How to Use Google Search Grounding in Gemini CLI

Google Search grounding is one of the most powerful features in Gemini CLI. It connects the Gemini model to real-time web content, allowing it to provide more accurate answers backed by current information and verifiable citations. This guide covers everything you need to know about using this feature effectively.

What Is Google Search Grounding?

Grounding with Google Search connects the Gemini model to live web data. Instead of relying solely on its training data (which has a knowledge cutoff), Gemini can search the web in real-time to:

• Access current information: Get answers about recent events, new software releases, and updated documentation
• Reduce hallucinations: Ground responses in actual sources rather than generating plausible-sounding but incorrect information
• Provide citations: Include links to the sources used so you can verify the information
• Answer time-sensitive questions: Check current prices, availability, or status of services

According to Google, grounding reduces model hallucinations by approximately 40% compared to non-grounded responses.

How Google Search Grounding Works

When you send a prompt to Gemini CLI, the model analyzes whether web search would improve the response. Here is the process:

1. Query analysis: Gemini evaluates your prompt and assigns a prediction score (0 to 1) estimating whether grounding would help
2. Search execution: If beneficial, Gemini automatically generates one or more search queries
3. Result synthesis: The model processes search results, synthesizes the information, and formulates a response
4. Citation inclusion: The response includes grounding metadata with search queries, web results, and citations

The model does not search for every query. For questions that can be answered from its training data (like "explain what a for loop is"), it will respond directly without searching.

Using the google_web_search Tool

The google_web_search tool is built into Gemini CLI and enabled by default. You do not need any special configuration to use it.

Basic Usage

Simply ask questions that benefit from current information:

gemini "What are the latest features in Next.js 15?"

Gemini will automatically search the web and provide a response with citations.

Explicit Search Requests

You can explicitly ask Gemini to search:

gemini "Search for the current GitHub rate limits for the REST API"

Or be specific about what you need:

gemini "Find the official documentation for configuring MFA in Azure AD"

Tool Function Syntax

When Gemini uses the tool internally, it calls:

google_web_search(query="your search query")

You can reference this syntax when asking for specific searches:

gemini "Use google_web_search to find the latest Python 3.12 release notes"

Use Cases for Developers

Fact-Checking Code and Best Practices

Verify that your implementation follows current best practices:

gemini "Is using localStorage for JWT tokens still considered secure in 2025? Search for current security recommendations."

Finding Current Documentation

Get links to official documentation:

gemini "Find the official AWS documentation for configuring S3 bucket policies with least privilege access"

Checking API Changes

Stay current with API updates:

gemini "Search for any breaking changes in the Stripe API v2025-01"

Troubleshooting Errors

Search for solutions to specific error messages:

gemini "Search for solutions to the error: ECONNREFUSED 127.0.0.1:5432 when connecting to PostgreSQL"

Comparing Tools and Libraries

Get current comparisons:

gemini "Search for 2025 comparisons between Vite and Webpack for React projects"

Grounded vs Non-Grounded Responses

Understanding the difference helps you use the feature effectively.

Non-Grounded Response Example

Question: "What is the latest version of Node.js?"

Without grounding, Gemini might respond with information from its training data, which could be outdated:

"As of my training data, the latest LTS version of Node.js is 20.x..."

This response has no citations and may not reflect the current version.

Grounded Response Example

The same question with grounding enabled:

"The current LTS version of Node.js is 22.x, released in October 2024. The latest current version is 23.x.

Sources:

• nodejs.org/en/about/releases/
• Node.js Documentation"

Grounded responses include:

• Current information from web sources
• Citations you can verify
• Links to official documentation

When Grounding Helps Most

Configuration Options

Default Behavior

Google Search grounding is enabled by default with no configuration required. The model decides when to search based on the query.

Disabling Web Search

If you want to prevent web searches entirely, add the tool to your exclude list in ~/.gemini/settings.json:

{
  "tools": {
    "exclude": ["google_web_search"]
  }
}

Project-Level Configuration

For project-specific settings, create .gemini/settings.json in your project root:

{
  "tools": {
    "exclude": ["google_web_search"]
  }
}

Project settings override user settings, which override system settings.

Viewing Citations

To ensure citations are displayed in responses, verify this setting:

{
  "ui": {
    "showCitations": true
  }
}

This is enabled by default.

Best Practices

Be Specific About Time Frames

When you need current information, be explicit:

# Good - specifies timeframe
gemini "What are the security vulnerabilities discovered in Log4j in 2024?"

# Less effective - ambiguous timeframe
gemini "What are Log4j security issues?"

Request Official Sources

Ask for authoritative sources when accuracy matters:

gemini "Find the official Microsoft documentation for configuring Conditional Access policies in Entra ID"

Combine Search with Analysis

Use search results as input for further analysis:

gemini "Search for the current OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities and explain how each applies to a Node.js Express application"

Verify Critical Information

For security-sensitive or critical decisions, always verify citations:

gemini "Search for the current recommended TLS versions and cipher suites for production web servers"

Then click through to the cited sources to confirm.

Limitations and Considerations

Search Quality

• Results depend on Google Search quality for your query
• Niche technical topics may have limited web coverage
• Recently published content may not be indexed yet

Latency

• Grounded responses take longer than non-grounded ones
• Multiple search queries increase response time
• Consider this for time-sensitive scripts or automation

Billing on Paid Tiers

When using Gemini API with paid tiers:

• Each search query the model executes is billed separately
• Multiple searches for one prompt count as multiple billable queries
• The free tier (1,000 requests/day) includes search at no extra cost

Rate Limits

• Free tier: 60 requests/minute, 1,000 requests/day (includes searches)
• Paid tier: Up to 1 million search queries per day
• Contact Google Cloud support for higher limits

Platform-Specific Notes

macOS

Gemini CLI runs natively on macOS. No special configuration needed for web search:

# Install
brew install gemini-cli

# Use with search
gemini "Search for the latest Homebrew security advisories"

Windows

Web search works identically on Windows. Use PowerShell or Windows Terminal:

# Install
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli

# Use with search
gemini "Search for Windows Server 2025 security hardening guides"

Linux

Full support on all major distributions:

# Install
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli

# Use with search
gemini "Search for the latest Linux kernel security patches"

WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

Works as expected in WSL environments:

gemini "Search for WSL 2 networking configuration best practices"

Troubleshooting

Search Results Seem Outdated

If results appear stale:

1. Be more specific about wanting current information:

   gemini "Search for the CURRENT 2025 documentation for..."
   

   Copy

2. Check if the topic has recent coverage online

3. Try rephrasing your query with different keywords

No Citations Appearing

If responses lack citations:

1. Verify showCitations is enabled in settings
2. The model may have answered from training data (no search needed)
3. Try explicitly requesting a search:

   gemini "Please search the web for..."
   

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Rate Limit Errors

If you hit search limits:

1. Wait a few minutes for limit reset
2. Reduce search-heavy queries
3. Consider upgrading to a paid tier for higher limits

Related Resources

• How to Install Google Gemini CLI - Get started with Gemini CLI
• Official Gemini CLI Documentation - Full documentation on GitHub
• Grounding with Google Search API Documentation - Technical API reference