Memory files

May 13, 2026 ยท View on GitHub

Gemini CLI persists durable facts, user preferences, and project details by editing Markdown memory files directly.

Technical reference

The agent routes memories to the appropriate Markdown file: shared project instructions go in repository GEMINI.md files, private project notes go in the per-project private memory folder, and cross-project personal preferences go in the global ~/.gemini/GEMINI.md file.

Technical behavior

  • Storage: Edits Markdown files with write_file or replace.
  • Loading: The stored facts are automatically included in the hierarchical context system for all future sessions.
  • Format: Keeps durable instructions concise and avoids duplicating the same fact across multiple memory tiers.

Use cases

  • Persisting user preferences (for example, "I prefer functional programming").
  • Saving project-wide architectural decisions.
  • Storing frequently used aliases or system configurations.

Next steps