Google Gemini integration with GitHub

[DickHannay]

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Help, I want to connect Google Gemini account to GitHub in order for it to see a private repo. On my Github account I've installed and authorized google integrations, and given permissions to read the private repo. And on Google Gemini I've given it permissions to connect with GitHub (shows connected). Yet it still cannot access. Any ideas how to solve this?

[Ayla-hmadi]

Hey, I can see why this is frustrating. The connection between GitHub and Google Gemini can be a bit finicky, especially with private repos.
So here's the thing, even though you've connected both sides, there's usually a step that gets missed. After you've authorized the Google integration on GitHub and given it access to your private repo, you need to make sure that specific repository is actually selected in the integration settings. Sometimes the connection shows as "active" but the repo permissions aren't fully synced yet.
Try going back to your GitHub settings, then navigate to Applications under Integrations, and find the Google/Gemini integration there. Click into it and double, check that your private repo is explicitly listed and checked in the repository access section. Sometimes you need to manually select it even after granting permissions.
Another thing that catches people, if you recently changed the permissions or just connected everything, it can take a few minutes for the changes to propagate. Try disconnecting Gemini from GitHub completely, waiting a minute or two, then reconnecting it. Also make sure you're using the same GitHub account on both ends, especially if you have multiple GitHub accounts.
If you're still stuck after that, the issue might be on Gemini's side. Google's integration with GitHub for accessing private repos is still relatively new and can be buggy. You might need to try revoking all permissions on both sides, then setting it up fresh from scratch, I know it's annoying, but sometimes that's what it takes to get these third-party integrations working properly.
One last thing to check, is your repo part of an organization? If it is, the organization owner might need to approve the integration separately, even if you have admin access to the repo itself. That's a common gotcha that people run into.
Let me know if any of that helps or if you're still having trouble and I can dig deeper into what might be going wrong.

[DickHannay]

This is super helpful, I've walked down and completed your recommended checks. I've managed to solve it - oddly, it was being blocked because I needed to confirm my age, so it was a verification thing - as Google Gemini had imposed parental controls due to my Gemini account being tagged family (which I've since removed). But very grateful of your guidance as it helped enormously in the troubleshooting.

[FOOSAYS]

I am feeling a bit thick asking this, but here we go.

@DickHannay, you said "Github account I've installed and authorized google integrations, and given permissions to read the private repo."
What integrations and how did you install them? Did you follow any instructions to setup this connection?

I have:

1. Tried importing code via gemini.google.com on a desktop
2. looked through GitHub Marketplan, but not sure which one to setup.
3. confirmed I am using a personal account (not school or work)
4. Made sure my age has been verified on Google

I still can't see how to get Gemini to see GitHub (I don't have the "import code" in the gemini prompt window)

There are a couple threads I have seen that don't list a specific AI subscription as a requirement, but then other threads that suggest you do actually need something other than the basic (free) tier.

[yuanyuan-qwq]

At the moment, Google Gemini does not have reliable support for reading private GitHub repositories, even if the GitHub app is installed and authorized. The connection only works consistently for public repos.

This is a known limitation of the current Gemini GitHub integration, not a permission issue on your side.

What you can do:

Make the repo public (if possible), or

Use a GitHub PAT (Personal Access Token) and paste code manually, or

Use tools like Cursor / Copilot / ChatGPT that support private repo access via tokens.

Why it happens:

Gemini’s GitHub connector only supports limited API scopes and often cannot clone or browse private repos properly yet.

Summary

You didn’t configure it wrong — Gemini simply doesn’t fully support private GitHub repos yet.

[DickHannay]

Thank you, although I think I've managed to solve it (to test further as I start to use it) - oddly, it was being blocked because I needed to confirm my age, so it was a verification thing - as Google Gemini had imposed parental controls due to my Gemini account being tagged family (which I've since removed). But very grateful of your help.