Gemini CLI Extensions Setting: The Ultimate Guide for 2026

 Gemini CLI Extensions Setting: The Ultimate Guide for 2026

Gemini CLI Extensions Setting 2026

Introduction: The Terminal Gets a Brain

It is 2026. The way we write code has changed forever. Gone are the days of memorizing long, complex commands. Today, your terminal can think, plan, and act. This is made possible by the Gemini CLI.

The Gemini CLI is not just a tool; it is an intelligent agent that lives in your command line. It can read your files, fix your bugs, and even write entire applications for you. But to truly unlock its power, you must understand the Gemini CLI extensions setting.

In this guide, I will explain everything in simple, easy-to-understand English. I will share my personal experience, give you the best settings, and show you how to use extensions to make your work 10x faster.

What is Gemini CLI?

Before we dive into settings, let's understand the tool. The Gemini CLI (Command Line Interface) is an open-source tool from Google. It brings the power of the Gemini 3 Pro and Flash models directly to your terminal.

Unlike the old "Chat" interfaces where you had to copy-paste code back and forth, Gemini CLI can:

Edit files directly: It opens your files and applies changes.

Run commands: It can run tests, git commands, and build scripts.

Browse the web: It can search for the latest documentation.

It is like having a senior developer sitting next to you, ready to type whenever you get tired.

Step 1: Installation and Setup

To adjust the Gemini CLI extensions setting, you first need the tool installed. In 2026, the installation is very simple.

Prerequisites:

You need Node.js (version 20 or higher).

A Google Cloud account or a Gemini API Key.

How to Install:

Open your current terminal and type this simple command:

Bash

npm install -g @google/gemini-cli

Once installed, type gemini to start. It will ask you to log in with your Google account. This is the "One-Click" setup that makes it easy for beginners.

My Personal Advice: If you are using this for work, use the Google Cloud Project login. It gives you higher limits and better privacy controls. For personal hobby projects, the free tier with a personal Gmail account is usually enough.

Deep Dive: Gemini CLI Settings

This is the most important part. The default settings are okay, but they are not great. To make Gemini CLI truly yours, you need to configure it.

Where are the settings?

The Gemini CLI uses a file called settings.json. You can find it in your home directory.

Windows: C:\Users\YourName\.gemini\settings.json

Mac/Linux: ~/.gemini/settings.json

You can also have specific settings for each project. If you create a .gemini folder inside your project, those settings will override the global ones.

Essential Settings to Change

Here are the settings I recommend you change immediately.

1. Approval Mode (general.defaultApprovalMode)

This setting controls how much freedom Gemini has.

default: Gemini will ask you before running any command or editing any file. (Safest)

auto_edit: Gemini can edit files without asking, but will ask before running shell commands. (Best for coding)

yolo: "You Only Look Once". Gemini does everything without asking. (Dangerous, but fast)

My Opinion: Set this to auto_edit. It strikes the perfect balance. You don't want to click "Yes" every time it fixes a typo, but you do want to stop it before it deletes a database.

2. Theme (ui.theme)

Coding should look good. You can change the color scheme of the CLI.

Options: dark, light, hacker, retro.

Tip: The retro theme gives a cool green-screen look that makes you feel like a 90s hacker.

3. Checkpointing (general.checkpointing.enabled)

This is a lifesaver. If you set this to true, Gemini saves the state of your conversation. If your computer crashes or you close the terminal, you can come back and pick up exactly where you left off.

4. Telemetry (general.telemetry.enabled)

By default, Google collects data to improve the tool. If you are working on private, sensitive projects, you might want to set this to false.

Understanding Extensions

The real magic happens with Extensions. Think of the basic Gemini CLI as a smart college graduate. It knows a lot, but it doesn't know your specific tools. Extensions are like training courses that teach new skills.

In 2026, Google introduced the "Model Context Protocol" (MCP). This is a fancy name for a simple concept: a standard way for AI to talk to other software.

Why use Extensions?

Connect to GitHub: Let Gemini see your Pull Requests and Issues.

Connect to Databases: Let Gemini run SQL queries to get data.

Connect to Slack: Let Gemini summarize daily updates and post them to your team.

How to Install Extensions

Installing an extension is as easy as installing an app on your phone. You use the Gemini extensions install command.

