Preview release: v0.42.0-preview.2

Released: May 06, 2026

Our preview release includes the latest, new, and experimental features. This release may not be as stable as our latest weekly release.

To install the preview release:

npm install -g @google/gemini-cli@preview

Highlights

• Auto Memory Enhancements: Introduced an Auto Memory inbox flow with a canonical-patch contract for better memory management.
• Improved Voice Mode: Added a wave animation, microphone icon updates, and privacy/compliance UX warnings for the Gemini Live backend.
• New CLI Commands & Flags: Added a --delete flag to the /exit command for session deletion, a list subcommand to /commands, and a /bug-memory command for heap snapshots.
• Expanded Model Support: Gemma 4 models are now enabled by default via the Gemini API.
• Enhanced Core Resilience: Improved API resilience with reduced timeouts, automatic retries for stream errors, and better handling of invalid stream events.

What's Changed

• fix(cli): prevent automatic updates from switching to less stable channels in #26132
• chore(release): bump version to 0.42.0-nightly.20260428.g59b2dea0e in #26142
• fix(cli): pass node arguments via NODE_OPTIONS during relaunch to support SEA in #26130
• fix(cli): handle DECKPAM keypad Enter sequences in terminal in #26092
• docs(cli): point plan-mode session retention to actual /settings labels in #25978
• fix(core): add missing oauth fields support in subagent parsing in #26141
• fix(core): disconnect extension-backed MCP clients in stopExtension in #26136
• Update documentation workflows with workspace trust in #26150
• refactor(acp): modularize monolithic acpClient into specialized files in #26143
• test: fix failures due to antigravity environment leakage in #26162
• fix(core): add explicit empty log guard in A2A pushMessage in #26198
• feat(cli): add --delete flag to /exit command for session deletion in #19332
• test(core): add regression test for issue for ToolConfirmationResponse in #26194
• Add the ability to @ mention the gemini robot. in #26207
• test(evals): add EvalMetadata JSDoc annotations to older tests in #26147
• fix(core): reduce default API timeout to 60s and enable retries for undici timeouts in #26191
• fix(core): distinguish fallback chains and fix maxAttempts for auto vs explicit model selection in #26163
• fix(cli): handle InvalidStream event gracefully without throwing in #26218
• ci(github-actions): switch to github app token and fix bot self-trigger in #26223
• Respect logPrompts flag for logging sensitive fields in #26153
• fix: correct API key validation logic in handleApiKeySubmit in #25453
• fix(agent): prevent exit_plan_mode from being called via shell in #26230

• Fix: Inconsistent Case-Sensitivity in GrepTool in #26235

• docs(core): add automated gemma setup guide in #26233
• Allow non-https proxy urls to support container environments in #26234
• fix(bot): productivity and backlog optimizations in #26236
• refactor(acp): delegate prompt turn processing logic to GeminiClient in #26222
• fix(cli): refine platform-specific undo/redo and smart bubbling for WSL in #26202
• fix: suppress duplicate extension warnings during startup in #26208
• fix(cli): use byte length instead of string length for readStdin size limits in #26224
• fix(ui): made shell tool header wrap on Ctrl+O in #26229
• Changelog for v0.41.0-preview.0 in #26244
• Skip binary CLI relaunch in #26261
• fix(cli): do not override GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT in Cloud Shell when using Vertex AI in #24455
• docs(cli): add skill discovery troubleshooting checklist to tutorial in #26018
• docs(policy-engine): link to tools reference for tool names and args in #22081
• Fix posting invalid response to a comment in #26266
• fix(cli): prevent informational logs from polluting json output in #26264
• feat(ui): added microphone and updated placeholder for voice mode in #26270
• feat(cli): Add 'list' subcommand to '/commands' in #22324
• fix(core): ensure tool output cleanup on session deletion for legacy files in #26263
• Docs: Update Agent Skills documentation in #22388
• test(acp): add missing coverage for extensions command error paths in #25313
• Changelog for v0.40.0 in #26245
• fix: report AgentExecutionBlocked in non-interactive programmatic modes in #26262
• feat(extensions): add 'delete' as an alias for /extensions uninstall in #25660
• fix(core): silently skip GEMINI.md paths that are directories (EISDIR) in #25662
• fix(ci): checkout PR branch instead of main in bot workflow in #26289
• fix(cli): use resolved sandbox state for auto-update check in #26285

