🚀 Use Claude Code with Qwen Models 100% Free on Windows (PowerShell Guide)

This guide will show you how to run Claude Code locally while using Qwen models for free, fully optimized for Windows 10/11 PowerShell.

You will install the required tools, extract your Qwen access token, configure Claude Code Router, and start coding with Qwen models inside Claude Code — all for free.

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🧩 Prerequisites

Make sure you have installed the following:

• Qwen CLI (already authenticated)
• Node.js v18+ (Download from: https://nodejs.org)

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📌 Step 1 — Install Claude Code Router + Qwen Code (Global)

Open PowerShell and run:

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

Then install Claude Code + Router:

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code @musistudio/claude-code-router

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📌 Step 2 — Extract Your Qwen Access Token

Go to:

C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\.qwen\oauth_creds.json

Example content:

{
  "access_token": "YOUR_QWEN_ACCESS_TOKEN_HERE",
  "token_type": "Bearer",
  "refresh_token": "YOUR_REFRESH_TOKEN",
  "resource_url": "portal.qwen.ai",
  "expiry_date": 1764876220290
}

👉 Copy the value of access_token This will be used in the Claude Code Router config.

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📌 Step 3 — Create Router Folders (Auto)

Paste this into PowerShell:

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\.claude-code-router", "$env:USERPROFILE\.claude"

This creates:

C:\Users\YourName\.claude-code-router
C:\Users\YourName\.claude

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📌 Step 4 — Create the Router Config File

Run this entire block in PowerShell (it will auto-create config.json):

@"
{  
  "LOG": true,
  "LOG_LEVEL": "info",
  "HOST": "127.0.0.1",
  "PORT": 3456,
  "API_TIMEOUT_MS": 600000,

  "Providers": [
    {
      "name": "qwen",
      "api_base_url": "https://portal.qwen.ai/v1/chat/completions",
      "api_key": "YOUR_QWEN_ACCESS_TOKEN_HERE",
      "models": [
        "qwen3-coder-plus",
        "qwen3-coder-plus",
        "qwen3-coder-plus"
      ]
    }
  ],

  "Router": {
    "default": "qwen,qwen3-coder-plus",
    "background": "qwen,qwen3-coder-plus",
    "think": "qwen,qwen3-coder-plus",
    "longContext": "qwen,qwen3-coder-plus",
    "longContextThreshold": 60000,
    "webSearch": "qwen,qwen3-coder-plus"
  }
}
"@ | Out-File -FilePath "$env:USERPROFILE\.claude-code-router\config.json" -Encoding UTF8

Now open the file:

notepad "$env:USERPROFILE\.claude-code-router\config.json"

Replace:

YOUR_QWEN_ACCESS_TOKEN_HERE

with your real access token from Step 2.

Save and close.

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📌 Step 5 — Start Using Claude Code with Qwen

Restart the router:

ccr restart

Start Claude Code:

ccr code

Test it:

> hi

If it responds — congratulations! You’re now using Claude Code with free Qwen models.

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🔄 Token Refresh Guide (Fix 401 Unauthorized)

You may sometimes get:

401 Unauthorized

This means your Qwen OAuth token expired.

✔️ Fix:

1. Refresh your Qwen login

If the access_token in both files matches:

config.json
oauth_creds.json

Delete this file:

C:\Users\YourName\.qwen\oauth_creds.json

Or Run this command simply:

del "$env:USERPROFILE\.qwen\oauth_creds.json"

Then run:

qwen

This will prompt login again and generate a new token.

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2. Update Claude Router Config

Open:

notepad "$env:USERPROFILE\.claude-code-router\config.json"

Replace the old api_key with your new access_token.

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3. Restart router

ccr restart

Done.

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✅ All Set!

You now have the perfect setup to use Claude Code with Qwen (free) on Windows.

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✍️ By Hammad Mustafa