feat(auth): discontinue Qwen OAuth free tier (2026-04-15 cutoff)

The Qwen OAuth free tier has reached its end-of-life date. This updates
all client-side messaging, blocks new OAuth signups, and guides existing
users to alternative providers.

Author: tanzhenxin

.qwen/skills/qwen-code-claw/SKILL.md

@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ Full reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/QwenLM/qwen-code/refs/heads/ma
 
 ### Authentication
 
-Supports Qwen OAuth (browser-based, 100 free requests/day, ending 2026-04-15 — switch to OpenRouter, Fireworks AI, or Alibaba Cloud ModelStudio after that) and OpenAI-compatible API keys.
+Supports Alibaba Cloud Coding Plan, OpenAI-compatible API keys, and Qwen OAuth (free tier discontinued 2026-04-15).
 
 Full reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/QwenLM/qwen-code/refs/heads/main/docs/users/configuration/auth.md
 

README.md

@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@
 
 ## 🎉 News
 
-- **2026-04-13**: Qwen OAuth free tier policy update: daily quota adjusted to 100 requests/day (from 1,000). The free tier will be discontinued on 2026-04-15. Consider using [OpenRouter](https://openrouter.ai), [Fireworks AI](https://app.fireworks.ai), or [Alibaba Cloud ModelStudio](https://modelstudio.console.alibabacloud.com/ap-southeast-1?tab=doc#/doc/?type=model&url=2840914_2&modelId=qwen3.6-plus) as alternatives.
+- **2026-04-15**: Qwen OAuth free tier has been discontinued. To continue using Qwen Code, switch to [Alibaba Cloud Coding Plan](https://modelstudio.console.alibabacloud.com/?tab=coding-plan#/efm/coding-plan-index), [OpenRouter](https://openrouter.ai), [Fireworks AI](https://app.fireworks.ai), or bring your own API key. Run `qwen auth` to configure.
+
+- **2026-04-13**: Qwen OAuth free tier policy update: daily quota adjusted to 100 requests/day (from 1,000).
 
 - **2026-04-02**: Qwen3.6-Plus is now live! Sign in via Qwen OAuth to use it directly, or get an API key from [Alibaba Cloud ModelStudio](https://modelstudio.console.alibabacloud.com/ap-southeast-1?tab=doc#/doc/?type=model&url=2840914_2&modelId=qwen3.6-plus) to access it through the OpenAI-compatible API.
 
@@ -30,7 +32,7 @@
 
 Qwen Code is an open-source AI agent for the terminal, optimized for Qwen series models. It helps you understand large codebases, automate tedious work, and ship faster.
 
-- **Multi-protocol, OAuth free tier**: use OpenAI / Anthropic / Gemini-compatible APIs, or sign in with Qwen OAuth for 100 free requests/day (free tier ending 2026-04-15). After that, switch to [OpenRouter](https://openrouter.ai), [Fireworks AI](https://app.fireworks.ai), or [Alibaba Cloud ModelStudio](https://modelstudio.console.alibabacloud.com/ap-southeast-1?tab=doc#/doc/?type=model&url=2840914_2&modelId=qwen3.6-plus).
+- **Multi-protocol, flexible providers**: use OpenAI / Anthropic / Gemini-compatible APIs, [Alibaba Cloud Coding Plan](https://modelstudio.console.alibabacloud.com/?tab=coding-plan#/efm/coding-plan-index), [OpenRouter](https://openrouter.ai), [Fireworks AI](https://app.fireworks.ai), or bring your own API key.
 - **Open-source, co-evolving**: both the framework and the Qwen3-Coder model are open-source—and they ship and evolve together.
 - **Agentic workflow, feature-rich**: rich built-in tools (Skills, SubAgents) for a full agentic workflow and a Claude Code-like experience.
 - **Terminal-first, IDE-friendly**: built for developers who live in the command line, with optional integration for VS Code, Zed, and JetBrains IDEs.

docs/developers/tools/web-search.md

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ Use `web_search` to perform a web search and get information from the internet.
 
