Have you ever wished you had a personal assistant who could handle your daily tasks without any complaints? With Google Gemini now available inside n8n, you can make that happen. Gemini is powerful because it can read PDFs, analyze images, summarize audio, and even generate videos. The best part is that you don’t need to be an expert to use it. You just need to set it up once, and then it will be ready to help you every day. In this guide, I’ll walk you through each step in the simplest way possible. By the end, you’ll have your own AI assistant running inside n8n, ready to save you time and energy.
Step 1. Install or Update n8n
If you already have n8n, the first thing you should do is make sure it is updated. Gemini nodes only appear after the latest update.
How to update:
- Open the n8n admin console from the sidebar
- Click the cloud icon and select Manage
- Pick the latest version and save
- Wait for a couple of minutes until n8n restarts
If you don’t have n8n yet, here’s how to install it:
- Go to the official n8n website and click on Get Started
- You can choose between the desktop app or the cloud version
- For the desktop app. Download the installer for your system (Windows, Mac, or Linux) and run it
- For the cloud version. Simply sign up, create an account, and you’ll get an online workspace ready to use
Once you have n8n running, search for “Gemini” in your workflow, and you’ll see the nodes ready to use.
Step 2. Add a Gemini Node
Once updated, open your workflow and search for Gemini. Add the node you want. Then click the pen icon to add your credentials. You’ll see two fields: Host and API Key. The API Key will be empty for now, so let’s create one.
Step 3. Create a Google Cloud Project
Go to Google Cloud Console.
Click on New Project.
Give it a simple name like n8n Gemini.
That’s it. You don’t need to touch other settings.
Step 4. Generate an API Key
Now go to Google AI Studio API Keys.
If you don’t see your project, refresh the page.
Choose your project and create an API key.
Copy the key and keep it safe.
Step 5. Add the API Key to n8n
Go back to n8n and paste the key into the API Key field of your Gemini node.
Click Save.
Now Gemini is ready inside n8n.
Step 6. Start Using Gemini Nodes
Here are some useful things you can do:
- Video Generator. Pick a model like Gemini 3 or Gemini 2.5 Pro. Add your prompt, and it will generate a video.
- PDF Extractor. Upload a PDF, and it will give you the text. You can also ask for summaries or key points.
- Image Analyzer. Upload an image, and Gemini will describe it or give insights.
- Video Analyzer. Feed in a video, and it will break down what it sees.
- Audio Transcriber. Upload an audio file, and you’ll get the transcription.
Tip. Always use clear prompts like “Summarize this in one line” or “Describe the objects in detail” to get better results.
Step 7. Try the Model Selector Node
This is a fun trick. You can switch between models automatically.
- Add a Model Selector Node
- Set shortcuts like #G for Gemini and #O for OpenAI
- Input starting with a shortcut will use that model
Example. If you type “#G Hello” it will use Gemini. If you type “#O Hello” it will use OpenAI. This way, you don’t need to make separate workflows.
Some Use Cases You’ll Love
- Video Generation. Create quick clips for social media, product demos, or lessons.
- Image Analysis. Upload a photo and ask things like “What objects are here?” or “What mood does this image show?”
- Image Generation and Captioning. Make new images and get captions for Instagram or LinkedIn without extra effort.
- PDF Analysis. Give Gemini contracts, invoices, or research papers. Ask it to summarize or list key details.
- Audio Analysis. Upload a sales call, and Gemini will transcribe and even give you a summary of key points.
- Language Model Queries. Ask questions, summarize articles, or extract insights. You can even chain tasks like “summarize this report, then create action items from it.”
How This Can Save You Time and Money?
Gemini inside n8n is not just cool. It’s also practical. You can:
- Automate repetitive tasks like drafting emails, reports, or social posts
- Build your own AI agency by offering automation services
- Save hours of manual work so you can focus on bigger projects
- Improve accuracy and get faster results for your business
Conclusion
By following these steps, you now know how to set up Google Gemini inside n8n and turn it into your own AI assistant. From analyzing PDFs to creating videos, this setup can handle tasks that usually take hours. Start small with one node, get comfortable, and then build bigger workflows. Once you master it, you’ll have an assistant that works day and night, helping you save time and grow your ideas faster.
