How to install ComfyUI on Windows (2026): step by step
Updated September 2026 · Instructions tested on ComfyUI v0.37. The download links always point to the latest official release. Part of our AI and ComfyUI tutorials.
Installing ComfyUI for the first time can feel a bit intimidating: folders, different versions, words like “portable” and “CUDA”. We've been there too, and today it's the program we use to create most of our AI images and videos, on an ordinary 12 GB RTX 3060.
The good news is that in 2026 it's much easier than it used to be, and you can have your first image in half an hour. In this guide we'll walk you through it step by step: which version to download for your graphics card, how to launch it, how to enable the Manager to install nodes and models, and how to generate your first image. At the end you'll find 3 free, ready-to-use workflows we put together ourselves.
Quick summary
- Download the Desktop app (the easiest option) or the portable version that matches your graphics card: all the official links are in the table below.
- Launch ComfyUI: it opens in your browser at
http://127.0.0.1:8188. - Download a model or load one of our workflows and generate your first image.
Video tutorial: installing ComfyUI on Windows (video in Italian)
The video is in Italian and shows an earlier version of ComfyUI: some screens may look different, but the main steps are the same. You'll find the up-to-date instructions in the text below.
What is ComfyUI
ComfyUI is a free, open-source program for running AI models that generate images, video and audio on your own computer: Stable Diffusion, SDXL, Flux and many newer models. It's node-based, like Blender or Unreal Engine: each step of the generation is a block you connect to the others, and the whole set of blocks is called a workflow.
The big advantage is that almost every new AI model is made available as ComfyUI nodes: instead of installing a different program for each model, ComfyUI is all you need. And workflows can be saved, shared and reused with a single click.
ComfyUI download: which version to choose
| Version | Who it's for | Official download |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop app | Beginners: it installs like any normal program and updates itself. Windows and Mac, NVIDIA, AMD, Intel and Apple Silicon | comfy.org/download |
| Portable NVIDIA | NVIDIA RTX 20, 30, 40 and 50 series cards | ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia.7z |
| Portable NVIDIA (older cards) | Only NVIDIA GTX 10 series and older cards | ComfyUI_windows_portable_nvidia_cu126.7z |
| Portable AMD | AMD Radeon cards | ComfyUI_windows_portable_amd.7z |
| Portable Intel | Intel Arc cards | ComfyUI_windows_portable_intel.7z |
The portable links are the project's official GitHub links and always download the latest version (about 2 GB). Heads up: the package for older NVIDIA cards should not be used on the 20 series and newer.
Requirements
- Windows 10 or 11 64-bit, with up-to-date graphics drivers.
- Graphics card: an NVIDIA RTX with at least 8 GB of VRAM is recommended; Flux and video models need 12–16 GB or more. It also works with AMD and Intel cards, and even on the CPU alone, but much more slowly.
- RAM: at least 16 GB, 32 GB is better.
- Disk space: about 5 GB for ComfyUI, plus room for the models, which take anywhere from 2 to over 20 GB each. An SSD is best.
If you're thinking about buying a graphics card for AI, our guide to the best GPUs for AI covers the recommended models and how much VRAM you need (in Italian).
Method 1: install the ComfyUI Desktop app
- Go to comfy.org/download and download the Windows installer.
- Run the installer and follow the setup wizard: it asks which graphics card you use and which folder to store models and files in.
- When it's done, ComfyUI opens in its own window, ready to go and with the Manager already included. Updates arrive automatically.
This is the easiest route. The portable version is still the favorite of anyone who wants more control, several separate installs, or to run ComfyUI from an external drive.
Method 2: install ComfyUI portable
The portable version already contains everything it needs, Python included: you don't need to install Python, Git or anything else, it doesn't change any system settings, and you can move it to another drive or computer.
- Download the package for your graphics card from the download table.
- Extract the
.7zfile to any folder you like, ideally on an SSD with plenty of free space (models take up a lot). On Windows 11 you can extract it straight from File Explorer; otherwise use 7-Zip. If extraction fails: right-click the file › Properties › tick Unblock. - Open the
ComfyUI_windows_portablefolder and double-clickrun_nvidia_gpu.bat(AMD and Intel cards have their own matching launch file;run_cpu.batuses the CPU only). - After a few seconds ComfyUI opens in your browser at
http://127.0.0.1:8188. Keep the black command prompt window open: if you close it, ComfyUI closes too.
