Gemini CLI setup with LaoZhang API

Gemini CLI connects to LaoZhang API through two environment variables, one for your key and one for the base URL, with the Gemini API key sign-in method. Requests use the native Gemini protocol and are billed by token.

Item	Details
Key variable	`GEMINI_API_KEY`
Base URL variable	`GOOGLE_GEMINI_BASE_URL=https://api.laozhang.ai`
Sign-in method	Use Gemini API Key (`gemini-api-key`)
Recommended models	`gemini-3.8-flash`; `gemini-3.1-pro-preview` for complex work
Last verified	October 5, 2026, Gemini CLI 0.62.0

Install Gemini CLI

Install it globally with npm (Node.js required):

npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
gemini --version

Configure LaoZhang API

Set the environment variables

Add these two lines to your shell profile (~/.zshrc for zsh, ~/.bashrc for bash), then open a new terminal:

export GEMINI_API_KEY="YOUR_LAOZHANG_API_KEY"
export GOOGLE_GEMINI_BASE_URL="https://api.laozhang.ai"

Use the bare host, without /v1 or /v1beta; Gemini CLI builds the path itself.

Choose Gemini API key sign-in

The first time you run gemini, it asks how to sign in. Choose Use Gemini API Key. You can also set it in ~/.gemini/settings.json:

{
  "security": {
    "auth": {
      "selectedType": "gemini-api-key"
    }
  }
}

Don’t choose Login with Google, which connects to your Google account and bypasses LaoZhang API.

Pick a model and test

In a project directory, run:

gemini -m gemini-3.8-flash

For a quick non-interactive check:

gemini -m gemini-3.8-flash -p "Reply with exactly one word: connected"

Non-interactive mode only runs in a trusted directory. The first time you use a new directory, trust it from interactive mode.

Choose a model

Model	Use it for
`gemini-3.8-flash`	Everyday coding; fast and low-cost
`gemini-3.6-flash`	Comparing with 3.8 Flash or keeping an existing workflow
`gemini-3.1-pro-preview`	Complex reasoning and large codebases

Pass -m every time you start, so Gemini CLI doesn’t fall back to a default model ID that LaoZhang API doesn’t offer. Prices are in the model catalog; routing details are in Gemini protocol.

FAQ

I get “API key not valid” or requests go to Google

Make sure GOOGLE_GEMINI_BASE_URL is set in the current terminal (echo $GOOGLE_GEMINI_BASE_URL) and that the sign-in method is Gemini API key. A different GEMINI_API_KEY in your project directory or ~/.gemini/.env may also be read, so check those too.

The model doesn’t exist

Model IDs must match the model catalog exactly. Send GET https://api.laozhang.ai/v1/models with the same key to confirm the ID is listed.

Can Gemini CLI generate images?

Gemini CLI is built for chat and coding. To generate images, call the Nano Banana API directly; see Nano Banana API.

Overview

Coding tools

Chat clients

Frameworks

Gemini CLI setup with LaoZhang API

Install Gemini CLI

Configure LaoZhang API

Choose a model

FAQ

I get “API key not valid” or requests go to Google

The model doesn’t exist

Can Gemini CLI generate images?

​Install Gemini CLI

​Configure LaoZhang API

​Choose a model

​FAQ

​I get “API key not valid” or requests go to Google

​The model doesn’t exist

​Can Gemini CLI generate images?

​Related pages

Install Gemini CLI

Configure LaoZhang API

Choose a model

FAQ

I get “API key not valid” or requests go to Google

The model doesn’t exist

Can Gemini CLI generate images?

Related pages