How to Run Stable Diffusion Locally in 2026
Step-by-step local Stable Diffusion setup on Windows or Mac. Forge vs ComfyUI vs one-click installer, VRAM needed, offline use, no content filters. For NSFW-specific install and model choices, use the NSFW Stable Diffusion setup guide. To compare local generator software more broadly, see the best local AI image generators comparison.
How to run it locally
Run Stable Diffusion locally on Windows or Mac with no content filters: ComfyUI + SDXL/Flux for the most actively developed free stack, Forge UI + an SDXL checkpoint for a familiar traditional interface, or a one-click installer such as LocalForge AI. After the first download, the core generation paths run offline.
How to choose a local setup
| Option | Best for | Setup | Offline after setup | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ComfyUI | Current models, reusable workflows | Desktop, portable, or Python/Git | Core inference yes | ComfyUI vs Forge comparison |
| Forge / Forge Neo | Familiar A1111-style WebUI | One-click package or Python/Git | Yes after models are cached | Forge installation guide |
| LocalForge AI | Packaged installer, least setup | One-click desktop install | Yes after first-launch setup | LocalForge AI product page |
Use this page to pick the stack. Then leave the install tutorial to the matching guide:
- Easiest actively developed free path: ComfyUI Desktop. Details in the recommended stack below.
- Familiar form UI: follow the Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge installation guide.
- Hardware first: best GPU for Stable Diffusion 2026.
- NSFW-specific models and folders: NSFW Stable Diffusion setup guide.
- Comparing local generator software, not just Stable Diffusion UIs: best local AI image generators.
Stop Scrolling. Here's the Answer.
You've seen ComfyUI, AUTOMATIC1111, Forge, Fooocus, SwarmUI, InvokeAI, and a dozen other names. The landscape changes every few months. This page is the general local Stable Diffusion setup guide: which UI to install, what hardware it needs, and how to keep generation on your machine.
Here's the opinionated, reviewed-in-August-2026 answer for what to install right now.
Why run Stable Diffusion locally
Cloud image tools are convenient until a filter, price change, or API shutdown interrupts the workflow. Local Stable Diffusion keeps model files and generation on hardware you control. After the first download, core inference can run with the network off.
That local/private boundary is why this guide exists. It is not the NSFW-specific walkthrough and it is not the broad local-generator comparison. Those live on their own URLs, linked above.
Your hardware. Your rules. No filters. No fees.
Core local inference runs on your machine. Downloads, API nodes, managers, and third-party extensions can still use the network.
The Recommended Stack (August 2026 Review)
For a Familiar Traditional UI: Forge
- Interface: Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge
- Base model: Juggernaut XL v9 (photorealism) or DreamShaper XL (versatile)
- Upgrade model: Flux dev (next-gen quality, needs 12 GB+ VRAM)
- Essential extensions: ADetailer (face fix), ControlNet, Ultimate Upscale
- Why Forge over A1111: lower-VRAM optimizations and a familiar A1111-style workflow. Its original project is now maintenance-oriented, so do not pick it for the fastest access to every new architecture.
- Active fork: current references to an actively maintained “Forge” often mean Forge Neo, a separate community project. Check extension compatibility before switching.
For Active Development: ComfyUI
- Interface: ComfyUI
- Recommended install: ComfyUI Desktop for Windows, Linux, and macOS; use the manual route only for specialized accelerator environments
- Why: frequent releases, node-based workflows, early support for new image/video architectures, and reproducible workflow files
- August status: v0.31.0 shipped on August 8, 2026, following v0.30.0 on August 3
- Learning curve: steeper, but unlimited flexibility
- Best for: custom pipelines, batch processing, multi-model workflows, video generation
For Zero-Setup: LocalForge AI
- What: LocalForge AI - a one-click local installer with curated uncensored models, and essential extensions already configured
- Cost: $50 one-time, then free forever
- Privacy: runs fully offline on your own PC. No account, no cloud generation, no prompt logging, no images sent to third parties.
