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How to Use Qwen Code with the 2Slides MCP Server (2026 Guide)
2Slides Team
6 min read

How to Use Qwen Code with the 2Slides MCP Server (2026 Guide)

Quick answer (≤60 words): Alibaba's Qwen Code CLI can generate real PowerPoint files via the 2Slides MCP server. Get a key at 2slides.com/api, then add a

mcpServers
entry to
~/.qwen/settings.json
command: "npx"
,
args: ["2slides-mcp"]
,
env.API_KEY
for stdio, or
httpUrl: "https://2slides.com/api/mcp?apikey=KEY"
for Streamable HTTP. Or run
qwen mcp add
. Then ask Qwen to build a deck.

Qwen Code is Alibaba's open-source terminal coding agent (a fork of Gemini CLI), tuned for the Qwen model family. It is a native Model Context Protocol (MCP) client, so connecting the 2Slides MCP server lets Qwen Code turn a brief — or a file in your repo — into a finished, editable

.pptx
.

This guide gives the exact

~/.qwen/settings.json
blocks for both transports (local stdio and remote Streamable HTTP), the
qwen mcp add
shortcut, and the 2Slides tool surface.

Why connect Qwen Code to 2Slides?

Qwen Code reasons over code and content but doesn't emit binary slide files. The 2Slides MCP server is the generator that does:

  • Qwen Code reads your source, plans the deck, and writes the copy — strong on both English and Chinese content.
  • The 2Slides MCP server renders the real PowerPoint — theme-based Fast PPT, or image-designed slides with optional AI narration and an exportable bundle.

2Slides supports 20 output languages including Simplified and Traditional Chinese, so a Qwen-planned, Chinese-language deck renders with correct CJK line-breaking.

What you need first

  1. Qwen Code installed (
    qwen
    on your PATH).
  2. A 2Slides API key from 2slides.com/api.
  3. Node.js for the stdio transport (
    npx 2slides-mcp
    ). The HTTP transport needs nothing local.

Stdio vs Streamable HTTP: which transport?

Both expose the same tools; the difference is the config key.

Stdio (local)Streamable HTTP (remote)
Config key
command
/
args
/
env
httpUrl
Local Node.jsRequiredNot required
Best forLocal devRemote/CI, thin setups

Key name matters: Qwen Code (like Gemini CLI) uses

httpUrl
for Streamable HTTP and
url
for legacy SSE. Use
httpUrl
for the 2Slides Streamable HTTP endpoint.

Method 1: stdio in settings.json

Qwen Code reads

~/.qwen/settings.json
(global) and
.qwen/settings.json
(project). Add an
mcpServers
block:

{ "mcpServers": { "2slides": { "command": "npx", "args": ["2slides-mcp"], "env": { "API_KEY": "YOUR_2SLIDES_API_KEY" } } } }

env
values support
$VAR_NAME
expansion if you'd rather keep the key in your shell environment.

Method 2: Streamable HTTP in settings.json

For the hosted endpoint, use

httpUrl
:

{ "mcpServers": { "2slides-remote": { "httpUrl": "https://2slides.com/api/mcp?apikey=YOUR_2SLIDES_API_KEY" } } }

Optional header auth:

"headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_2SLIDES_API_KEY" }
.

Or use the
qwen mcp add
command

# stdio qwen mcp add -e API_KEY=YOUR_2SLIDES_API_KEY 2slides npx 2slides-mcp # Streamable HTTP qwen mcp add --transport http 2slides-remote "https://2slides.com/api/mcp?apikey=YOUR_2SLIDES_API_KEY"

Related commands:

qwen mcp list
,
qwen mcp remove <name>
, and bare
qwen mcp
for an interactive management view.

Verify the connection

Inside an interactive

qwen
session:

/mcp

It displays connection status, config details, and the discovered tools per server. Use

/mcp auth
for OAuth-protected servers.

Generate your first deck

Just ask — in English or Chinese:

读取 ./季度总结.md,生成一个 10 页的季度业务回顾。 先从 2slides 搜索一个简洁的商务主题,再生成 PowerPoint, 最后把下载链接给我。

Qwen Code runs

themes_search
slides_generate
(Fast PPT) with
responseLanguage: "Simplified Chinese"
→ returns the
downloadUrl
. For custom image-designed slides it uses
slides_create_pdf_slides
and polls
jobs_get
until ready.

The 2Slides MCP tool surface

ToolWhat it doesCredits
themes_search
Find a
themeId
for Fast PPT
Free
slides_generate
Theme-based PowerPoint (Fast PPT), sync/async10 / page
slides_create_pdf_slides
Custom image-designed slides from text (Nano Banana)100 / page (1K/2K), 200 (4K)
slides_create_like_this
Slides matching a reference image's style100 / page (1K/2K), 200 (4K)
slides_generate_narration
Add AI voice narration to a Nano Banana job210 / page
slides_download_pages_voices
Export pages + audio as a ZIPFree
jobs_get
Poll an async job to completionFree

Common mistakes and troubleshooting

  • Used
    url
    for Streamable HTTP.
    Qwen Code treats
    url
    as SSE. Use
    httpUrl
    for the 2Slides Streamable HTTP endpoint.
  • Server DISCONNECTED in
    /mcp
    .
    Verify the API key; for stdio confirm Node.js is present.
  • Tools missing after edit. Restart the session, or re-run
    qwen mcp add
    .
  • Expecting a
    .pptx
    from Qwen alone.
    It plans the deck; 2Slides renders the file.
  • Wrong output language. Set the deck language explicitly so CJK content renders correctly (Qwen passes
    responseLanguage
    to
    slides_generate
    ).

Frequently asked questions

Does Qwen Code support MCP servers?

Yes. Qwen Code is an MCP client (forked from Gemini CLI). Configure servers under

mcpServers
in
~/.qwen/settings.json
, or add them with
qwen mcp add
. Stdio and Streamable HTTP are both supported.

What's the config key for a Streamable HTTP server?

httpUrl
. Use
url
only for legacy SSE. The 2Slides Streamable HTTP endpoint goes in
httpUrl
.

Is Qwen Code good for Chinese-language decks?

Yes — Qwen models have strong Chinese coverage, and 2Slides supports Simplified and Traditional Chinese output with proper CJK rendering. The pairing is well suited to bilingual and Chinese business decks.

Does it produce a real PowerPoint?

Yes —

slides_generate
returns an editable
.pptx
. The Nano Banana tools return image-designed decks with optional AI narration.

Where do I get the key and config?

At 2slides.com/api?tab=mcp: your key, a copy-paste config, and the Streamable HTTP endpoint.

The takeaway

One

mcpServers
entry —
command
for local,
httpUrl
for remote — turns Qwen Code into a slide generator, in English or Chinese. Verify with
/mcp
, then just ask.

For the wider picture, see how MCP is changing presentation workflows and the PowerPoint MCP server ecosystem map. Using another agent? See Gemini CLI, Claude Code, and OpenAI Codex with the same server.

Get your key and config at 2slides.com/api?tab=mcp and generate your first Qwen-built deck today.

Sources:

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