Where Do Safetensors Go in ComfyUI? Folder Map

If you searched where to put safetensors in comfyui, where do safetensors go in comfyui, or comfyui safetensors folder, the answer is: put the file under ComfyUI/models/, but choose the subfolder by model type, not by the .safetensors extension.

Use the folder map first. Checkpoints go in models/checkpoints/, LoRA files go in models/loras/, VAE files go in models/vae/, Flux diffusion models usually go in models/diffusion_models/, and text encoders usually go in models/text_encoders/ or models/clip/.

Most .safetensors files go somewhere under:

ComfyUI/models/

If the file is in the wrong folder, ComfyUI may start normally but the model dropdown will be empty or the workflow will fail validation.

Quick Folder Map

After moving files, restart ComfyUI or refresh the model list from the relevant dropdown.

If you only remember one rule, remember this one: the .safetensors extension does not tell you the right folder by itself. checkpoint, LoRA, VAE, ControlNet, Flux diffusion model, and text encoder can all use .safetensors while belonging in different places.

Common File Examples

When a filename includes a model family such as Flux or Qwen, do not assume it belongs in models/checkpoints/. Check the loader node in the workflow first.

Fast Diagnosis

The Extension Is Not the Model Type

This is the root of most where to put safetensors confusion.

These files can all end with .safetensors, but they do not belong in the same folder:

• a full checkpoint
• a LoRA
• a VAE
• a ControlNet model
• a Flux diffusion model
• a text encoder

If you only sort by file extension, you will eventually put the right file in the wrong folder.

Checkpoints

Put standard Stable Diffusion or SDXL checkpoint files here:

ComfyUI/models/checkpoints/

Examples:

realvisxl.safetensors
dreamshaper.safetensors
sd_xl_base_1.0.safetensors

Use the Load Checkpoint node. If ckpt_name says the model is not in the list, confirm the file is in models/checkpoints/ and not in models/loras/ or models/diffusion_models/.

LoRA Files

Put LoRA files here:

ComfyUI/models/loras/

Use a Load LoRA node. A LoRA is not a full checkpoint. It needs a compatible base model.

If the LoRA was trained for SD 1.5, use it with an SD 1.5 checkpoint. If it was trained for SDXL, use it with an SDXL checkpoint.

VAE Files

Put VAE files here:

ComfyUI/models/vae/

Use Load VAE or the VAE slot in a workflow. A wrong VAE can cause color, decode, or model mismatch problems.

ControlNet Files

Put ControlNet files here:

ComfyUI/models/controlnet/

ControlNet files must match the model family. SD 1.5 ControlNet models are not interchangeable with SDXL ControlNet models.

Flux, UNet, and Diffusion Models

Many newer workflows, including Flux-style workflows, do not use a single checkpoint file in the old SD 1.5 pattern.

For standalone diffusion model files, use:

ComfyUI/models/diffusion_models/

Some older workflows or custom nodes may still refer to:

ComfyUI/models/unet/

ComfyUI maps legacy unet paths to diffusion_models, so both patterns can appear in guides and custom nodes.

If your file is a Flux-style model and you keep checking Load Checkpoint, it can look like the model disappeared. In reality, you are usually checking the wrong loader for that file type.

GGUF Models

GGUF files are usually quantized model files for lower VRAM workflows. With ComfyUI-GGUF, Flux GGUF diffusion models commonly go in:

ComfyUI/models/diffusion_models/

Many ComfyUI-GGUF examples also use the legacy-compatible folder:

ComfyUI/models/unet/

Then use Unet Loader (GGUF) or the GGUF loader required by the workflow. A GGUF diffusion model is not a normal checkpoint.

If you searched for comfyui unet loader gguf or comfyui gguf loader, check both the model folder and whether the ComfyUI-GGUF custom node is installed. See ComfyUI GGUF for the full loader setup.

Text Encoders and CLIP

Put text encoder files in:

ComfyUI/models/text_encoders/

Some workflows and older guides use:

ComfyUI/models/clip/

ComfyUI supports both locations for text encoders in current folder path configuration.

Why the Dropdown Is Still Empty

If the file is in the right folder but does not appear:

1. Check the extension. .safetensors is supported, but a partially downloaded file may not be.
2. Refresh the dropdown or restart ComfyUI.
3. Make sure the file is not inside a zip or browser download temp file.
4. Confirm you are editing the same ComfyUI folder you are running.
5. Check extra_model_paths.yaml if models live outside the ComfyUI folder.

What Not to Do

Avoid these common mistakes:

• putting every .safetensors file in models/checkpoints
• using Load Checkpoint for a Flux diffusion model
• putting LoRA files next to full checkpoints
• editing one ComfyUI install while launching a different one
• assuming a browser refresh is enough after moving many models

Portable Package Example

For a portable install:

ComfyUI_windows_portable/
  ComfyUI/
    models/
      checkpoints/
      loras/
      vae/
      controlnet/
      diffusion_models/

If your launch .bat starts a different ComfyUI folder, the model will not show up. Always verify the folder shown in the running terminal or launcher settings.

How Wonderful Launcher Helps

Wonderful Launcher is useful when model placement is mixed with environment problems:

• preserve model folders before rebuilding ComfyUI
• keep stable and experimental model libraries separate
• avoid losing workflows while fixing missing custom nodes
• collect logs when model dropdowns or workflow validation fail

If the model file is correct but the workflow uses missing custom nodes, start with Install Custom Nodes.

If the workflow still refuses to open after the model is in the right place, save the workflow JSON before changing more files. See How to Save a Workflow in ComfyUI.

FAQ

Where do .safetensors files go in ComfyUI?

They usually go somewhere under ComfyUI/models/, but the exact folder depends on whether the file is a checkpoint, LoRA, VAE, ControlNet model, Flux diffusion model, or text encoder.

Can I put all .safetensors files in models/checkpoints?

No. That is the most common mistake. Many .safetensors files are not checkpoints at all.

Where do Flux .safetensors models go in ComfyUI?

Usually in ComfyUI/models/diffusion_models/ or the legacy models/unet/ path, then loaded with the appropriate diffusion model or UNet loader.

Why is my .safetensors file not showing up?

Usually because it is in the wrong folder, you are looking at the wrong loader, or you edited a different ComfyUI install than the one that is currently running.

Related Guides

• Download Models
• ComfyUI GGUF
• ComfyUI GGUF and model loading basics
• Install Custom Nodes
• ComfyUI Common Issues

Source References

• Official ComfyUI model troubleshooting
• Official ComfyUI models concept
• ComfyUI folder path source