---
title: "Gemini CLI account access in Visual Studio 2026 | iolys"
description: "Bring Your Own Subscription (BYOS): reuse eligible Gemini CLI account access for C# and .NET development inside Visual Studio 2026 with iolys."
url: "https://getiolys.com/providers/gemini"
language: "en"
updated: "2026-09-19"
---

# Use Gemini CLI for C# and .NET in Visual Studio 2026.

Bring Gemini CLI into the Visual Studio 2026 environment used by your C# and .NET projects. iolys keeps conversations, tool activity, permissions, and solution context consistent while Gemini handles the task.

- Provider: Gemini
- Connection type: Provider CLI
- Access: BYOS: reuse Gemini CLI authentication and quota
- Who pays for the AI usage: Reuses an eligible AI subscription you already pay for through the provider's supported connection.
- Where the model runs: The model runs in the provider's own cloud service.
- Best for: Code generation, explanation, debugging, large-context exploration, and everyday C# development.
- Official site: https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli

Sign in through Gemini CLI and use the access available to that Google account. iolys lets you use this provider route without automatically requiring a separate metered API integration.

## How to connect Gemini in Visual Studio 2026

1. Install Gemini CLI and sign in with your Google account.
2. Enable Gemini CLI in iolys.
3. Choose Gemini for the active Visual Studio 2026 solution and begin the task.

## What you get

- **Gemini in Visual Studio 2026** — Use Gemini from the IDE where your C# solution is already open.
- **Keep existing access** — Reuse the account authentication and quota exposed by Gemini CLI.
- **Compare providers cleanly** — Move between Gemini and other agents without changing the core experience.

## Requirements

iolys targets the Visual Studio 2026 IDE on 64-bit Windows. It requires access to a supported AI provider or a local Ollama instance. Git is required for isolated parallel workspaces. Visual Studio Code is a separate editor; iolys is an extension for the Visual Studio IDE.

## Price

All currently available iolys features are free for personal and commercial use. AI provider subscriptions, API usage, and infrastructure costs remain separate. iolys does not include a bundled model allowance.

## Gemini questions

### How can I use Gemini in Visual Studio for C#?

Install the iolys extension for Visual Studio 2026 and open your C# solution. Install Gemini CLI and sign in with your Google account. Enable Gemini CLI in iolys. Choose Gemini for the active Visual Studio 2026 solution and begin the task. You can then ask Gemini to help with your C# and .NET code from the iolys workspace.

### Is there a VSIX extension to use Gemini in Visual Studio?

Yes. iolys is a VSIX extension for Visual Studio 2026, and Gemini is one of the provider connections it ships with. Install the iolys VSIX once from the Visual Studio Marketplace, then add Gemini from the Manage Providers panel; there is no separate VSIX per provider.

### Does Gemini CLI work in Visual Studio 2026?

Yes, with the iolys extension. It integrates Gemini CLI as a provider in the Visual Studio 2026 workspace, using the access available to your Google account.

### Do I need a Gemini API key?

Not for the CLI account route. Gemini CLI supports account authentication; API-based routes remain a separate option.

### Can I use Gemini for C# and .NET?

Yes. The integration works against the active Visual Studio 2026 solution, including C# and .NET codebases.

## Related pages

- [Bring Your Own AI Subscription to Visual Studio 2026 | iolys](https://getiolys.com/)
- [Bring Your Own Model (BYOM) in Visual Studio 2026 | iolys](https://getiolys.com/byom)
- [AI coding agent capabilities for Visual Studio | iolys](https://getiolys.com/capabilities)
- [Visual Studio integrations for C# and .NET | iolys](https://getiolys.com/integrations)
- [GitHub Copilot alternative for Visual Studio and C# | iolys](https://getiolys.com/copilot-alternative-visual-studio)
- [AI providers and BYOS for Visual Studio 2026 | iolys](https://getiolys.com/providers)
- [What is iolys? AI coding agent harness for Visual Studio | iolys](https://getiolys.com/what-is-iolys)
- [The story behind iolys | From iolite to AI in Visual Studio](https://getiolys.com/our-story)
- [Install iolys from the Visual Studio Marketplace](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=iolys.iolys-visual-studio)
- [iolys blog](https://getiolys.com/blog)