- Why: skip Python, skip Git, skip dependency hell. Install once and start generating in under 10 minutes.
- Best for: anyone who wants true private local AI without setup friction, leaked data risks, privacy concerns, or ongoing subscriptions
Legacy Options to Understand in 2026
- Easy Diffusion: no longer maintained, can't run current models
- AUTOMATIC1111 (vanilla): mature but effectively static. It supports SD1/2, SDXL, and limited SD3 workflows, but has no official native Flux support.
- Original Forge: available and feature-rich, but inactive upstream. Name Forge Neo explicitly if you mean the actively developed community fork.
- NMKD GUI: outdated, doesn't support SDXL/Flux
- Any cloud "free tier": daily limits, content filters, prompt logging - the opposite of why you're here
Best Uncensored Models Right Now
| Model | Architecture | VRAM | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juggernaut XL v9 | SDXL | 8 GB | Photorealism, all-rounder |
| Flux dev | Flux | 12 GB quantized; 16–24 GB preferred | Strong prompt adherence; quantization/offload at lower tiers |
| HunyuanImage 3.0 (community nodes) | DiT | 48 GB practical NF4; 24 GB experimental | Heavy community-node workflow, not a mainstream starter model |
| Pony Diffusion v6 | SDXL | 8 GB | Anime, stylized, strong aesthetic |
| CHROMA | Flux-based | 12–16 GB quantized; 24 GB BF16 | Flux-based community model; memory use depends on precision and offload |
| CyberRealistic v4 | SD 1.5 | 4 GB | Fashion/editorial, low VRAM friendly |
All free from CivitAI or Hugging Face. Download once, run offline forever. For download links and detailed reviews, see our full uncensored model rankings.
Minimum Hardware
- Budget (SD 1.5 models): RTX 2060 6 GB, 16 GB RAM - works, but limited to older models
- Value (SDXL): used RTX 3060 12 GB around $220–250, or RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB near $500 for heavier conditioning and quantized Flux
- Production (Flux/CHROMA): RTX 4090 24 GB for larger graphs, batches, training, and entry-level video
- Heavyweight models: 32 GB improves video headroom, while HunyuanImage 3.0 NF4 is realistically a 48 GB-class workflow
- Mac: M1 Pro/Max or M2+ with 16 GB+ unified memory - solid for SDXL, slower for Flux
See our full breakdown: Best GPU for Stable Diffusion in 2026
5-Minute Quick Start
- Download LocalForge AI ($50, one-time) - or follow our Stable Diffusion Forge installation guide 2026 / Forge vs A1111 overview (free, needs Python 3.10 + Git)
- Grab a model from CivitAI - start with Juggernaut XL
- Drop model into
models/Stable-diffusion/ - Launch - open browser, type a prompt, hit Generate
- Test offline - core inference should keep working once every required model and dependency is present; remove any workflow node that expects a remote API
Your Privacy, Verified
"It runs locally" is a claim. Here's what that actually means - and how to verify it.
--no-metadata launch flag. Saving as JPEG strips it automatically.
For a stricter ComfyUI setup, set Manager's documented network_mode = offline, disable unneeded custom nodes, and audit any package that ships an installer. Hugging Face-based workflows can also use HF_HUB_OFFLINE=1 after all files are downloaded. Firewall or monitor the final process when privacy is critical.
Watch Out: Windows Can Leak Your Images
Running AI locally is private - but your operating system might not be. Two things to check on Windows:
- Windows Recall (Windows 11 24H2+): Takes periodic screenshots of everything on screen and indexes them with AI. If you generate images and Recall is active, those screenshots are stored and searchable. Disable it: Settings → Privacy & Security → Recall → Off.
- OneDrive auto-backup: By default, OneDrive may sync your Desktop and Pictures folders to Microsoft's cloud - including your
outputs/folder if it's inside those paths. Fix: Move your output directory outside synced folders, or disable OneDrive backup for those locations. - Windows Search indexing: Windows indexes file metadata, including embedded prompts in PNGs. To prevent: exclude your output folder from Windows Search (Settings → Privacy & Security → Searching Windows → Excluded Folders).