Example:

If you want to install the GitHub extension, you would type:

Bash

Gemini extensions install https://github.com/google-gemini/extension-github

Once installed, the Gemini CLI extensions setting updates automatically. You don't need to manually edit complex files anymore.

Configuring Extensions in settings.json

Sometimes, an extension needs a password or an API key (like a GitHub Token). You should never put these directly in the chat. Instead, you put them in your settings.json file.

Here is an example of what your settings file might look like with extensions:

JSON

{

  "general": {

    "defaultApprovalMode": "auto_edit",

    "checkpointing": {

      "enabled": true

    }

  },

  "mcpServers": {

    "github": {

      "command": "npx",

      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"],

      "env": {

        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "your-token-here"

      }

    }

  }

}

Explanation:

mcpServers: This tells Gemini, "Here is a list of tools you can use."

GitHub: The name of the tool.

env: This is where you securely store your passwords.

Security Warning: Be very careful with your settings.json file. Do not commit this file to public repositories like GitHub, because it contains your secrets.

The Power of GEMINI.md

There is one "setting" that is not in the JSON file. It is the GEMINI.md file.

If you create a file named GEMINI.md in the root folder of your project, Gemini will read it every time it starts. This is where you put the "Human Touch".

What to put in GEMINI.md:

Project Rules: "Always use TypeScript, never JavaScript."

Tone: "Explain things to me like I am five years old."

Architecture: "This project uses a Model-View-Controller pattern."

Why this is important:

Without this file, you have to repeat yourself every time you start a new session. With GEMINI.md, the AI knows your style immediately. It makes the AI feel like a dedicated member of your team who knows the project history.

Real-World Use Case: A Day in the Life

Let's look at how these Gemini CLI extension settings help in a real scenario.

The Task: You need to fix a bug in a Python web app and deploy it to the cloud.

Start: You type gemini in your terminal.

Context: Gemini reads your GEMINI.md and knows you prefer short, clean code.

The Bug: You paste the error message.

Action: Because you set approvalMode to auto_edit, Gemini opens the file app.py, finds the bad line of code, and fixes it instantly. You watch the file update in real-time.

Testing: Gemini runs the test command pytest. It passes.

Deployment: You ask, "Deploy this to Cloud Run."

Extension: Gemini uses the Google Cloud extension. It builds the container and pushes it.

Success: It gives you the URL of the live app.

This entire process took 5 minutes. Without the CLI and correct settings, it might have taken an hour.

Future Outlook and Analysis

As we move further into 2026, the line between "Developer" and "Manager" is blurring.

My Prediction:

In the future, we will write less code and write more instructions. The Gemini CLI extensions setting will become the most important part of your job. You won't be judged on how fast you can type Python; you will be judged on how well you can configure your AI agent to type Python for you.

The "Extension Ecosystem" will grow. We will see extensions for:

Finance: "Gemini, check our Stripe payments and make a graph."

HR: “Gemini, review these resumes and identify the top candidates.”

Design: "Gemini, edit this CSS to match our brand colors."

The terminal is no longer a scary black box with green text. It is now a command center for AI.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring Updates: Gemini CLI updates frequently. Run npm update -g @google/gemini-cli once a week.

Over-automating: Do not use yolo mode on production servers. AI can still make mistakes.

** forgetting .geminiignore:** Just like .gitignore, you should have a .geminiignore file. Add large files (like videos or datasets) here so Gemini doesn't waste time and money reading them.

Conclusion

Configuring your Gemini CLI extensions setting is the first step to mastering the future of development. It allows you to customize the AI to fit your unique style and needs.

By taking the time to set up your settings.json, install the right extensions, and write a good GEMINI.md, you are not just using a tool—you are building a partner.

Next Steps for You:

Open your terminal right now.

Install the CLI if you haven't (npm install -g @google/gemini-cli).

Create a GEMINI.md file in your current project and write down three rules for the AI to follow.

The future of coding is here. It is simple, powerful, and ready for you to configure.

Hands-on with Gemini CLI Extensions

I selected this video because it provides a clear, visual walkthrough of installing and managing Gemini CLI extensions, which directly complements the configuration guide I just wrote.