 ### Supported Providers
 
-1. **DashScope** (Official, Free) - Automatically available for Qwen OAuth users (200 requests/minute, 100 requests/day; free tier ending 2026-04-15)
+1. **DashScope** (Official) - Available when explicitly configured in settings (Qwen OAuth free tier auto-injection discontinued 2026-04-15)
 2. **Tavily** - High-quality search API with built-in answer generation
 3. **Google Custom Search** - Google's Custom Search JSON API
 
@@ -132,12 +132,11 @@ web_search(query="best practices for React 19", provider="dashscope")
 
 ### DashScope (Official)
 
-- **Cost:** Free
-- **Authentication:** Automatically available when using Qwen OAuth authentication
-- **Configuration:** No API key required, automatically added to provider list for Qwen OAuth users
-- **Quota:** 200 requests/minute, 100 requests/day (free tier ending 2026-04-15)
-- **Best for:** General queries, always available as fallback for Qwen OAuth users
-- **Auto-registration:** If you're using Qwen OAuth, DashScope is automatically added to your provider list even if you don't configure it explicitly
+- **Cost:** Free (requires Qwen OAuth credentials)
+- **Authentication:** Requires Qwen OAuth credentials
+- **Configuration:** Must be explicitly configured in `settings.json` web search providers (auto-injection for Qwen OAuth users was removed when the free tier was discontinued on 2026-04-15)
+- **Quota:** 200 requests/minute, 100 requests/day
+- **Best for:** General queries when you have Qwen OAuth credentials
 
 ### Tavily
 

docs/users/configuration/auth.md

@@ -2,18 +2,20 @@
 
 Qwen Code supports three authentication methods. Pick the one that matches how you want to run the CLI:
 
-- **Qwen OAuth**: sign in with your `qwen.ai` account in a browser. Free with a daily quota.
+- **Qwen OAuth**: sign in with your `qwen.ai` account in a browser. **Free tier discontinued on 2026-04-15** — switch to another method.
 - **Alibaba Cloud Coding Plan**: use an API key from Alibaba Cloud. Paid subscription with diverse model options and higher quotas.
 - **API Key**: bring your own API key. Flexible to your own needs — supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, and other compatible endpoints.
 
-## Option 1: Qwen OAuth (Free)
+## Option 1: Qwen OAuth (Discontinued)
 
-Use this if you want the simplest setup and you're using Qwen models.
+> [!warning]
+>
+> The Qwen OAuth free tier was discontinued on 2026-04-15. Existing cached tokens may continue working briefly, but new requests will be rejected. Please switch to Alibaba Cloud Coding Plan, [OpenRouter](https://openrouter.ai), [Fireworks AI](https://app.fireworks.ai), or another provider. Run `qwen auth` to configure.
 
 - **How it works**: on first start, Qwen Code opens a browser login page. After you finish, credentials are cached locally so you usually won't need to log in again.
 - **Requirements**: a `qwen.ai` account + internet access (at least for the first login).
 - **Benefits**: no API key management, automatic credential refresh.
-- **Cost & quota**: free, with a quota of **60 requests/minute** and **100 requests/day**. Note: the free tier will be discontinued on 2026-04-15. After that, consider switching to [OpenRouter](https://openrouter.ai), [Fireworks AI](https://app.fireworks.ai), or [Alibaba Cloud ModelStudio](https://modelstudio.console.alibabacloud.com/ap-southeast-1?tab=doc#/doc/?type=model&url=2840914_2&modelId=qwen3.6-plus) — run `qwen auth` to configure your new provider.
+- **Cost & quota**: the free tier has been discontinued as of 2026-04-15.
 
 Start the CLI and follow the browser flow:
 
@@ -327,8 +329,8 @@ You'll see a selector with arrow-key navigation:
 ```
 Select authentication method:
 
-> Qwen OAuth - Free · 100 requests/day · Ending 2026-04-15
   Alibaba Cloud Coding Plan - Paid · Up to 6,000 requests/5 hrs · All Alibaba Cloud Coding Plan Models
+  Qwen OAuth - Discontinued — switch to Coding Plan or API Key
 
 (Use ↑ ↓ arrows to navigate, Enter to select, Ctrl+C to exit)
 ```

docs/users/support/tos-privacy.md

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ Qwen Code is an open-source AI coding assistant tool maintained by the Qwen Code
 
 Qwen Code supports three authentication methods to access AI models. Your authentication method determines which terms of service and privacy policies apply to your usage:
 
-1. **Qwen OAuth** — Log in with your qwen.ai account (free daily quota, ending 2026-04-15)
+1. **Qwen OAuth** — Log in with your qwen.ai account (free tier discontinued 2026-04-15)
 2. **Alibaba Cloud Coding Plan** — Use an API key from Alibaba Cloud
 3. **API Key** — Bring your own API key
 

packages/cli/src/acp-integration/authMethods.ts

@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ export function buildAuthMethods(): AuthMethod[] {
     {
       id: AuthType.QWEN_OAUTH,
       name: 'Qwen OAuth',
-      description:
-        'OAuth authentication for Qwen models with free daily requests (ending 2026-04-15)',
+      description: 'Qwen OAuth (free tier discontinued 2026-04-15)',
       _meta: {
         type: 'terminal',
         args: ['--auth-type=qwen-oauth'],

