Abstract: Image encryption is a key link to ensure the secure transmission of digital images over the Internet. In this paper, a color quantum image encryption algorithm based on alternating quantum random walk (AQW) and XOR operation is proposed. Firstly, the original color image is represented by color quantum image representation (NCQI), the quantum circuit is constructed, and the quantum XOR matrix is constructed by using the binary probability matrix generated by the controlled AQW to complete the encryption operation of the original quantum image, and the decryption process is the reverse process of the encryption process. The initial condition of AQW is the key to guaranteeing the security of quantum image encryption algorithms. The security of the proposed quantum image encryption model is verified through the simulation experiment of on classical computer.