This page describes how to start and set up a new Google Cloud Shell session.
Starting a new session
Click the Activate Cloud Shell button at the top of the Google Cloud Console.
A Cloud Shell session opens inside a new frame at the bottom of the Console and displays a command-line prompt. It can take a few seconds for the session to be initialized.
Using the terminal
Cloud Shell provides command-line access to the virtual machine instance in a terminal window that opens in the Google Cloud Console.
In addition to accessing the Cloud SDK gcloud command-line
tool and other utilities from the command line, you can use the cloudshell
command to launch tutorials, open the Cloud Shell Editor, and download files.
Refer to the guide on using the Cloud Shell Terminal for more details.
Using the Cloud Shell Editor
The built-in code editor provides the convenience of viewing and editing files
in the same environment where projects are built and deployed. Launch the
Cloud Shell Editor by clicking the pencil icon
on the toolbar of
the Cloud Shell window.
Refer to the guide on using the Cloud Shell Editor for more details.
Adjusting the display window
To adjust the display window:
Click the Hide
and Restore
buttons to
hide and restore the session display.Click the Open Session in New Window
button to
detach the session as a new window.Click the Activate Cloud Shell
button at the top of the Console
window to close the detached window and re-open the session in the Console.Click the Settings button
and then
Switch to Light Theme or Switch to Dark Theme to toggle between
themes.
What's next
Now that you're familiar with configuring Cloud Shell, you can start to use the pre-installed tools and commands from the command line. You can also install additional tools in your home directory in persistent disk storage as needed.