How to install Nano Banana in Gemini CLI

What it does

This extension adds image creation and editing to Gemini CLI. You describe the picture, or point to an existing file and say what to change.

It saves results with readable file names in your folder. It needs a Gemini API key from Google AI Studio.

Example prompts

"Generate a flat illustration of a coffee cup for a café menu"
"Remove the background from logo.png"
"Restore this old scanned photo"

How to install

$ gemini extensions install https://github.com/gemini-cli-extensions/nanobanana

How to use it

The install asks for your Gemini API key. Then ask Gemini CLI to generate an image from a description, or to change an image file in your folder.

Check it works

Run gemini extensions list. You should see nanobanana with "Enabled (User): true".

Common problems

Every request fails with an authentication error — the API key is missing or wrong — get a key at aistudio.google.com/apikey, set it in NANOBANANA_API_KEY and start Gemini CLI again.
/generate is not a known command — the extension is not enabled — run gemini extensions list and check that nanobanana shows "Enabled".

What to watch out for

Needs a Gemini API key in NANOBANANA_API_KEY
Sends prompts and images to Google
Image generation may cost money on paid API tiers

Licence and author

Licence: Apache-2.0
Author: gemini-cli-extensions
Source code: github.com/gemini-cli-extensions/nanobanana

How we tested it

We installed it on an empty test computer on 13 Oct 2026. Partly tested: installed in a clean test system, but its main features need an account or key we did not use.

Test level

We did not generate an image, because that needs a real API key. Not yet used on real work.

Technical details of the test

Date: 13 Oct 2026
Method: In a clean container with no account we installed Gemini CLI 0.63.0 and ran gemini extensions install with the repository link. The installer asked for a Gemini API key, installed nanobanana 1.0.12 and enabled it. gemini extensions list showed it as enabled.

Checked again on 12 Oct 2026

Alternatives

Adobe for creativity — hosted Claude connector with Photoshop and Firefly tools (not an open-source repo)

FAQ

Q: Is it free? A: The repo is open source (Apache-2.0); any API keys or services it uses may cost money.
Q: Do I need to code? A: No, you describe what you want in plain words; the assistant does the rest.

Sources

github.com/gemini-cli-extensions/nanobanana