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This guide will walk you through downloading, extracting, and running the Gemini CLI Easy Installer on your Windows PC.

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Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:
  • Windows 10 or Windows 11 (the installer uses winget, which requires recent Windows versions)
  • Internet connection (required for downloading Node.js and Gemini CLI)
  • App Installer from Microsoft Store (required for winget command support)
If you don’t have winget available, you’ll need to install “App Installer” from the Microsoft Store before proceeding.

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Installation Steps

1

Download the Installer

Navigate to the GitHub Releases page and download the latest .zip file.The file will be named something like gemini-cli-easy-installer-[version].zip.
2

Extract the ZIP File

  1. Locate the downloaded .zip file in your Downloads folder
  2. Right-click on the file
  3. Select “Extract All…” from the context menu
  4. Choose a destination folder and click Extract
Make sure to fully extract the file before running. Do not run the batch file directly from inside the ZIP archive.
3

Run the Installer

Double-click the extracted .bat file to launch the installer.
If the installer doesn’t run properly, try right-clicking the .bat file and selecting “Run as administrator”. This can resolve permission-related issues.
The installer will automatically:
  • Check if Node.js is installed on your PC
  • Install or update Node.js LTS if needed
  • Install or update the Gemini CLI to the latest version
  • Create a desktop shortcut for easy access
4

Complete Node.js Installation (if needed)

If Node.js was not previously installed, the batch file will install it using winget. After installation completes:
  1. The installer will pause and display an important message
  2. Close the current window
  3. Run the .bat file again to continue the setup
This restart is required because Node.js needs to be recognized by the system. The second run will complete the Gemini CLI installation.
5

Launch Gemini CLI

After successful installation:
  1. Press any key when prompted
  2. A new PowerShell window will automatically open with Gemini CLI running
  3. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete initial configuration:
    • Select Theme: Press Enter to use the default theme
    • Select Auth Method: Choose “Login with Google” and press Enter
  4. A browser window will open for Google account authentication
  5. Sign in with your Google account to complete setup

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What Gets Installed

The installer performs the following operations:

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Node.js Setup

  • Checks for existing Node.js installation
  • Installs Node.js LTS if not present
  • Updates to the latest LTS version if already installed
  • Uses winget install OpenJS.NodeJS.LTS for installation

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Gemini CLI Installation

  • Installs the official @google/gemini-cli package globally via npm
  • Automatically updates to the latest version if already installed
  • Verifies successful installation by checking for the gemini command

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Desktop Shortcut Creation

  • Creates a shortcut named “Gemini CLI.lnk” on your desktop
  • The shortcut launches PowerShell with the Gemini CLI automatically loaded
  • Working directory is set to your user profile folder

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Using Gemini CLI After Installation

Once setup is complete, you can launch Gemini CLI in two ways:
  1. Desktop Shortcut: Double-click the “Gemini CLI” shortcut on your desktop
  2. Command Line: Open PowerShell or Command Prompt and type gemini
The desktop shortcut provides the most convenient way to access Gemini CLI, as it automatically configures the PowerShell environment.

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Troubleshooting

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Installation Fails

If the Gemini CLI installation fails, check the following:
  1. Network Connection: Ensure you have a stable internet connection
  2. Run as Administrator: Right-click the .bat file and select “Run as administrator”
  3. Clear npm Cache: Open Command Prompt as administrator and run: 
    npm cache clean --force
    Then run the installer again

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winget Command Not Found

If you see an error about winget not being available:
  • Install “App Installer” from the Microsoft Store
  • Make sure you’re running Windows 10 (version 1809 or later) or Windows 11
  • Restart your computer after installing App Installer

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Gemini Command Not Recognized

If the gemini command is not recognized after installation:
  1. Close and reopen your terminal window
  2. Verify Node.js is in your PATH by running node -v
  3. Check if Gemini CLI is installed: npm list -g @google/gemini-cli
  4. Try running the installer again as administrator

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Next Steps

After completing the installation, you can:
  • Start chatting with Gemini directly from your terminal
  • Explore Gemini CLI commands and features
  • Configure additional settings and preferences
The first time you launch Gemini CLI, you’ll need to authenticate with your Google account. This is a one-time setup process.

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