Want to generate AI images on your own computer? This guide shows the easiest ways to install Stable Diffusion on a PC in 2026, including the newer FLUX models, what hardware you need, and what to do if your GPU is not powerful enough.
Table of Contents
What You Need
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| GPU | NVIDIA with 6–8 GB VRAM | NVIDIA RTX with 12–24 GB VRAM |
| RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB+ |
| Disk | 30 GB free (SSD) | 100 GB+ NVMe for many models |
| OS | Windows 10/11, Linux or macOS (Apple Silicon) | Windows 11 or Ubuntu 24.04 |
Option 1: ComfyUI Desktop (Easiest)
- Download ComfyUI Desktop from comfy.org for Windows or macOS.
- Run the installer and choose your GPU type (NVIDIA, AMD or Apple Silicon).
- Open ComfyUI and pick a template from Workflow → Browse Templates, for example SDXL or FLUX.2 [klein].
- Click Download when asked for the model, then press Run.
Option 2: Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge / Automatic1111
If you prefer a classic form-based interface, install Forge or Automatic1111. Both need Python and Git:
git clone https://github.com/AUTOMATIC1111/stable-diffusion-webui
cd stable-diffusion-webui
webui-user.bat # Windows (use ./webui.sh on Linux/macOS)Option 3: Fooocus (Simplest Prompts)
Fooocus is a one-click SDXL app with Midjourney-style prompting. It is in long-term-support mode (bug fixes only), but still works well for SDXL.
Which Model Should You Download?
| Model | VRAM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stable Diffusion 1.5 | 4–6 GB | Huge library of fine-tunes and LoRAs |
| SDXL | 8–12 GB | Higher quality 1024px images |
| SD 3.5 Medium/Large | 10–24 GB | Newer Stability AI models |
| FLUX.2 [klein] 4B/9B | 8–13 GB | Fast, high-quality, open weights |
| FLUX.2 [dev] | 24 GB (quantized)+ | Best open image quality |
Run Stable Diffusion in the Cloud Instead
No powerful GPU at home? You can run Stable Diffusion on a rented GPU server instead. RunPod’s ComfyUI and Forge templates start an RTX 4090 for $0.34/hour. For a fixed monthly price, GPU Mart (RTX A4000 VPS from $119/month, RTX 4090 $409/month) and HOSTKEY (RTX 4090 from €279/month) offer dedicated servers you can keep running 24/7.
See our guide to the best Stable Diffusion hosting.
FAQ
Technically yes, but it is extremely slow. Use a rented cloud GPU if you do not have an NVIDIA RTX card.
The software and most open models are free to download; check each model’s licence for commercial use.
ComfyUI Desktop templates or Fooocus.
Conclusion
In 2026 the easiest way to install Stable Diffusion on a PC is ComfyUI Desktop. If your GPU is too small, rent one by the hour on RunPod or monthly from GPU Mart.