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Qwen Code supports multiple AI model providers through a unified modelProviders configuration in settings.json.

​
Overview

Model providers are configured by authentication type (protocol), with each type supporting multiple models: 
{
  "modelProviders": {
    "openai": [ /* OpenAI-compatible models */ ],
    "anthropic": [ /* Anthropic Claude models */ ],
    "gemini": [ /* Google Gemini models */ ],
    "vertex-ai": [ /* Vertex AI models */ ]
  }
}

​
Supported Providers

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OpenAI-Compatible

The openai protocol supports any OpenAI-compatible API, including:
  • Alibaba Cloud DashScope (Qwen models)
  • OpenAI (GPT models)
  • OpenRouter (multiple providers)
  • ModelScope
  • Custom OpenAI-compatible endpoints

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Anthropic

Supports Claude models through the Anthropic API.

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Google GenAI

Supports Gemini models through the Google Generative AI API.

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Vertex AI

Supports models through Google Cloud Vertex AI.

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Model Configuration Schema

Each model configuration has the following structure:
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id
string
required
The model ID sent to the API (e.g., qwen3-coder-plus, gpt-4o, claude-sonnet-4-20250514).
​
name
string
required
Display name shown in the UI and model selector.
​
envKey
string
required
The name of the environment variable that holds your API key.Common values:
  • DASHSCOPE_API_KEY for Alibaba Cloud
  • OPENAI_API_KEY for OpenAI
  • ANTHROPIC_API_KEY for Anthropic
  • GEMINI_API_KEY for Google Gemini
​
baseUrl
string
The API endpoint URL. Required for non-default endpoints.Examples:
  • https://dashscope.aliyuncs.com/compatible-mode/v1 (DashScope)
  • https://api.openai.com/v1 (OpenAI)
  • https://coding.dashscope.aliyuncs.com/v1 (Bailian Coding Plan)
​
description
string
Optional description of the model shown in the UI.
​
generationConfig
object
Model-specific generation configuration.
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generationConfig.extra_body
object
Additional parameters passed to the API request body.Example for enabling thinking mode:
{
  "extra_body": {
    "enable_thinking": true
  }
}
​
generationConfig.timeout
number
Request timeout in milliseconds.
​
generationConfig.maxRetries
number
Maximum number of retries for failed requests.

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Configuration Examples

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Qwen Models (DashScope)

{
  "modelProviders": {
    "openai": [
      {
        "id": "qwen3-coder-plus",
        "name": "Qwen3 Coder Plus",
        "baseUrl": "https://dashscope.aliyuncs.com/compatible-mode/v1",
        "description": "Qwen3-Coder via Dashscope",
        "envKey": "DASHSCOPE_API_KEY"
      }
    ]
  },
  "env": {
    "DASHSCOPE_API_KEY": "sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxx"
  },
  "security": {
    "auth": {
      "selectedType": "openai"
    }
  },
  "model": {
    "name": "qwen3-coder-plus"
  }
}

​
Alibaba Cloud Bailian Coding Plan

The Coding Plan provides fixed monthly pricing with higher quotas and access to multiple models: 
{
  "modelProviders": {
    "openai": [
      {
        "id": "qwen3.5-plus",
        "name": "qwen3.5-plus (Coding Plan)",
        "baseUrl": "https://coding.dashscope.aliyuncs.com/v1",
        "description": "qwen3.5-plus with thinking enabled from Bailian Coding Plan",
        "envKey": "BAILIAN_CODING_PLAN_API_KEY",
        "generationConfig": {
          "extra_body": {
            "enable_thinking": true
          }
        }
      },
      {
        "id": "qwen3-coder-plus",
        "name": "qwen3-coder-plus (Coding Plan)",
        "baseUrl": "https://coding.dashscope.aliyuncs.com/v1",
        "envKey": "BAILIAN_CODING_PLAN_API_KEY"
      },
      {
        "id": "glm-4.7",
        "name": "glm-4.7 (Coding Plan)",
        "baseUrl": "https://coding.dashscope.aliyuncs.com/v1",
        "envKey": "BAILIAN_CODING_PLAN_API_KEY",
        "generationConfig": {
          "extra_body": {
            "enable_thinking": true
          }
        }
      },
      {
        "id": "kimi-k2.5",
        "name": "kimi-k2.5 (Coding Plan)",
        "baseUrl": "https://coding.dashscope.aliyuncs.com/v1",
        "envKey": "BAILIAN_CODING_PLAN_API_KEY",
        "generationConfig": {
          "extra_body": {
            "enable_thinking": true
          }
        }
      }
    ]
  },
  "env": {
    "BAILIAN_CODING_PLAN_API_KEY": "sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxx"
  },
  "model": {
    "name": "qwen3-coder-plus"
  }
}
Subscribe to the Coding Plan and get your API key at Alibaba Cloud Bailian.