These aren't Stable Diffusion problems - they're OS-level defaults. A 2-minute settings check and your workflow is airtight. For a deeper dive on private local generation, see How to Run a Private Uncensored AI Image Generator.
FAQ
Is this legal?
Yes. Stable Diffusion is open-source software released under permissive licenses. Running it on your own hardware is legal. What you create with it is your responsibility - the same as a camera or Photoshop.
Can anyone see what I generate?
Not unless they have physical access to your computer. There's no cloud component, no prompt logging, no analytics. After setup, disconnect from the internet and it still works. Check the "Your Privacy, Verified" section above for how to verify this yourself.
Do I need an account anywhere?
No. Forge, ComfyUI, and LocalForge AI require no account. CivitAI requires a free account to download some NSFW models - use a throwaway email if you prefer. After downloading, you never need to connect again.
Are my prompts stored in the images?
By default, yes - Stable Diffusion embeds prompt text in PNG metadata. Disable this in Forge settings, use the --no-metadata flag, or save as JPEG. You can also batch-strip metadata with ExifTool.
What is the easiest way to run Stable Diffusion locally in 2026?
ComfyUI Desktop is the easiest actively developed free setup across Windows, Linux, and macOS. Fooocus remains simple for SDXL on Windows/NVIDIA but is in bug-fix-only LTS. For a preconfigured paid option, LocalForge AI ships the local stack ready to use.
How much VRAM do you need for Stable Diffusion?
For SDXL models, 8 GB VRAM is recommended. With optimizations like --lowvram or Forge's automatic memory management, some models can run on 6 GB GPUs. Flux models benefit from 12+ GB VRAM.
Is ComfyUI better than Automatic1111?
ComfyUI offers node-based workflows and better performance for complex pipelines. Automatic1111 is easier for beginners and has a larger extension ecosystem. Forge (an A1111 fork) combines both advantages with better VRAM management.
Can Stable Diffusion run completely offline?
Yes. Once you download the models and UI, Stable Diffusion runs entirely on your local hardware. No cloud services, accounts, or API calls are required. You can disconnect from the internet and it still works.
Where is the NSFW-specific setup guide?
This URL stays the general local setup guide. For NSFW-specific folders, checkpoints, and confirmation that a stack has no content filter, use the NSFW Stable Diffusion setup guide.
NSFW setup lives on a separate page
The "NSFW" version of this guide is the same guide. Forge ships with no content filter, ComfyUI ships with no safety checker, and CivitAI hosts thousands of uncensored checkpoints licensed for local use. There's nothing to "unlock" - the local stack just runs whatever model you load.
For the best local NSFW Stable Diffusion setup in 2026, the picks are the same as the table above with one substitution: swap a base SDXL checkpoint for an uncensored one. The most-downloaded NSFW-capable checkpoints on CivitAI right now are Pony Diffusion V6 XL (deepest LoRA ecosystem, ~7 GB), Juggernaut XL (photorealistic, runs on 8 GB VRAM), and Realistic Vision V6 (lighter SD 1.5 option for 6 GB VRAM cards).
Keep this URL for general local setup. Send NSFW-specific install and checkpoint questions to the NSFW Stable Diffusion setup guide. LocalForge AI ($50 one-time) remains the packaged option if you want to skip a manual install.
For an end-to-end NSFW-specific walkthrough, see the NSFW Stable Diffusion Setup Guide (2026).
Bottom Line
The best local Stable Diffusion setup in August 2026 is ComfyUI + SDXL/Flux when active development matters, Forge UI + an SDXL checkpoint when you prefer a traditional interface, or LocalForge AI if you want to skip the setup entirely.
The model landscape changes fast - but the principle doesn't change: once it's on your machine, no one can take it away, filter it, or charge you for it.
Need a step-by-step walkthrough? See our NSFW Stable Diffusion setup guide. Want to compare every local tool side-by-side? Check the unrestricted AI image generator comparison.