Plan mode is now available in Gemini CLI

Source: Google Developers Blog

March 11, 2026

We’re excited to bring plan mode to Gemini CLI. With plan mode, Gemini CLI focuses first on analyzing your request, planning complex changes, understanding the code base or dependencies, and all this happens in a read‑only mode safe from accidental changes or executions. Plan mode will also ask you questions to clarify your goals before proposing a strategy for you to review.

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What Is Plan Mode?

Plan mode is a read‑only mode that restricts Gemini CLI to a subset of its tools. While active, the agent can:

• Navigate your codebase
• Search for patterns
• Read documentation

but it cannot modify any files except for its own internal plans.

You can ask Gemini CLI to “research how to migrate this database” or “plan a new feature,” and it will map out dependencies and propose a solution without the risk of unintended code changes.

Key Features

• Safe exploration – Use read‑only tools such as read_file, grep_search, and glob to validate assumptions.
• Architectural mapping – The agent can employ specialized sub‑agents like codebase_investigator or Agent Skills to understand complex system dependencies and workflows.
• Iterative design – Refine your strategy through conversation before switching to an edit‑capable mode for implementation.
• Fully extensible – Extend Plan mode to your personal needs with custom policies or build workflows on top of it using the enter_plan_mode and exit_plan_mode tools.

Better Collaboration with the ask_user Tool

A plan is only as good as its requirements. To make plan mode truly effective, we’ve introduced the ask_user tool. This allows the agent to pause its research and ask you targeted questions to clarify your goals or gather missing information.

Instead of making assumptions or guessing your intent, Gemini CLI can now:

• Present you with options
• Request clarification on a specific architectural choice
• Ask for the location of a hidden configuration file

This bi‑directional communication ensures that the final plan aligns perfectly with your vision before you commit to the implementation.

Expanded Reach with Read‑Only MCP Tools

Plan mode isn’t limited to your local filesystem. It also supports read‑only MCP tools, letting the Gemini CLI pull context from your entire developer stack safely.

• GitHub – read issues, pull‑request descriptions, or repository metadata.
• PostgreSQL – inspect schemas, table definitions, or query results.
• Google Docs – fetch the latest version of design docs or specifications.

By using these read‑only integrations, your plan is informed by all relevant external data while preserving the integrity of your codebase.

Powering Complex Workflows with Conductor

For more intricate projects, Conductor can be an excellent fit. The Conductor extension for Gemini CLI fully leverages both plan mode and the ask_user tool. Conductor enables Context‑Driven Development by acting as an orchestrator for multi‑step development tracks, guiding you through complex migrations or feature implementations.

• Plan mode – Performs exhaustive pre‑flight checks and research steps with zero risk.
• ask_user tool – Prompts you to confirm critical decisions at each milestone, keeping you in control of the high‑level direction while the agent handles the heavy lifting of gathering context and drafting sub‑tasks.

Conductor is a great example of how plan mode was built with extensibility in mind, providing the building blocks for users to build their own custom planning workflows.

Video Overview

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The team is working on integrating Conductor directly into Gemini CLI as a built‑in mode in the near future… stay tuned!

Getting Started with Plan Mode

Plan mode is now enabled by default for all users! You can enter plan mode at any time by:

• Typing /plan in the input box
• Pressing Shift + Tab to cycle through approval modes
• Asking the agent to “start a plan for…”

The model routing capabilities of Gemini CLI extend to plan mode. Higher‑reasoning Pro models—such as the new Gemini 3.1 Pro—are used during planning to ensure robust architectural decisions and high‑quality plans.

If you prefer to begin every session in a research‑first mindset, use the /settings command to set “Default Approval Mode” to Plan.

Keeping It Simple

We know some of you like to keep your terminal lean, or perhaps you have your own battle‑tested planning process. If plan mode isn’t your cup of tea, disabling it is easy!

1. Type /settings and search for “Plan” to toggle it off.
   This will:
   • Remove plan mode from the Shift+Tab rotation.
   • Unregister the enter_plan_mode and exit_plan_mode tools.

We want Gemini CLI to fit your workflow, not the other way around. Whether you love the structured safety of a pre‑coded plan or prefer to live on the edge with Auto‑Edit mode, the choice is yours!

We’re always looking to improve the planning workflow. Give it a spin on your next big feature and let us know what you think.

• Plan mode documentation
• GitHub repository
• Follow Gemini CLI on X for the latest news and announcements.