To update the portable version, use the update\update_comfyui.bat script in the same folder.
Enable ComfyUI Manager
The Manager lets you install custom nodes and models with one click, update everything, and automatically install missing nodes when you open a workflow downloaded from the internet. It's now built into ComfyUI: in the Desktop app it's already on, while in the portable version you only need to enable it once.
- Close ComfyUI. In the
ComfyUI_windows_portablefolder, typecmdin the File Explorer address bar and press Enter: a command prompt opens already in the right folder. - Install the Manager's components with this command:
.\python_embeded\python.exe -m pip install -r ComfyUI\manager_requirements.txt - Open
run_nvidia_gpu.batin Notepad and add--enable-managerto the end of the first line, like this:.\python_embeded\python.exe -s ComfyUI\main.py --windows-standalone-build --enable-manager - Save and launch ComfyUI: the Manager button appears in the top bar.
Generate your first image
ComfyUI doesn't come with any models, so the first step is to download one. The quickest way is to start from the built-in templates (Workflow menu), which offer to download the required models automatically. Alternatively, download a model and put it in the right folder: Stable Diffusion 1.5 is perfect to start with, light and fast even on cards with little VRAM; copy it into ComfyUI\models\checkpoints.
Then type a description of the image in the prompt node and press Run (or Queue). Every image you generate is saved in the ComfyUI\output folder.
🔥 Download 3 free ready-to-use workflows
To get you started right away we've prepared 3 workflows with built-in notes, made only with ComfyUI's core nodes (so they don't stop working when some third-party node gets abandoned):
- Stable Diffusion 1.5, standard and LCM for fast generation;
- SDXL, standard and Lightning for fast generation;
- Flux Schnell, which generates images in 4 steps.
They're designed to run even on PCs with little VRAM (4–8 GB): on a 12 GB RTX 3060 an image takes just a few seconds. Enter your email below and you'll get the download link straight away; then drag the workflow file into the ComfyUI window and follow the notes (the notes are written in Italian).
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| ComfyUI won't start or closes immediately | Update your graphics drivers: the NVIDIA portable version needs recent drivers. |
c10.dll error | Install the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package. |
| Red error in the interface on first launch | A model is missing: download one and copy it into ComfyUI\models\checkpoints. |
| Red nodes when you open a downloaded workflow | Some custom nodes are missing: open the Manager, use the option to install missing nodes, then restart. |
| Memory error (out of memory) | Your graphics card doesn't have enough VRAM for that model: use a lighter version of the model (fp8 or GGUF), lower the resolution or close other programs. |
| You have an older NVIDIA GTX 10 series card | Use the "cu126" portable package listed in the download table. |
Choosing a graphics card for ComfyUI
For ComfyUI what matters most is the card's VRAM: with a 12 GB RTX 3060, the cheapest card we recommend and the one we built our workflows on, you can run SDXL and lighter versions of Flux without trouble; with 16 GB you can comfortably work with Flux and video models too. These are the cards we recommend, from the most affordable to the most powerful.
- NVIDIA RTX 3060 12 GB – the budget choice we use every day
- NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB – the sweet spot: 16 GB for Flux and video models
- NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti 16 GB – much faster, for those who generate a lot
- NVIDIA RTX 5090 32 GB – top of the line, for the largest models and video
- Ready-made PC with RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB – if you'd rather not build one yourself
Frequently asked questions
Is ComfyUI free?
Yes, it's free and open source. Most models are free to download too; some have licenses that restrict commercial use, so always check the license of the model you're using.
Desktop app or portable version: which is better?
If you're just starting out, the Desktop app: it installs and updates itself. The portable version is ideal if you want more control, several separate installs, or to keep ComfyUI on an external drive.
Does ComfyUI work without an NVIDIA card?
Yes: there are versions for AMD and Intel cards, and the Desktop app also supports Macs with Apple chips. Without a dedicated graphics card it even runs on the CPU alone, but an image can take minutes instead of seconds.
How much VRAM does ComfyUI need?
4–8 GB for Stable Diffusion 1.5 and SDXL, 12–16 GB to use Flux comfortably, 16 GB or more for video generation models.
How do I update ComfyUI?
The Desktop app updates itself. The portable version is updated with update\update_comfyui.bat, or from the Manager.
