# Set up Google Gemini

Last validated Jul 20, 2026

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Configure a Google Gemini provider in Aperture so your team can access Gemini models through your tailnet. This topic covers the direct Gemini API with API key authentication, which requires fewer configuration steps than Vertex AI but does not support Anthropic models.

> **Note:**
>
> For Vertex AI with service account authentication (which also supports Anthropic models), refer to [set up a Vertex AI provider][kb-use-vertex-ai].

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## Prerequisites

Before you begin, you need:

* An Aperture instance accessible from your device. Refer to [get started with Aperture][kb-aperture-get-started] if you have not set this up.
* A [Google AI Studio API key][xt-google-ai-studio].

## Configure the provider

Add Google Gemini as a provider in your [Aperture configuration][kb-aperture-configuration]:

```json
{
  "providers": {
    "gemini": {
      "baseurl": "https://generativelanguage.googleapis.com",
      "apikey": "<your-gemini-key>",
      "authorization": "x-goog-api-key",
      "models": ["gemini-2.5-flash", "gemini-2.5-pro"],
      "name": "Google Gemini",
      "compatibility": {
        "gemini_generate_content": true
      }
    }
  }
}
```

The `authorization` field controls how Aperture sends the API key. The `x-goog-api-key` value sends the key in a `x-goog-api-key` header, which the direct Gemini API requires. The `gemini_generate_content` flag configures Aperture to use the Gemini API format instead of the default OpenAI chat completions format.

Google publishes `-latest` aliases (such as `gemini-flash-latest`) that resolve to the current stable version, so you can use either specific or alias model names. For the full list of available models, refer to the [Google AI documentation][xt-google-models]. Refer to the [provider compatibility reference][kb-provider-compatibility] for the full list of flags.

After configuring the provider:

1. [Grant model access][kb-grant-model-access] to the users or groups that require these models.
2. [Set up LLM clients][kb-use-your-tools] to connect coding tools through Aperture.

## Verify the provider

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## Next steps

After configuring Google Gemini, consider the following:

* [Grant model access][kb-grant-model-access] to users or groups that require these models.
* [Set up LLM clients][kb-use-your-tools] to connect coding tools through Aperture.
* Refer to the [provider compatibility reference][kb-provider-compatibility] for the full list of compatibility flags and configuration options.

[kb-aperture-configuration]: /docs/aperture/configuration

[kb-aperture-get-started]: /docs/aperture/get-started

[kb-grant-model-access]: /docs/aperture/how-to/grant-model-access

[kb-provider-compatibility]: /docs/aperture/provider-compatibility

[kb-use-vertex-ai]: /docs/aperture/how-to/use-vertex-ai

[kb-use-your-tools]: /docs/aperture/use-your-tools

[xt-google-ai-studio]: https://aistudio.google.com/apikey

[xt-google-models]: https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/models