# Use Gemini

> Get a Gemini API key from Google AI Studio, connect it to Resurf, and know what to check when the connection test fails.

- Page: https://resurf.so/guides/use-gemini
- Section: AI
- Works on: Mac, iPhone, iPad
- Last checked against the app: 2026-10-19
- Key from: aistudio.google.com
- Looks like: AIza…
- Syncs: No, this device only

## Get a key

Gemini keys come from Google AI Studio, with your Google account.

1. Sign in at [aistudio.google.com](https://aistudio.google.com/apikey) and open **API key**. Accepting the terms creates a Google Cloud project and a key for you.
2. Copy the key. It starts with `AIza`.
3. You can start without billing. New accounts are on the free tier, which has rate limits and lets Google use what you send to improve its products. For higher limits and no such use, click **Set up billing** on the project and prepay.

On iPhone and iPad, the **Create a key at aistudio.google.com** link on the key step opens the same page.

## Connect it

On Mac:

1. Choose **Settings…** (`⌘,`) and click **Providers** in the sidebar.
2. Click **Connect** beside **Gemini**.
3. Paste your key into **API key** and click **Connect**. Resurf sends one test request to check it.
4. Gemini moves to the top and shows **Connected**.

On iPhone and iPad:

1. In Resurf's Settings, turn on **AI**, or tap **Providers** if AI is already on.
2. Tap **Gemini**, paste your key and tap **Continue**.
3. Resurf checks the key. Then read what will be shared with Google and tap **Allow**.

![Settings, Providers pane: OpenAI and Gemini connected; Claude, OpenRouter and Ollama to connect.](https://resurf.so/guides/shots/settings-providers@2x.webp)

Your first provider turns on **AI features** and **Suggest as you capture**. The test sends your key and asks Google for its model list. No capture content is in it.

## What it powers in Resurf

Resurf picks a Gemini model for you when you connect. It writes [suggestions](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-suggestions) as you capture (titles, tags, spaces and summaries), voice note titles and clean-ups, generated notes, and answers in the [Assistant](https://resurf.so/guides/ask-ai) on Mac. If the model you pick can't see images, Resurf reads them with a vision model from Google, or organizes them from their text.

- **Voice transcription stays where it was.** Cloud transcription is [OpenAI](https://resurf.so/guides/use-openai) only, so with Gemini alone, voice notes are transcribed on your device.
- **The key stays on this device.** Gemini keys don't sync, so connect Gemini on each Mac, iPhone and iPad you use.

## When the connection test fails

On Mac you see **Could not connect to Gemini. Check the API key and try again.** On iPhone and iPad the test step says **The key didn't work.**, with **Back** and **Try again**.

| Likely cause | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| The key is wrong | A character is missing from the paste, or the key was deleted in AI Studio. Make a new key and paste the whole thing. |
| The free tier is rate limited | On the free tier, a burst of captures can hit the limit and suggestions fail for a while. Wait, or set up billing on the project for higher limits. |

On Mac, click **Manage** beside Gemini and click **Test** to run the check again.

## Questions

### Is Gemini free to use with Resurf?

The free tier is, within its rate limits, and Google may use what you send on it to improve its products. Set up billing on the project to move to the paid tier.

### Do I need a Google Cloud account?

AI Studio makes the Cloud project for you when you accept the terms. You only open Google Cloud to manage billing.

### Can I transcribe voice notes with Gemini?

No. Cloud transcription is OpenAI only. Voice notes are transcribed on your device otherwise.

## More guides

- Previous: [Use Claude](https://resurf.so/guides/use-claude.md)
- Next: [Use OpenRouter](https://resurf.so/guides/use-openrouter.md)
- [AI providers](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-providers.md): Connect your own AI provider with your own key. Resurf's AI features stay off until you do.
- [Use OpenAI](https://resurf.so/guides/use-openai.md): Get an OpenAI API key, connect it to Resurf, and know what to check when the connection test fails.
- [Use Claude](https://resurf.so/guides/use-claude.md): Get an Anthropic API key, connect it to Resurf, and know what to check when the connection test fails.
- [Use OpenRouter](https://resurf.so/guides/use-openrouter.md): Get an OpenRouter key that reaches many models, connect it to Resurf, and know what to check when the connection test fails.
- [Run Ollama on your Mac](https://resurf.so/guides/ollama.md): Run models on your own Mac with Ollama, with no key and nothing sent to the cloud.
- [AI suggestions](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-suggestions.md): When you save something, your AI provider writes a title, a summary and keywords for it, and suggests spaces.
- [Model and instructions](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-model.md): Pick the model that writes your suggestions, give it your own instructions, and run it again over your library.
- [Assistant](https://resurf.so/guides/ask-ai.md): Ask questions about your library in a chat pane on Mac, and get answers that cite the captures they used.
- [Voice notes and AI](https://resurf.so/guides/voice-ai.md): Transcribe voice notes on your device or with OpenAI, and let your model title them, tidy the transcript and write notes.
- [What AI sends](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-privacy.md): What each AI feature sends to your provider, and when nothing is sent at all.
- [Every guide](https://resurf.so/llms.txt)