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Qwen Code Quick Start: From Installation to Your First AI Coding Task

Qwen Team
July 13, 2026

If you’re new to Qwen Code, this guide walks you through everything from scratch: installation, configuration, conversation, and extensions — four steps to get the full workflow running. Each step includes a video demo, so just follow along.

Installing Qwen Code

Qwen Code supports one-click installation via a script, covering Windows, macOS, and Linux.

macOS / Linux:

bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://qwen-code-assets.oss-cn-hangzhou.aliyuncs.com/installation/install-qwen.sh)" -s --source website

Windows (PowerShell):

curl -fsSL -o %TEMP%\install-qwen.bat https://qwen-code-assets.oss-cn-hangzhou.aliyuncs.com/installation/install-qwen.bat && %TEMP%\install-qwen.bat --source website

After installation, run qwen --version to confirm it’s installed successfully. You can also install via npm:

npm i @qwen-code/qwen-code@latest -g

For a detailed walkthrough of the installation process, watch this video covering everything from download to verification:

Configuring a Model Provider

After installation, Qwen Code will guide you through connecting to a model provider. We recommend using Alibaba Cloud’s Model Studio (Bailian) platform.

  1. Go to Alibaba Cloud Model Studio  to get your API Key
  2. Run qwen in your terminal to start, then select Alibaba ModelStudio
  3. Paste your API Key and select a model

If you prefer manual configuration, edit ~/.qwen/settings.json:

{
  "modelProviders": {
    "openai": [
      {
        "id": "qwen3.5-plus",
        "name": "[Bailian] qwen3.5-plus",
        "baseUrl": "https://dashscope.aliyuncs.com/compatible-mode/v1",
        "envKey": "BAILIAN_API_KEY"
      }
    ]
  },
  "env": {
    "BAILIAN_API_KEY": "your-api-key"
  }
}

Once configured, use the /model command to view and switch models:

Starting Your First Conversation

Navigate to your project directory and launch Qwen Code:

cd your-project && qwen

Just describe what you want to do in natural language. For example:

Write a Python function to calculate the Fibonacci sequence

Or ask the AI to help organize your files:

Organize the files in this folder by type into different subfolders

Qwen Code will automatically break down the task, execute operations, and return results. You don’t need to guide it step by step — just describe the goal.

Installing Skills Extensions

Skills are Qwen Code’s capability extension system. You can install community-developed Skills on demand to give the AI additional specialized abilities.

Installing a Skill is simple — just one sentence:

Install find-skills for me

Or use the command directly:

/skills find-skills install web-component-design -y -a qwen-code

After installation, use /skills to view your installed Skills.

VS Code Integration

If you prefer working inside an editor, Qwen Code offers a VS Code extension. Search for “Qwen Code” in the extension marketplace and install it. Once installed, you can chat with the AI directly from the sidebar for a seamless coding experience.

What’s Next

Now that you’re up and running, here are some directions to explore next:

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