moltbot/docs/providers/zai.md

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Use Z.AI (GLM models) with OpenClaw	You want Z.AI / GLM models in OpenClaw You need a simple ZAI_API_KEY setup	Z.AI

Z.AI

Z.AI is the API platform for GLM models. It provides REST APIs for GLM and uses API keys for authentication. Create your API key in the Z.AI console. OpenClaw uses the zai provider with a Z.AI API key.

• Provider: zai
• Auth: ZAI_API_KEY
• API: Z.AI Chat Completions (Bearer auth)

Getting started

**Best for:** most users. OpenClaw detects the matching Z.AI endpoint from the key and applies the correct base URL automatically.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Run onboarding">
    ```bash
    openclaw onboard --auth-choice zai-api-key
    ```
  </Step>
  <Step title="Set a default model">
    ```json5
    {
      env: { ZAI_API_KEY: "sk-..." },
      agents: { defaults: { model: { primary: "zai/glm-5.1" } } },
    }
    ```
  </Step>
  <Step title="Verify the model is available">
    ```bash
    openclaw models list --provider zai
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

**Best for:** users who want to force a specific Coding Plan or general API surface.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Pick the right onboarding choice">
    ```bash
    # Coding Plan Global (recommended for Coding Plan users)
    openclaw onboard --auth-choice zai-coding-global

    # Coding Plan CN (China region)
    openclaw onboard --auth-choice zai-coding-cn

    # General API
    openclaw onboard --auth-choice zai-global

    # General API CN (China region)
    openclaw onboard --auth-choice zai-cn
    ```
  </Step>
  <Step title="Set a default model">
    ```json5
    {
      env: { ZAI_API_KEY: "sk-..." },
      agents: { defaults: { model: { primary: "zai/glm-5.1" } } },
    }
    ```
  </Step>
  <Step title="Verify the model is available">
    ```bash
    openclaw models list --provider zai
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

Bundled GLM catalog

OpenClaw currently seeds the bundled zai provider with:

Model ref	Notes
zai/glm-5.1	Default model
zai/glm-5
zai/glm-5-turbo
zai/glm-5v-turbo
zai/glm-4.7
zai/glm-4.7-flash
zai/glm-4.7-flashx
zai/glm-4.6
zai/glm-4.6v
zai/glm-4.5
zai/glm-4.5-air
zai/glm-4.5-flash
zai/glm-4.5v

GLM models are available as `zai/` (example: `zai/glm-5`). The default bundled model ref is `zai/glm-5.1`.

Advanced configuration

Unknown `glm-5*` ids still forward-resolve on the bundled provider path by synthesizing provider-owned metadata from the `glm-4.7` template when the id matches the current GLM-5 family shape. `tool_stream` is enabled by default for Z.AI tool-call streaming. To disable it:

```json5
{
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      models: {
        "zai/<model>": {
          params: { tool_stream: false },
        },
      },
    },
  },
}
```

The bundled Z.AI plugin registers image understanding.

| Property      | Value       |
| ------------- | ----------- |
| Model         | `glm-4.6v`  |

Image understanding is auto-resolved from the configured Z.AI auth — no
additional config is needed.

- Z.AI uses Bearer auth with your API key. - The `zai-api-key` onboarding choice auto-detects the matching Z.AI endpoint from the key prefix. - Use the explicit regional choices (`zai-coding-global`, `zai-coding-cn`, `zai-global`, `zai-cn`) when you want to force a specific API surface.

Related

Model family overview for GLM. Choosing providers, model refs, and failover behavior.