Web Search

Qwen Code provides web search two ways:

1. Built-in web_search tool (opt-in) — backed by the DashScope Responses API server-side search. Works with a standard Bailian (DashScope) API key; no extra provider or MCP setup.
2. MCP (Model Context Protocol) integrations — connect any external search service (Tavily, GLM, and others). Use this when you don’t have a DashScope key.

Built-in web_search (opt-in)

The built-in tool issues a self-contained search request to a small auxiliary model with DashScope’s server-side web_search (and web_extractor) tools, and returns the narrated findings plus source URLs. It never activates implicitly — two settings are required:

{
  "modelProviders": {
    "openai": [
      {
        "id": "qwen3.6-plus",
        "envKey": "DASHSCOPE_API_KEY",
        "baseUrl": "https://dashscope.aliyuncs.com/compatible-mode/v1"
      }
    ]
  },
  "tools": {
    "webSearch": {
      "enabled": true,
      "model": "qwen3.6-plus"
    }
  }
}

Env-only configuration (no settings.json)

For environments where you cannot write a settings file (locked-down containers, CI with env injection only), the tool can be configured entirely through environment variables — no modelProviders entry needed:

export ENABLE_WEB_SEARCH=true
export WEB_SEARCH_MODEL=qwen3.6-plus
export WEB_SEARCH_BASE_URL=https://dashscope.aliyuncs.com/compatible-mode/v1
export DASHSCOPE_API_KEY=sk-...        # or set WEB_SEARCH_API_KEY instead

WEB_SEARCH_BASE_URL mirrors a modelProviders entry’s baseUrl and must be a DashScope-compatible endpoint; when it is set, it takes precedence over modelProviders resolution and WEB_SEARCH_MODEL is used as the plain DashScope model id. The API key is read from WEB_SEARCH_API_KEY if set, otherwise from DASHSCOPE_API_KEY. Misconfiguration still surfaces as a startup notice.

Notes:

• The selector must resolve to a DashScope-compatible modelProviders entry carrying a direct API key via envKey. Your main model can be any provider — only the search side request needs a DashScope entry. Qwen OAuth cannot back the tool.
• If enabled but misconfigured, the tool stays off and a startup notice explains which condition failed.
• Searches bill your DashScope key (usage.x_tools counts). The tool asks for confirmation by default; approving with “always allow” persists a standard WebSearch permission rule, like other tools.
• There is no client-side model allowlist; a model the Responses endpoint does not serve fails loudly on first use.

MCP alternatives

If you don’t have a DashScope key, web search is available by connecting an external MCP server — see the services below.

⚠️ Historical Breaking Change: original built-in web_search removed

Affected versions: V0.0.7+ through the last release with the original multi-provider built-in web search.

The original built-in web_search tool (Tavily/Google/GLM/DashScope multi-provider) and its configuration were removed. The new opt-in built-in tool above is a different implementation with different configuration. If you were using any of the following, migrate either to the new built-in tool (DashScope) or to MCP:

Migration Examples

Before (Tavily via built-in tool):

{
  "webSearch": {
    "provider": [{ "type": "tavily", "apiKey": "tvly-xxx" }],
    "default": "tavily"
  }
}

After (Tavily via MCP):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tavily": {
      "httpUrl": "https://mcp.tavily.com/mcp/?tavilyApiKey=tvly-xxx"
    }
  }
}

Before (DashScope via built-in tool):

{
  "webSearch": {
    "provider": [{ "type": "dashscope", "apiKey": "sk-xxx" }],
    "default": "dashscope"
  }
}

After (Alibaba Cloud Bailian WebSearch via MCP):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "WebSearch": {
      "httpUrl": "https://dashscope.aliyuncs.com/api/v1/mcps/WebSearch/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer sk-xxx"
      }
    }
  }
}

Supported MCP Web Search Services

Alibaba Cloud Bailian WebSearch

The official web search MCP service provided by Alibaba Cloud Bailian platform, powered by DashScope. If you have a DashScope key, prefer the built-in web_search tool above — it uses a stronger search path than this MCP service.

• MCP Marketplace: https://bailian.console.aliyun.com/cn-beijing?tab=mcp#/mcp-market/detail/WebSearch 
• Cost: Paid (billed via Alibaba Cloud DashScope)
• Get API Key: https://help.aliyun.com/zh/model-studio/get-api-key 
• Best for: Chinese-language queries, access to Chinese web content, integration with the Alibaba Cloud ecosystem

Setup

Method 1: CLI command

qwen mcp add WebSearch \
  -t http \
  "https://dashscope.aliyuncs.com/api/v1/mcps/WebSearch/mcp" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${DASHSCOPE_API_KEY}"

Method 2: settings.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "WebSearch": {
      "httpUrl": "https://dashscope.aliyuncs.com/api/v1/mcps/WebSearch/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${DASHSCOPE_API_KEY}"
      }
    }
  }
}

Replace ${DASHSCOPE_API_KEY} with your actual API key, or set it as an environment variable so Qwen Code picks it up automatically.

Tavily WebSearch

A production-ready MCP server providing real-time web search, extract, map, and crawl capabilities.

• Repository: https://github.com/tavily-ai/tavily-mcp 
• Cost: Paid (free tier available)
• Get API Key: https://app.tavily.com/home 
• Best for: General-purpose web search with high-quality AI-generated answers

Available Tools

• tavily_search — Real-time web search
• tavily_extract — Intelligent data extraction from web pages
• tavily_map — Create a structured map of a website
• tavily_crawl — Systematically explore websites

Setup

Method 1: CLI command (Remote MCP)

qwen mcp add tavily \
  -t http \
  "https://mcp.tavily.com/mcp/?tavilyApiKey=${TAVILY_API_KEY}"

Method 2: settings.json (Remote MCP)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tavily": {
      "httpUrl": "https://mcp.tavily.com/mcp/?tavilyApiKey=${TAVILY_API_KEY}"
    }
  }
}

Replace ${TAVILY_API_KEY} with your actual API key, or set it as an environment variable.

Method 3: settings.json (Local NPX)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tavily-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "tavily-mcp@latest"],
      "env": {
        "TAVILY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

GLM WebSearch Prime (ZhipuAI)

The official web search Remote MCP service provided by ZhipuAI (智谱AI), designed for GLM Coding Plan users. Provides real-time web search including news, stock prices, weather, and more.

• Documentation: https://docs.bigmodel.cn/cn/coding-plan/mcp/search-mcp-server 
• Cost: Included in GLM Coding Plan subscription (Lite: 100 calls/month, Pro: 1,000/month, Max: 4,000/month)
• Get API Key: https://open.bigmodel.cn/apikey/platform 
• Best for: Chinese-language queries, real-time information retrieval

Available Tools

• webSearchPrime — Web search returning page title, URL, summary, site name, and favicon

Setup

Method 1: CLI command

qwen mcp add web-search-prime \
  -t http \
  "https://open.bigmodel.cn/api/mcp/web_search_prime/mcp" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${GLM_API_KEY}"

Method 2: settings.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "web-search-prime": {
      "httpUrl": "https://open.bigmodel.cn/api/mcp/web_search_prime/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${GLM_API_KEY}"
      }
    }
  }
}

Replace ${GLM_API_KEY} with your actual ZhipuAI API key, or set it as an environment variable.