​
OpenAI Models

{
  "modelProviders": {
    "openai": [
      {
        "id": "gpt-4o",
        "name": "GPT-4o",
        "envKey": "OPENAI_API_KEY",
        "baseUrl": "https://api.openai.com/v1"
      },
      {
        "id": "gpt-4o-mini",
        "name": "GPT-4o Mini",
        "envKey": "OPENAI_API_KEY",
        "baseUrl": "https://api.openai.com/v1"
      }
    ]
  },
  "env": {
    "OPENAI_API_KEY": "sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxx"
  },
  "security": {
    "auth": {
      "selectedType": "openai"
    }
  },
  "model": {
    "name": "gpt-4o"
  }
}

​
Anthropic Claude

{
  "modelProviders": {
    "anthropic": [
      {
        "id": "claude-sonnet-4-20250514",
        "name": "Claude Sonnet 4",
        "envKey": "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"
      },
      {
        "id": "claude-opus-4-20250514",
        "name": "Claude Opus 4",
        "envKey": "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"
      }
    ]
  },
  "env": {
    "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "sk-ant-xxxxxxxxxxxxx"
  },
  "security": {
    "auth": {
      "selectedType": "anthropic"
    }
  },
  "model": {
    "name": "claude-sonnet-4-20250514"
  }
}

​
Google Gemini

{
  "modelProviders": {
    "gemini": [
      {
        "id": "gemini-2.5-pro",
        "name": "Gemini 2.5 Pro",
        "envKey": "GEMINI_API_KEY"
      },
      {
        "id": "gemini-2.5-flash",
        "name": "Gemini 2.5 Flash",
        "envKey": "GEMINI_API_KEY"
      }
    ]
  },
  "env": {
    "GEMINI_API_KEY": "AIzaxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
  },
  "security": {
    "auth": {
      "selectedType": "gemini"
    }
  },
  "model": {
    "name": "gemini-2.5-pro"
  }
}

​
Multiple Providers

You can configure multiple providers and switch between them using the /model command: 
{
  "modelProviders": {
    "openai": [
      {
        "id": "qwen3-coder-plus",
        "name": "Qwen3 Coder Plus",
        "baseUrl": "https://dashscope.aliyuncs.com/compatible-mode/v1",
        "envKey": "DASHSCOPE_API_KEY"
      },
      {
        "id": "gpt-4o",
        "name": "GPT-4o",
        "envKey": "OPENAI_API_KEY",
        "baseUrl": "https://api.openai.com/v1"
      }
    ],
    "anthropic": [
      {
        "id": "claude-sonnet-4-20250514",
        "name": "Claude Sonnet 4",
        "envKey": "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"
      }
    ],
    "gemini": [
      {
        "id": "gemini-2.5-pro",
        "name": "Gemini 2.5 Pro",
        "envKey": "GEMINI_API_KEY"
      }
    ]
  },
  "env": {
    "DASHSCOPE_API_KEY": "sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxx",
    "OPENAI_API_KEY": "sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxx",
    "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "sk-ant-xxxxxxxxxxxxx",
    "GEMINI_API_KEY": "AIzaxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
  },
  "security": {
    "auth": {
      "selectedType": "openai"
    }
  },
  "model": {
    "name": "qwen3-coder-plus"
  }
}

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Switching Models

Once configured, you can switch models in several ways:

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Using the /model Command

In an interactive session: 
qwen
# In the session:
/model
# Choose from configured models

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Using the --model Flag

qwen --model gpt-4o

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Setting Default in Settings

{
  "model": {
    "name": "qwen3-coder-plus"
  }
}

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Authentication Type

The security.auth.selectedType determines which API protocol to use: 
{
  "security": {
    "auth": {
      "selectedType": "openai"  // or "anthropic", "gemini", "vertex-ai", "qwen-oauth"
    }
  }
}

​
Available Auth Types

  • openai - OpenAI-compatible APIs (DashScope, OpenAI, OpenRouter, etc.)
  • anthropic - Anthropic Claude API
  • gemini - Google Generative AI
  • vertex-ai - Google Cloud Vertex AI
  • qwen-oauth - Qwen OAuth (free tier, no API key needed)

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Environment Variables

API keys can be provided in three ways (in order of priority):
  1. System/Shell environment variables (highest priority) 
    export DASHSCOPE_API_KEY=sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  2. .env files (see Environment Variables)
  3. settings.json → env field (lowest priority) 
    {
  "env": {
    "DASHSCOPE_API_KEY": "sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxx"
  }
}
Never commit API keys to version control. Use .env files or system environment variables for sensitive credentials.

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Best Practices

  1. Store API keys securely: Use .env files or system environment variables instead of committing them to settings.json.
  2. Use descriptive names: Give your models clear, distinguishable names to make switching easier.
  3. Set a default model: Configure model.name to set your preferred default.
  4. Organize by use case: You can configure the same model multiple times with different settings (e.g., with/without thinking mode).
  5. Document custom endpoints: Use the description field to note what each model configuration is for.

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Troubleshooting

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”Missing API key” Error

Ensure your API key environment variable is set: 
# Check if the variable is set
echo $DASHSCOPE_API_KEY

# Set it if needed
export DASHSCOPE_API_KEY=sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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Model Not Available

Verify:
  1. The model id matches what the provider expects
  2. The baseUrl is correct for your provider
  3. The envKey matches your environment variable name
  4. The security.auth.selectedType matches the provider protocol

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Rate Limiting

Configure retry and timeout settings: 
{
  "model": {
    "generationConfig": {
      "timeout": 120000,
      "maxRetries": 3
    }
  }
}

​
See Also