---
title: Qwen Code with AI Gateway
product: vercel
url: /docs/ai-gateway/coding-agents/qwen
canonical_url: "https://vercel.com/docs/ai-gateway/coding-agents/qwen"
last_updated: 2018-10-20
type: how-to
prerequisites:
  - /docs/ai-gateway/coding-agents
  - /docs/ai-gateway
related:
  - /docs/cli/ai-gateway
  - /docs/ai-gateway/observability-and-spend/observability
  - /docs/ai-gateway/sdks-and-apis/openai-chat-completions
  - /docs/ai-gateway/observability-and-spend/budgets
summary: Connect Qwen Code to AI Gateway with the Vercel CLI or OpenAI-compatible model provider entries.
install_vercel_plugin: npx plugins add vercel/vercel-plugin
---

# Qwen Code with AI Gateway

[Qwen Code](https://github.com/QwenLM/qwen-code) is Alibaba's terminal coding agent, a fork of Gemini CLI adapted for Qwen models. Its `modelProviders.openai` entries support environment-variable keys, which you can point at AI Gateway for unified model access and spend monitoring.

## Set up with the Vercel CLI

Run the [Vercel CLI setup command](/docs/cli/ai-gateway#setup) for Qwen Code:

```bash filename="terminal"
npx vercel ai-gateway setup --agent qwen
```

The command writes `modelProviders.openai` entries in `~/.qwen/settings.json`, each with an `envKey` reference to `AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY` so the key never lands in the file. The entries list the newest Qwen models first, followed by the gateway's most-used models. Re-run the command to refresh the list.

## Configuring Qwen Code

If you can't use the Vercel CLI, configure Qwen Code manually:

- ### Create an API key
  Go to the [**AI Gateway**](https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai-gateway\&title=Go+to+AI+Gateway) section in the Vercel dashboard sidebar and click **API keys** to create a new API key.

- ### Export the key
  Export the key in your shell:
  ```bash filename="Terminal"
  export AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY="your-ai-gateway-api-key"
  ```
  To persist the key, add the same line to your shell's startup file.

- ### Add the model providers
  Add the gateway entries to `~/.qwen/settings.json`:
  ```json filename="~/.qwen/settings.json"
  {
    "modelProviders": {
      "openai": [
        {
          "id": "openai/gpt-6-astra",
          "name": "openai/gpt-6-astra",
          "baseUrl": "https://ai-gateway.vercel.sh/coding-agent/v1",
          "envKey": "AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY"
        },
        {
          "id": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-5",
          "name": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-5",
          "baseUrl": "https://ai-gateway.vercel.sh/coding-agent/v1",
          "envKey": "AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY"
        }
      ]
    },
    "security": {
      "auth": {
        "selectedType": "openai"
      }
    },
    "model": {
      "name": "openai/gpt-6-astra"
    }
  }
  ```
  The `openai` array defines the whole model universe. `model.name` resolves against it, so add one entry per gateway model you want available. `envKey` names the environment variable holding your key. Setting `security.auth.selectedType` to `"openai"` switches Qwen Code off its default Qwen OAuth login.

- ### Start Qwen Code
  Open a new terminal so the key is loaded, then run:
  ```bash filename="Terminal"
  qwen
  ```
  Switch models in-session.

### Monitor usage and spend

View your usage, spend, and request activity in the [**AI Gateway**](https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai-gateway\&title=Go+to+AI+Gateway) section in the Vercel dashboard sidebar. See the [observability documentation](/docs/ai-gateway/observability-and-spend/observability) for more details.

## Environment variables

| Variable             | Description                                       |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| `AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY` | Your AI Gateway API key, named by `envKey`. Required |

> **💡 Note:** Qwen Code calls AI Gateway through the [OpenAI-compatible Chat Completions
> API](/docs/ai-gateway/sdks-and-apis/openai-chat-completions), so any model
> that supports Chat Completions works.

## Next steps

- Browse the [models catalog](/ai-gateway/models) for available models
- Configure [spend limits](/docs/ai-gateway/observability-and-spend/budgets) on your API key
- Read the [Qwen Code documentation](https://github.com/QwenLM/qwen-code) for commands and configuration


---

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