When I run Gemini on a computer that has the repo, what I want from my phone is simple:

• see whether it’s still running
• see whether it needs input
• send one short follow-up

The friction is rarely “the AI”.

It’s the glue:

• where Gemini is installed
• whether the auth state exists on that computer
• whether I can check in without turning my phone into a terminal

This guide is the provider-specific workflow that makes Gemini phone check-ins feel smooth and repeatable.

TL;DR

1. Install Gemini CLI on the computer that will run sessions and verify gemini --version.
2. Authenticate Gemini on that computer.
3. If Gemini isn’t detected, set HAPPIER_GEMINI_PATH to the absolute path of the gemini binary.
4. Use a 2-minute phone loop: check → approvals → one follow-up → leave.

The problem

Gemini is local-repo-first.

That’s the appeal — it can see the same repo and tools you see.

But it means:

• the session lives on a specific computer
• auth is machine-local
• if your only remote surface is SSH, your phone becomes a terminal

What I tried first (and where I bounced off)

• SSH from phone

• remote desktop

• waiting until I’m back at a keyboard

• Happier: it lets me open the session from my phone, see what it’s doing, handle approvals, and send one short follow-up. Trade-off: it still depends on the computer running the session being online.

If you’re new to Happier (what it is, and where to get it)

If you haven’t seen Happier before: it’s an open-source companion app (mobile/web/desktop) for coding sessions.

Get set up:

• GitHub: https://github.com/happier-dev/happier
• Install/download: https://github.com/happier-dev/happier#how-it-works
• Discord: https://discord.gg/W6Pb8KuHfg

A workflow that works

1) Install Gemini on the host computer

From provider docs:

gemini --version

2) Authenticate Gemini (machine-local)

Gemini auth lives on the computer that runs the session.

A quick sanity check I like:

• start a tiny session
• send one follow-up

If that works, auth is good on that computer.

3) Fix detection with HAPPIER_GEMINI_PATH

If Gemini is installed but not detected, set:

• HAPPIER_GEMINI_PATH

4) The 2-minute phone loop

1. open session
2. check approvals
3. send one follow-up
4. leave

5) Three copy/paste follow-ups

1. Checkpoint

Stop after your next step and summarize:

• what you changed
• what you didn’t change
• what you want to do next

2. Constraint

Don’t touch migrations/auth. If you think you need to, stop and ask.

3. Diff-first

Before you keep going, list the files you modified and why (one sentence each).

Troubleshooting

The session isn’t updating

• confirm the host computer is online
• reload/reopen the session
• check whether it’s waiting on approval

Gemini isn’t detected

• verify gemini --version
• set HAPPIER_GEMINI_PATH

If you’re new to Happier

Happier is one option for running Gemini on a computer and monitoring it from your phone.

Get set up:

• GitHub: https://github.com/happier-dev/happier
• Install/download: https://github.com/happier-dev/happier#how-it-works
• Discord: https://discord.gg/W6Pb8KuHfg