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The extra_model_paths.yaml configuration file allows you to specify custom search paths for models, enabling you to:
  • Share models between ComfyUI and other UIs (Automatic1111, InvokeAI, etc.)
  • Organize models in a central location
  • Point to existing model installations without duplicating files

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Configuration File Location

The configuration file should be placed in your ComfyUI root directory: 
ComfyUI/extra_model_paths.yaml
Alternatively, you can specify custom configuration files using the CLI: 
python main.py --extra-model-paths-config /path/to/config.yaml
You can load multiple configuration files by repeating the argument: 
python main.py --extra-model-paths-config /path/to/config1.yaml --extra-model-paths-config /path/to/config2.yaml

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Basic Configuration Structure

Each configuration is defined as a named section with a base_path and model type folders: 
config_name:
  base_path: /path/to/models/
  checkpoints: models/checkpoints/
  loras: models/loras/
  vae: models/vae/
Rename extra_model_paths.yaml.example to extra_model_paths.yaml to activate the configuration.

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ComfyUI Configuration

To point to an existing ComfyUI installation or a central model folder: 
comfyui:
  base_path: /path/to/comfyui/
  # Mark as default to use these folders first
  is_default: true
  checkpoints: models/checkpoints/
  clip_vision: models/clip_vision/
  configs: models/configs/
  controlnet: models/controlnet/
  embeddings: models/embeddings/
  loras: models/loras/
  upscale_models: models/upscale_models/
  vae: models/vae/
  audio_encoders: models/audio_encoders/
  model_patches: models/model_patches/

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Text Encoders with Multiple Paths

You can specify multiple search paths for a single model type using the pipe (|) character: 
comfyui:
  base_path: /path/to/comfyui/
  text_encoders: |
    models/text_encoders/
    models/clip/  # legacy location still supported

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Diffusion Models with Multiple Paths

Similarly, diffusion models can have multiple search locations: 
comfyui:
  base_path: /path/to/comfyui/
  diffusion_models: |
    models/diffusion_models
    models/unet

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Automatic1111 Configuration

To share models with Stable Diffusion WebUI (A1111): 
a111:
  base_path: /path/to/stable-diffusion-webui/
  checkpoints: models/Stable-diffusion
  configs: models/Stable-diffusion
  vae: models/VAE
  loras: |
    models/Lora
    models/LyCORIS
  upscale_models: |
    models/ESRGAN
    models/RealESRGAN
    models/SwinIR
  embeddings: embeddings
  hypernetworks: models/hypernetworks
  controlnet: models/ControlNet

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Supported Model Types

ComfyUI supports the following model folder types:
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checkpoints
string
Main model checkpoints (SD1.5, SDXL, Flux, etc.)
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text_encoders
string
CLIP and text encoder models
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clip_vision
string
CLIP vision models for image conditioning
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configs
string
Model configuration files
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controlnet
string
ControlNet models
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diffusion_models
string
Diffusion models and UNet models
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embeddings
string
Textual inversion embeddings
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loras
string
LoRA models (regular, LoCon, LoHA)
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upscale_models
string
Upscaler models (ESRGAN, SwinIR, etc.)
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vae
string
VAE models
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audio_encoders
string
Audio encoder models
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model_patches
string
Model patch files
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hypernetworks
string
Hypernetwork models
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style_models
string
Style transfer models
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vae_approx
string
VAE approximation models (TAESD)
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photomaker
string
PhotoMaker models
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classifiers
string
Classifier models
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gligen
string
GLIGEN models
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custom_nodes
string
Custom nodes directory
For a complete list of supported model types, see folder_paths.py in the ComfyUI source code.

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Default Folders Flag

Use the is_default flag to prioritize certain folders: 
comfyui:
  base_path: /path/to/comfyui/
  is_default: true
  checkpoints: models/checkpoints/
Folders marked as default will be:
  • Listed first in model selection dropdowns
  • Used as the default download location for new models

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Multiple Configurations

You can define multiple configurations in the same file: 
comfyui:
  base_path: /path/to/comfyui/
  checkpoints: models/checkpoints/
  loras: models/loras/

a111:
  base_path: /path/to/stable-diffusion-webui/
  checkpoints: models/Stable-diffusion
  loras: models/Lora

custom:
  base_path: /mnt/external/ai-models/
  checkpoints: checkpoints
  loras: loras
ComfyUI will search all configured paths when looking for models.

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Path Resolution

Paths can be specified as:
  • Absolute paths: /home/user/models/checkpoints/
  • Relative to base_path: models/checkpoints/ (relative to the base_path setting)
On Windows, use forward slashes (/) or escaped backslashes (\\) in paths:
comfyui:
  base_path: C:/ComfyUI/
  # or
  base_path: C:\\ComfyUI\\

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Example: Complete Configuration

# Main ComfyUI installation
comfyui:
  base_path: /home/user/ComfyUI/
  is_default: true
  checkpoints: models/checkpoints/
  text_encoders: |
    models/text_encoders/
    models/clip/
  clip_vision: models/clip_vision/
  controlnet: models/controlnet/
  diffusion_models: |
    models/diffusion_models
    models/unet
  embeddings: models/embeddings/
  loras: models/loras/
  upscale_models: models/upscale_models/
  vae: models/vae/

# Shared A1111 models
a111:
  base_path: /home/user/stable-diffusion-webui/
  checkpoints: models/Stable-diffusion
  vae: models/VAE
  loras: |
    models/Lora
    models/LyCORIS
  upscale_models: |
    models/ESRGAN
    models/RealESRGAN
  embeddings: embeddings
  controlnet: models/ControlNet

# External storage
external:
  base_path: /mnt/nas/ai-models/
  checkpoints: sd-models/
  loras: lora-models/

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Troubleshooting

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Models Not Appearing

  1. Check that the YAML syntax is correct (use spaces, not tabs)
  2. Verify that paths exist and are accessible
  3. Ensure the file is named extra_model_paths.yaml (not .yaml.example)
  4. Check ComfyUI startup logs for configuration errors

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Invalid YAML Syntax

Common YAML errors:
  • Using tabs instead of spaces for indentation
  • Missing colons after keys
  • Incorrect indentation levels
  • Not quoting paths with special characters

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Permission Issues

Ensure ComfyUI has read access to all configured paths: 
ls -la /path/to/models/  # Linux/Mac
dir /path/to/models/     # Windows

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