Google Cloud CLI (gcloud) – Essential Commands for Beginners
What is gcloud?
gcloud is the Google Cloud Command Line Interface (CLI). It lets you manage your Google Cloud resources directly from the Terminal instead of using the web console.
You can use gcloud to:
- Create and manage projects
- Enable APIs
- Deploy applications
- Manage virtual machines
- Work with Cloud Run
- Configure billing
- Create service accounts
- Manage AI services such as Gemini
Numbered gcloud Commands
1. Check whether gcloud is installed
gcloud --versionDisplays the installed Google Cloud SDK version.
2. Update gcloud
gcloud components updateUpdates the Google Cloud SDK to the latest version.
3. Sign in
gcloud auth loginOpens your browser so you can sign in with your Google account.
4. List authenticated accounts
gcloud auth listShows every Google account currently authenticated.
5. Change active account
gcloud config set account your-email@gmail.comSets the active Google account.
6. List projects
gcloud projects listDisplays every project you have access to.
7. Set the active project
gcloud config set project PROJECT_IDSets the active Google Cloud project.
Example:
gcloud config set project kiaapp-agentAll future commands use this project.
8. Show current project
gcloud config get-value projectDisplays the currently selected project.
9. Describe a project
gcloud projects describe PROJECT_IDShows detailed information about a project.
10. Check billing status
gcloud billing projects describe PROJECT_IDShows whether billing is enabled for the project.
11. List billing accounts
gcloud billing accounts listDisplays available billing accounts.
12. Enable an API
gcloud services enable API_NAMEEnables a Google Cloud service.
Example:
gcloud services enable aiplatform.googleapis.comEnables the Vertex AI API.
13. List enabled APIs
gcloud services listShows APIs enabled in the current project.
14. List all available APIs
gcloud services list --availableLists every Google Cloud API available for use.
15. List configurations
gcloud config configurations listShows all saved gcloud configuration profiles.
16. Show current configuration
gcloud config listDisplays the active configuration settings.
17. Create a configuration
gcloud config configurations create my-configCreates a new configuration profile.
18. Activate a configuration
gcloud config configurations activate my-configSwitches to another configuration.
19. Deploy an application
gcloud run deployDeploys your application to Cloud Run.
20. List Cloud Run services
gcloud run services listDisplays deployed Cloud Run services.
21. Delete a service
gcloud run services delete SERVICE_NAMEDeletes a Cloud Run service.
22. List virtual machines
gcloud compute instances listDisplays Compute Engine virtual machine instances.
23. Create a virtual machine
gcloud compute instances create VM_NAMECreates a new Compute Engine virtual machine.
24. List Cloud Storage buckets
gcloud storage buckets listDisplays Cloud Storage buckets.
25. Create a Cloud Storage bucket
gcloud storage buckets create gs://BUCKET_NAMECreates a new Cloud Storage bucket.
26. List service accounts
gcloud iam service-accounts listDisplays all service accounts in the project.
27. Create a service account
gcloud iam service-accounts create NAMECreates a new service account.
28. Enable the Vertex AI API
gcloud services enable aiplatform.googleapis.comEnables Vertex AI so you can use AI models such as Gemini.
29. Check the active project before using Gemini
gcloud config get-value projectConfirms that Gemini requests will use the correct Google Cloud project.
30. Show general help
gcloud helpDisplays general help for the gcloud command-line tool.
31. Show Compute Engine help
gcloud compute --helpDisplays all Compute Engine commands and their usage.
32. Show Cloud Run help
gcloud run --helpDisplays all Cloud Run commands and their usage.
33. Print current SDK information
gcloud infoDisplays Google Cloud SDK installation details, environment information, and the active configuration.