Install ComfyUI

ComfyUI is a node-based local image front-end with fast new-model support.
MiniTavern submits a built-in default workflow via ComfyUI’s HTTP API (/prompt, etc.); you do not need to draw a node graph in the App to generate images.

Official docs: docs.comfy.org · repo: Comfy-Org/ComfyUI

Hardware tips

VRAM	Suggestion
6GB	SD 1.5 and smaller workflows
8–12GB	SDXL and some fast Flux variants more realistic
Apple Silicon	Native run; usually slower than similar NVIDIA

Option A: Windows portable (recommended)

1. Open ComfyUI downloads (or a community ComfyUI_windows_portable pack).
2. Extract to a non-system path (short path; avoid Chinese spaces if possible).
3. With NVIDIA run run_nvidia_gpu.bat; CPU-only use the matching CPU script.
4. Open the address shown in the browser, often:

http://127.0.0.1:8188

Option B: Desktop app

1. Install ComfyUI Desktop.
2. Settings → Server Configuration (or similar “server / network”):
   • Set Listen Address to 0.0.0.0 (default 127.0.0.1 blocks the phone)
   • Note Port (Desktop often 8000, unlike portable 8188)
3. Restart, then access via LAN IP.

Option C: Manual Git (macOS / Linux / advanced)

git clone https://github.com/Comfy-Org/ComfyUI.git
cd ComfyUI
python -m venv venv
# Windows: venv\Scripts\activate
source venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt
# Install matching PyTorch for your GPU (see PyTorch site)
python main.py --listen

Enable LAN (required for phone)

Portable / CLI

Edit the launch script (e.g. run_nvidia_gpu.bat) and add after main.py:

--listen

Full example:

.\python_embeded\python.exe -s ComfyUI\main.py --windows-standalone-build --listen

Flag	Role
--listen	With no args, listen on all interfaces for LAN
--port 8188	Optional port change
--enable-cors-header	For browser CORS; phone App → API usually does not need it

Desktop

As above: Listen 0.0.0.0, port per UI.

Place models

Put checkpoints (.safetensors) in:

ComfyUI/models/checkpoints/

Press R in the UI to refresh, or restart. Confirm a default text-to-image run in the ComfyUI web UI before connecting the App.

Sources: Civitai · Hugging Face.

Verify

On PC:

http://127.0.0.1:8188

LAN (PC IP; watch Desktop port):

http://192.168.x.x:8188

If the phone browser opens the same address, network and listen are OK.

Differences vs MiniTavern (read first)

• The App uses a built-in default workflow and generally picks an available checkpoint on your machine; complex custom graphs are out of scope here.
• Current default Comfy flow does not use reference images (having refs does not error); for face lock use A1111 or a cloud platform with refs.
• Sleep / lid close stops the service; IP changes require updating Base URL in the App.

Next

• Configure in MiniTavern
• Overview: Image model deploy