packages/cli/src/commands/auth/handler.ts

@@ -367,28 +367,36 @@ async function promptForKey(): Promise<string> {
 export async function runInteractiveAuth() {
   const selector = new InteractiveSelector(
     [
-      {
-        value: 'qwen-oauth' as const,
-        label: t('Qwen OAuth'),
-        description: t('Free · 100 requests/day · Ending 2026-04-15'),
-      },
       {
         value: 'coding-plan' as const,
         label: t('Alibaba Cloud Coding Plan'),
         description: t(
           'Paid · Up to 6,000 requests/5 hrs · All Alibaba Cloud Coding Plan Models',
         ),
       },
+      {
+        value: 'qwen-oauth' as const,
+        label: t('Qwen OAuth'),
+        description: t('Discontinued — switch to Coding Plan or API Key'),
+      },
     ],
     t('Select authentication method:'),
   );
 
-  const choice = await selector.select();
+  let choice = await selector.select();
+
+  // If user selects discontinued Qwen OAuth, warn and re-prompt
+  while (choice === 'qwen-oauth') {
+    writeStdoutLine(
+      t(
+        '\n⚠ Qwen OAuth free tier was discontinued on 2026-04-15. Please select another option.\n',
+      ),
+    );
+    choice = await selector.select();
+  }
 
   if (choice === 'coding-plan') {
     await handleQwenAuth('coding-plan', {});
-  } else {
-    await handleQwenAuth('qwen-oauth', {});
   }
 }
 
@@ -428,9 +436,12 @@ export async function showAuthStatus(): Promise<void> {
     // Display status based on auth type
     if (selectedType === AuthType.QWEN_OAUTH) {
       writeStdoutLine(t('✓ Authentication Method: Qwen OAuth'));
-      writeStdoutLine(t('  Type: Free tier (ending 2026-04-15)'));
-      writeStdoutLine(t('  Limit: 100 requests/day'));
-      writeStdoutLine(t('  Models: Qwen latest models\n'));
+      writeStdoutLine(t('  Type: Free tier (discontinued 2026-04-15)'));
+      writeStdoutLine(t('  Limit: No longer available'));
+      writeStdoutLine(t('  Models: Qwen latest models'));
+      writeStdoutLine(
+        t('\n  ⚠ Run /auth to switch to Coding Plan or another provider.\n'),
+      );
     } else if (selectedType === AuthType.USE_OPENAI) {
       // Check for Coding Plan configuration
       const codingPlanRegion = mergedSettings.codingPlan?.region;

packages/cli/src/commands/auth/status.test.ts

@@ -82,10 +82,10 @@ describe('showAuthStatus', () => {
       expect.stringContaining('Qwen OAuth'),
     );
     expect(writeStdoutLine).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      expect.stringContaining('Free tier (ending 2026-04-15)'),
+      expect.stringContaining('Free tier (discontinued 2026-04-15)'),
     );
     expect(writeStdoutLine).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      expect.stringContaining('100 requests/day'),
+      expect.stringContaining('No longer available'),
     );
     expect(process.exit).toHaveBeenCalledWith(0);
   });

packages/cli/src/config/auth.test.ts

@@ -107,8 +107,9 @@ describe('validateAuthMethod', () => {
     expect(result).toContain('GEMINI_API_KEY_ALTERED');
   });
 
-  it('should return null for QWEN_OAUTH', () => {
-    expect(validateAuthMethod(AuthType.QWEN_OAUTH)).toBeNull();
+  it('should return an error for QWEN_OAUTH (free tier discontinued)', () => {
+    const result = validateAuthMethod(AuthType.QWEN_OAUTH);
+    expect(result).toContain('discontinued on 2026-04-15');
   });
 
   it('should return an error message for an invalid auth method', () => {

packages/cli/src/config/auth.ts

@@ -189,9 +189,11 @@ export function validateAuthMethod(
   }
 
   if (authMethod === AuthType.QWEN_OAUTH) {
-    // Qwen OAuth doesn't require any environment variables for basic setup
-    // The OAuth flow will handle authentication
-    return null;
+    // Qwen OAuth free tier was discontinued on 2026-04-15.
+    // Block new OAuth setups; existing cached tokens still work until server rejects them.
+    return t(
+      'Qwen OAuth free tier was discontinued on 2026-04-15. Run /auth to switch to Coding Plan, OpenRouter, Fireworks AI, or another provider.',
+    );
   }
 
   if (authMethod === AuthType.USE_ANTHROPIC) {