What is Stable Diffusion
Stable Diffusion is an advanced technology that utilizes deep learning to generate detailed images based on textual descriptions. It is a type of deep generative neural network known as an implicit diffusion model and was developed by a group of researchers at LMU Munich.
This model is designed to eliminate the continuous applications of Gaussian noise on training images to produce images that accurately reflect the given text prompts.
Stable Diffusion has garnered significant attention because its code and model weights are publicly available, allowing more people to access this technology. It can run on most consumer hardware equipped with powerful GPUs, making it more accessible than similar models that were previously only accessible through cloud services.
In simpler terms, Stable Diffusion is a tool that can help create realistic images based on text descriptions, and it is easier to use than similar models that were available before.
Before we proceed with the steps to download Stable Diffusion on Windows, let’s look at the basic system requirements to ensure that Stable Diffusion runs smoothly on your PC:
System Requirements for Downloading Stable Diffusion on Windows:
- Windows 10/11 or Linux.
- An NVIDIA graphics card, preferably with 4GB VRAM or more. However, if you don’t have a compatible GPU, you can still use it with the “Use CPU” setting. It will be slow, but it will work.
To check if you have a dedicated GPU, press Ctrl + Shift + ESC.
Now, a task manager window will pop up. On the left side, click on “Performance.” After clicking on “Performance,” check at the bottom of the window to see if you can find “NVIDIA” in the list of GPUs. If you do, that’s good news.
6 Steps to Download and Install Stable Diffusion on Windows:
Downloading Stable Diffusion on Windows is straightforward. Here are the 6 steps you need to follow to successfully install Stable Diffusion on your Windows PC:
Step 1: Install GIT
Access Git by clicking on this link: Install GIT for Stable Diffusion.
You will see the Git page where you can easily install Git by clicking on “Click here to download the latest 64-bit (2.42.2) version of Git for Windows.”
After downloading Git, you will be prompted to access the Git installation page, where you can install the Git program. Additionally, keep the settings as default during installation.
Step 2: Install Python
Access the Python download page and find the file for installing Python for Stable Diffusion.
Click the Windows installer (64-bit) and start the installation process.
Once you have downloaded Python 64-bit, click on the file to install it. After installation, make sure to check the box that says “Add Python to PATH.”
This will make it easier for you to run various Python commands.
Step 3: Install Stable Diffusion
We will install a branch called “Web UI,” which is the most popular branch of Stable Diffusion and comes with a graphical interface for easier interaction.
Open File Explorer and navigate to where you want to install Stable Diffusion.
Right-click and select “New Folder,” then enter “Stable Diffusion.”
Click into the folder, and then type “CMD” into the address bar to open Command Prompt.
In the Command Prompt, type “git clone” followed by the URL of the repository (https://github.com/AUTOMATIC1111/stable-diffusion-webui).
You can copy this: git clone https://github.com/AUTOMATIC1111/stable-diffusion-webui.git
When you press enter, it will copy all the files from that repository, and this process will take some time.
Once you have copied the repository, go back to File Explorer, and you will see a new folder named “Stable Diffusion Web UI.”
Step 4: Download Stable Diffusion Model
Now it’s time to download our Stable Diffusion model. Download the Stable Diffusion model v1.5 from this link: Download Stable Diffusion Model v1.5.
Choosing the right model for Stable Diffusion is essential because different models create different images with the same prompt. This happens because each model is trained on different datasets. So, some models may generate better animations, while others may create better cars. To learn more about Stable Diffusion models, check out this article.
Once you have completed the download, rename the file to “model.ckpt.” Copy the file and navigate to the Stable Diffusion folder you created earlier.
In the folder, navigate to “models” > “stable-diffusion” and paste your file there.
Step 5: Launch Stable Diffusion
Now, go back to the stable-diffusion-webui folder to find “webui-user.bat.” and open. The upcoming task will take some time to complete. Once finished, a notification will appear, saying:
“Running on local URL: http://127.0.0.1:7860”
Please note that to access the AUTOMATIC1111 web UI, you need to access the following URL in your web browser:
http://127.0.0.1:7860/
Once you’ve reached the web UI, enter your desired prompt and click “Generate” to verify that Stable Diffusion is working correctly.
To turn off Stable Diffusion when you’re done, simply close the command prompt window.
If you need to use Stable Diffusion again, all you need to do is double-click the “webui-user.bat” file.
Congratulations! You have successfully downloaded and installed Stable Diffusion on Windows. If you’re new to this, we have some great articles on Stable Diffusion, so don’t forget to check them out.
Step 6: Optimize
Right-click on the .bat file, then select ‘Edit with Notepad,’ and add the following commands below to optimize the file as shown in the image below.
git pull : automatically update files from github to your machine every time you run
–xformers : Nvidia cards only: increases image creation speed, reduces VRAM resource usage
–autolaunch : automatically open URL when finished running CMD
–lowvram : card 4Gb vram
–medvram : card 6Gb vram
End!
We hope you find this article helpful. Installing and downloading Stable Diffusion on your Windows system is quite straightforward.
If you have any questions related to the installation and downloading of the model, please feel free to contact us through the comments section.