• Metrics Integrity & Standardized Reporting (BT-01) in #26240

• Add Star History section to README in #26290
• Add Star History section to README in #26308
• Remove Star History section from README in #26309
• test(evals): add behavioral eval for file creation and write_file tool selection in #26292
• feat(config): enable Gemma 4 models by default via Gemini API in #26307
• fix(cli): insert voice transcription at cursor position instead of ap… in #26287
• fix(ui): fix issue with box edges in #26148
• fix(cli): respect .env override for GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT in #26288
• fix(ci): robust version checking in release verification in #26337
• fix(cli): enable daemon relaunch in binary and bundle keytar in #26333
• fix(core): discourage unprompted git add . in prompt snippets in #26220
• feat(ui): added wave animation for voice mode in #26284
• fix(cli): prevent Escape from clearing input buffer (#17083) in #26339
• fix(cli): undeprecate --prompt and correct positional query docs in #26329
• Metrics updates in #26348
• fix(core): remove "System: Please continue." injection on InvalidStream events in #26340
• docs(policy-engine): add tool argument keys reference and shell policy cross-links in #25292
• fix(cli): resolve Ghostty/raw-mode False Cancellation in oauth flow in #25026
• fix(core): reset session-scoped state on resumption in #26342
• Fix bulk of remaining issues with generalist profile in #26073
• fix(core): make subagents aware of active approval modes in #23608
• fix(acp): resolve agent mode disconnect and improve mode awareness in #26332
• docs(sdk): add JSDoc to exported interfaces in packages/sdk/src/types.ts in #26441
• perf: skip redundant GEMINI.md loading in partialConfig in #26443
• Enhance React guidelines in #22667
• feat(core): reinforce Inquiry constraints to prevent unauthorized changes in #26310
• revert: fix(ci): robust version checking in release verification (#26337) in #26450
• refactor(UI): created constants file for ThemeDialog in #26446
• docs: fix GitHub capitalization in releases guide in #26379
• fix(cli): ensure branch indicator updates in sub-directories and worktrees in #26330
• feat: add minimal V8 heap snapshot utility for memory diagnostics in #26440
• fix(hooks): preserve non-text parts in fromHookLLMRequest in #26275
• fix(cli): allow early stdout when config is undefined in #26453
• fix(cli)#21297: clear skills consent dialog before reload in #26431
• fix(cli): render LaTeX-style output as Unicode in the TUI in #25802
• fix(core): use close event instead of exit in child_process fallback in #25695
• feat(voice): add privacy and compliance UX warning for Gemini Live backend in #26454
• feat(memory): add Auto Memory inbox flow with canonical-patch contract in #26338
• test(cleanup): fix temporary directory leaks in test suites in #26217
• feat: add ignoreLocalEnv setting and --ignore-env flag (#2493) in #26445
• docs(sdk): add JSDoc to all exported interfaces and types in #26277
• feat(cli): improve /agents refresh logging in #26442
• Fix: make Dockerfile self-contained with multi-stage build in #24277
• fix(core): filter unsupported multimodal types from tool responses in #26352
• fix(core): properly format markdown in AskUser tool by unescaping newlines in #26349
• feat(bot): add actions spend metric script in #26463
• feat(cli): add /bug-memory command and auto-capture heap snapshot in /bug in #25639
• fix(cli): make SkillInboxDialog fit and scroll in alternate buffer in #26455
• Robust Scale-Safe Lifecycle Consolidation in #26355
• fix(ci): respect exempt labels when closing stale items in #26475
• fix(cli): use os.homedir() for home directory warning check in #25890
• fix(a2a-server): resolve tool approval race condition and improve status reporting in #26479
• fix(cli): prevent settings dialog border clipping using maxHeight in #26507
• feat: allow queuing messages during compression (#24071) in #26506
• fix(core): retry on ERR_STREAM_PREMATURE_CLOSE errors in #26519
• fix(core): Minor fixes for generalist profile. in #26357

Full Changelog: https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli/compare/v0.41.0-preview.3...v0.42.0-preview.2