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Restarting the terminal and running gemini asks for an api-key - Gemini CLI

Quick fix

Update cc-switch for the save-clears-config bug. If it still fails, that is a Gemini CLI read bug — put the environment variables in bash_profile.

Symptom

Section titled “Symptom”
Error output
重启终端，执行gemini，提示需要输入api-key。
English translation

Restarting the terminal and running gemini asks for an api-key.

Cause

Section titled “Cause”

Two causes. First, early cc-switch versions (3.13.0, for example) have a bug where saving config in Google Official mode unexpectedly clears the `.gemini/.env` file, or leaves preset template config such as usage queries unwritten. Second, the Gemini CLI itself has a bug reading `.env` files: even when cc-switch writes the config file correctly, the Gemini CLI cannot read it and asks for an api-key.

Fix

Section titled “Fix”

  1. Update cc-switch to the latest version, fixing both saving in Google Official mode clearing `.env` and config not being written.

  2. If it still asks for an api-key after updating, you have hit the Gemini CLI `.env` reading bug. Put the url, key, and model straight into your system `bash_profile` and restart the terminal.

    ~/.bash_profile 或 ~/.zshrc
    # 在此处直接配置 Gemini 的 url、key、model 环境变量

Affected Versions

Section titled “Affected Versions”
ToolGemini CLI
VersionUnknown
PlatformsWindowsmacOS

Source Issues

Section titled “Source Issues”

This page is distilled from 3 real issues

FAQ

Section titled “FAQ”
I checked and the config file under `.gemini` is written correctly — why does it still not apply?
A Gemini CLI bug reading `.env` files. Give up on writing through cc-switch for now and configure the environment variables in your system `bash_profile` instead.
Why do the environment variables disappear when I reopen the editor after saving in Google Official mode?
A bug in early cc-switch versions where saving unexpectedly clears the variables you set. Updating to the latest version fixes it.
Section titled “Related problems”
Not installed / not installed or not executable - CC SwitchUpgrade CC Switch to v3.20.0+ for custom npm prefix and macOS detection failures; the false "several installations" on Windows needs v3.16.5+.4 issues mergedcc-switch keeps saying there is an environment variable conflict and then deletes the variable Gemini CLIIgnore the environment variable conflict prompt to keep your system variables, or upgrade cc-switch to v3.12.3 to fix saving in Official mode.2 issues mergedGemini CLI usage data is not counted - CC SwitchThe consumer Gemini CLI is retired in favour of Antigravity CLI, so CC Switch no longer supports its usage statistics. For template or Grok problems, upgrade.4 issues merged

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