything about this project id 🤷🏻‍♂️ I simply want to use gemini-cli. Does it cost additional money for work accounts? How do I get or generate one? We don't use Google Cloud normally.
• enable the Gemini for Cloud API: since I'm not the account admin, what should I ask to admins exactly? Does this cost more money?
• configure access permissions: again, what should I ask to our admins? Why do we have access to Gemini on web and we can't simply have it from the command line?

It seems to me quite complicated to setup. I just want to be able to use an existing product.

Please make it simple to use. People should be able to just use their existing (paid or free) accounts without going through all these steps.

Thanks 🙏🏻

Why is this needed?

See above

Additional context

No response

[Mistifiou]

Hi. You'll have to access to google cloud console. Here you can handle projects and retrieve project id

[shoiam]

If you are using a workspace account you will have to have a google cloud project created and add that to your env variable. As you can see it's explicitly checking for that during the authentication process.

`export const validateAuthMethod = (authMethod: string): string | null => {
loadEnvironment();
if (authMethod === AuthType.LOGIN_WITH_GOOGLE_PERSONAL) {
return null;
}

if (authMethod === AuthType.LOGIN_WITH_GOOGLE_ENTERPRISE) {
if (!process.env.GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT) {
return 'GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT environment variable not found. Add that to your .env and try again, no reload needed!';
}
return null;
}

if (authMethod === AuthType.USE_GEMINI) {
if (!process.env.GEMINI_API_KEY) {
return 'GEMINI_API_KEY environment variable not found. Add that to your .env and try again, no reload needed!';
}
return null;
}`

If it's a Google Personal account it doesn't care and go ahead with authenticating the user. Also select the below option if you want to use your workspace, caz default "Login with Google" will expect a personal gmail.

[andreagrandi]

Folks, do you realise this is far from being "easy to use" ?

You are assuming people have experience with Google Cloud console (I just logged in and I'm not going to create anything unless someone from Google assures me we are not going to be charged for this), know what a project is etc...

It doesn't make any sense that to use Gemini CLI you are forcing people to also use Google Cloud. If you think this is a strict requirement, well... I won't use Gemini CLI then.

Let me say this once again: workspace users should be able to login and use their accounts without having to use Google Cloud.

[shoiam]

I know it's the way but even Claude Code does this, they have a credit based billing. But when you are using a enterprise account, I think Google has this way in place for billing strategy by linking Gemini CLI with Cloud account to charge for the token usage.

[andreagrandi]

I know it's the way but even Claude Code does this, they have a credit based billing. But when you are using a enterprise account, I think Google has this way in place for billing strategy by linking Gemini CLI with Cloud account to charge for the token usage.

if they are charging for token usage then it's not free nor included in our workspace plan. This should be clearly stated in the product page. Instead it's written everywhere that is free 🤷🏻‍♂️ (ref https://blog.google/technology/developers/introducing-gemini-cli-open-source-ai-agent/ )

What am I missing?

[Mistifiou]

Ur enterprise account is related to an organisation in google cloud, that's why this look so "hard" to you.

With personal account you don't need project id.

[andreagrandi]

Ur enterprise account is related to an organisation in google cloud, that's why this look so "hard" to you.

With personal account you don't need project id.

the issue with using a personal account is that Google can (and will) use the source code and prompts to train their model.

What I don't understand is this: if a company is already paying for a Google account and Gemini is already included, why not just let the people use it (maybe with certain limits) just like we can use the web version?

It's the additional friction to use it that can (and will) put a lot of people off from using it. Just my two cents.

[Mistifiou]

The point is: this is not an issue with gemini-cli.

You can ask your enterprise a licence to use gemini with gemini-cli. Or you can create one by following instructions.

You'll have creds to start and test.

[nmalish]

Based on my experience:

I have a personal Google Gemini Pro subscription, but it seems based on information I found that this doesn't increase usage limits (still like free tier - 1000/day).

However, it didn't work unless I went to https://console.cloud.google.com/ and created a project and provided GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT. But why is this necessary?

This is still confusing to me. Could you clarify:

• Does having a Pro subscription increase CLI limits? (I read Feature: "Google AI Pro/Ultra" subscription and Gemini CLI #1427)
• Are you planning to increase limits for Pro subscribers?
• Why do I have to set up a Google Cloud project even for personal use? The web interface works fine without this.

It would be helpful to have clearer documentation about the relationship between Gemini Pro subscriptions and the CLI requirements and relations to GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT

Thanks in advance

[vietvudanh]

Google cloud console is a mess. What is so hard about using just the API key of the work account? (via austudio)

[andreagrandi]

You can ask your enterprise a licence to use gemini with gemini-cli

why? It's either included or not included. If it's included in what we already pay, I may be interested to give it a try, if it's not, I'm not interested.

You'll have creds to start and test.

if gemini-cli was included in what we already pay, I shouldn't have to create any additional credentials or resources. I should be able to just login with my work account.

I'm giving up for now, until it will become easier to use. Thanks

[Sophia-Hong]

I tried my work id and faced with numerous errors - I entered project ID then IAM policy, unknown errors... and so on. I deleted and removed cache and everything, and tried with my personal gmail account, still it only shows you need var etc. Google cloud, google ads are so frustrating UI and UX - you cannot find the answer or hints anywhere, even Gemini with the official doc cannot solve as they change their UI/UX everyday. It is soooo frustrating.

[Manamama]

Google has Gemini there on these pages, in-built... If not this, MS Edge with Bing AI (or whatever is called nowadays) helps too...

[rrisk93]

It's complete nonsense that you must use the API with a workspace account at work, because the workspace account already has a subscription to Gemini PRO, and you're charging them a completely separate fee.
At the very least, a workspace account should be able to use it exactly the same as an individual user.

[Manamama]

With this I agree, but I guess some business (group targetting 🎯) is involved: 👨🏽‍💼👔 strategy