Cannot Access Gemini Models via Vertex AI API (404 Not Found / No Access Error)

[almon-s]

Hello,

I'm hoping to get some help with a persistent issue trying to access Gemini models through the Vertex AI API. No matter which region or model I try, I consistently get a 404 Not Found or project does not have access error.

Test Goal: I am trying to call the Gemini model from a backend application hosted on Databutton to perform text extraction.

The Error: 404 Publisher Model projects/projectapp-49e4b/locations/us-central1/publishers/google/models/gemini-pro was not found or your project does not have access to it.

Troubleshooting Steps Already Taken:

1. Vertex AI API is Enabled: I have confirmed in the Google Cloud Console that the "Vertex AI API" is enabled for this project.
2. Billing is Active: I have confirmed there is an active and linked billing account for this project.
3. Correct IAM Permissions: I created a dedicated service account with the "Vertex AI User" role. The application is using a valid JSON key from this service account to authenticate. The authentication itself seems to be working, as the error is coming from the API after authentication.
4. Regions Tried: us-central1 and asia-east2 (both fail with the same error. My preferred region is asia-east2 for latency, but for troubleshooting, I also tested in us-central1 and received the exact same error.)
5. Models Tried: gemini-1.0-pro and gemini-pro (both fail)

I am not sure what to check next. It seems like a project-level permission or configuration issue that I'm not seeing. Has anyone encountered this before or have any ideas on what else I could check or may have missed? Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you!

[caryna]

Hi @almon-s,

Welcome to Google Cloud Community!

This error occurred because you’re attempting to access Gemini-1.0 Pro, which was discontinued in April 2025.   

Consider exploring alternative model versions and referring to the Model version and lifecycles to identify stable and actively supported models. Additionally, ensure that the Gemini models you’re considering are available in your region.

For further clarification, you may reach out to Google Cloud Support for a one-on-one discussion about your issue. Their team has the specialized expertise to diagnose and resolve complex problems effectively.

Was this helpful? If so, please accept this answer as “Solution”. If you need additional assistance, reply here within 2 business days and I’ll be happy to help.