OpenClaw + Qwen: Verified Setup Paths for OAuth and Ollama
If you searched for OpenClaw Qwen, there are two official paths: use the built-in Qwen OAuth provider, or run a local Qwen model through Ollama. Here is the shortest version that stays inside the official docs.
The Quick Answer
OpenClaw officially supports Qwen OAuth through the qwen-portal provider and also works with local Qwen models through Ollama.
Watch: Qwen 3.6 + Ollama End-to-End Walkthrough
Running a local open-weights model (Qwen 3.6) through an agent runtime looks the same whether you’re pairing it with OpenClaw, Qwen Code, or any other Claude Code alternative. This 16-minute video walks through the full setup — installing Ollama, pulling the model, wiring the agent, and three real coding demos against Claude Code.
Apply the same Ollama wiring below for OpenClaw — the agent runtime is the only piece that differs. Want to see Qwen 3.6 27B pushed harder on real code? Watch the full uncut local coding session where it goes head-to-head with Claude Code, or read the RTX 3090 benchmark breakdown.
Option 1: Use the Official Qwen OAuth Provider
# 1. Enable the Qwen auth plugin openclaw plugins enable qwen-portal-auth # 2. Restart the gateway openclaw gateway restart # 3. Start Qwen login and set it as default openclaw models auth login --provider qwen-portal --set-default # 4. Switch to the coder model explicitly openclaw models set qwen-portal/coder-model
The flow uses Qwen’s device-code OAuth with a free-tier limit of 2,000 requests per day.
Option 2: Run a Local Qwen Model Through Ollama
# 1. Pull a Qwen model into Ollama ollama pull qwen2.5-coder:32b # 2. Let OpenClaw talk to Ollama export OLLAMA_API_KEY="ollama-local" # 3. Verify the model is visible ollama list openclaw models list # 4. Set it as the default if needed openclaw models set ollama/qwen2.5-coder:32b
Qwen runs best with RAM headroom. A 24 GB Mac is the practical minimum; 48 GB+ runs the bigger Qwen variants comfortably.
The Most Important Ollama Caveat
Do not point OpenClaw at the OpenAI-compatible /v1 endpoint. The official Ollama page warns that native tool calling is the reliable path.
# Good: native Ollama API http://ollama-host:11434 # Risky for tool calling http://ollama-host:11434/v1
How to Verify Your Qwen Setup
openclaw models list openclaw status openclaw doctor openclaw dashboard
If you are still setting up OpenClaw itself, start with How to Install OpenClaw. If Qwen is configured but replies are blank or tools fail, jump to the troubleshooting guide.
Need OpenClaw fixed live?
Remote rescue sessions for gateway, auth, tunnel, VPS, and model access problems.
See Rescue Session