Gemini 3 in Gemini Code Assist

Gemini 3 Pro and Gemini 3 Flash are available to users of Gemini Code Assist in VS Code and IntelliJ. Gemini 3 is supported in agent mode, chat, and code generation. Agent mode and chat responses include a label when they are generated using Gemini 3.

Gemini 3 availability

License or subscription Gemini 3 availability
Google AI Ultra Available to all users in VS Code and IntelliJ
Google AI Pro Available to all users in VS Code and IntelliJ
Gemini Code Assist Enterprise Available to users in VS Code and IntelliJ whose administrator has configured the Preview release channel
Gemini Code Assist Standard Available to users in VS Code and IntelliJ whose administrator has configured the Preview release channel
Gemini Code Assist for individuals Available to select users from the waitlist in VS Code and IntelliJ. Coming soon for other users
Google Developer Program Coming soon
Google AI Ultra for Business Coming soon

Use Gemini 3 in VS Code

If Gemini 3 is available to you, it will automatically be used for chat and code generation. The model selector can be used in chat to select a different model. Additional steps are required to use Gemini 3 in agent mode.

Agent mode

Agent mode in VS Code is powered by Gemini CLI. If you don't already have Gemini CLI installed, the Gemini Code Assist extension for VS Code automatically installs the required Gemini CLI components when you install the Gemini Code Assist extension.

To use Gemini 3 in agent mode in VS Code, you must also enable the Gemini CLI Preview Features setting at the user or workspace level. Before you do, be aware of the following:

  • If you've separately installed Gemini CLI, enabling the Preview Settings feature configures Gemini 3 to be used by both Gemini CLI and agent mode in VS Code at the level you enable it.

  • Enabling the Preview Features setting for Gemini CLI at the system level won't enable you to use Gemini 3 in agent mode in VS Code, because system-level Gemini CLI settings are not used by Gemini Code Assist in VS Code.

  • If you enable the Preview Features setting in Gemini CLI but aren't eligible for Gemini 3, you see an error when trying to use agent mode in VS Code. You can resolve this by disabling the Preview Features setting.

To enable the Gemini CLI Preview Features setting at the user or workspace level, do the following:

Workspace settings file

This file applies only when running the VS Code agent mode or Gemini CLI from within the specific project directory or its subdirectories. It overrides user settings.

  1. If it doesn't exist already, create the following directory and file at the root of your workspace:

    .gemini/settings.json

  2. Add the following contents to the file:

    {
    "general": {
        "previewFeatures": true
    }
}

  3. Save the file and reopen VS Code.

User settings file

These settings apply to all projects for the current user.

  1. If it doesn't exist already, create the following directory and file on your file system:

    Linux/macOS: 

    ~/.gemini/settings.json

    Windows: 

    C:\Users\<YourUsername>\.gemini\settings.json

  2. Add the following contents to the file:

    {
    "general": {
        "previewFeatures": true
    }
}

  3. Save the file and reopen VS Code.

Gemini CLI

If you want to separately install Gemini CLI, you can toggle the Preview Features setting at the user or workspace level from directly within Gemini CLI:

  1. Close VS Code.

  2. Install the latest stable Gemini CLI if you haven't already done so.

  3. Run Gemini CLI after installation using the following command:

    gemini

  4. In the Gemini CLI, open settings using the following command:

    /settings

  5. Navigate to the Preview Features setting and enable it at the workspace or user level.

  6. Reopen VS Code.

Use Gemini 3 in IntelliJ

If Gemini 3 is available to you, it will automatically be used for agent mode, chat and code generation. The model selector can be used in chat to select a different model.