---
title: "One-Click Google Cloud Integration for GKE in Lens K8S IDE — Lens Blog — Lens"
description: "Connect Lens K8S IDE to Google Kubernetes Engine in two steps: sign in with Google, pick a project, and Lens auto-discovers every cluster."
url: https://lenshq.io/blog/lens-gke-integration/
---

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# One-Click Google Cloud Integration for GKE in Lens K8S IDE

Yalton Ruiz October 19, 2026 2 min read

**TL;DR:**

- **Auto-discovery.** Lens finds every running GKE cluster in your Google Cloud project, in all regions and zones, and checks again every minute.
- **Sign in with Google.** You don't install the gcloud CLI or copy a kubeconfig.
- **Private clusters** connect through their DNS endpoint.
- **Several projects and accounts** live side by side in the navigator.

Now it is possible to connect Lens K8S IDE to Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), next to AWS EKS and Azure AKS. Add a Google Cloud project once, and Lens keeps its cluster list current.

## GKE auto-discovery in just two steps

Sign in with Google, pick a project, and that's it. Lens lists every GKE cluster in the **Running** state, in every region and zone, and checks the project again every minute. When someone creates a cluster, it shows up on its own. When they delete one, it goes away. Each cluster carries its location in the name, like `demo-1 (europe-north1-b)`.

![Adding a GKE project in Lens takes two steps: sign in with Google, then select a project. Lens then lists every cluster you can access under GKE, such as demo-1 in europe-north1-b](https://lenshq.io/blog/lens-gke-integration/gke-two-steps.webp)

Click a cluster to connect. Lens writes the kubeconfig and keeps it up to date.

![The Lens K8S IDE window showing the Cluster Overview of the GKE cluster demo-1 in europe-north1-b, with CPU, memory, and pod usage and a table of the cluster's warnings](https://lenshq.io/blog/lens-gke-integration/gke-cluster-overview.webp)

You see the clusters your Google account has access to. To work inside one, you still need Kubernetes RBAC permissions on that cluster.

## Private clusters work too

Private GKE clusters often have no public IP. If the cluster's DNS endpoint accepts external traffic, Lens connects through it with the same Google sign-in, and you don't need a VPN. See [Private clusters](https://docs.lenshq.io/k8slens/getting-started/add-clusters/add-google-gke/#private-gke-clusters) in the documentation.

## Get the update

One-Click Google Cloud Integration is available in Lens K8S IDE 2026.10.51501 and later. It is a Premium Feature, included with the Plus, Pro, and Enterprise plans ([pricing](https://lenshq.io/pricing/)) and with an active 14-day trial. It needs internet access.

For every step, see [Add Google GKE clusters](https://docs.lenshq.io/k8slens/getting-started/add-clusters/add-google-gke/).

## Try Lens free for 14 days

Without compromise. Connect your GKE clusters and see auto-discovery at work before you choose a plan.

[Start free trial](https://lenshq.io/download/)