Install Flux in Under 10 Minutes

I have been trying to install Flux on my new AI PC all week and its honestly been a nightmare. I have gone though hours and hours of tutorials…and was just about ready to give up.

It took me eight hours to generate my first image with flux.

But I’ve cut down the process to ten minutes from start to your first image.

I have cut parts from dozens of tutorials to make this crazy easy.

Because I don’t want you to suffer like I had to.

Step 1 - Download Stability Matrix

This is where all of the magic happens.

This one tool bypasses all the command line and code and python nightmares.

You can click one button and get started.

Go here: https://github.com/LykosAI/StabilityMatrix

Scroll down until you see the “Platform Options” and click on the type of computer you have.

You will download a compressed file.

Uncompress that file and you’re off to the races.

That is your Stability Matrix program.

Put it in your applications or program folder so that you can easily find it next time.

Step 2 - Activate Stability Matrix

Double click your new program to run it.

It will check your computer to see that you have a compatible setup.

(It worked for both my custom PC and my M1 Mac Mini no problem).

This next step is VERY important so don’t skip past it.

Choose where you want to store the data from your AI image tools.

These files are all very big, so if you have multiple hard drives like I do for my PC, you want to put this on your slower data hard drive.

I don’t want to fill up my program SSD with these files, so I created a folder on my storage drive on my PC.

My mac only has one hard drive, so I selected Portable Mode. (This will make life a LOT easier for the rest of this process.)

This will put the Data folder inside your Applications folder so its easy to find.

Step 3 - Install Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge

Click on the very first box that appears on the next page.

This will start installing your new AI Image generator software.

This process takes from 5-10 minutes depending on your computer.

Just let all the code run until the process is complete.

If you get an error during this process and see a bunch of red text.

Just run the installation a second time.

That always fixes the problem for me.

Step 4 - Download the Two Flux Files

We are going to download two files that will give us the latest and fastest version of Flux.

Go to the link below and download the file called "flux1-dev-bnb-nf4.safetensors"

https://huggingface.co/lllyasviel/flux1-dev-bnb-nf4/blob/main/flux1-dev-bnb-nf4.safetensors

Just click where the red arrow is pointing.

Then go to the link below and download “ae.safetensors”

https://huggingface.co/black-forest-labs/FLUX.1-schnell/tree/main

These are the only two files you have to move around manually.

Step 5 - Install the Two Flux Files

We are going to move each of these files into a folder where we setup the data in Step 2.

In the folder Data/Models/Stable-diffusion, create a new folder called “Flux.”

Move the really big file ”flux1-dev-bnb-nf4.safetensors” into this folder

Go back two folder levels and then open the VAE folder.

You can find it at Data/Models/VAE.

Paste “ae.safetensors” into this folder.

Step 6 - Run Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge

Click on packages on the left menu.

Then click the blue “launch” button on Stable Diffusion WebUi Forge.

Since this is the first time running the program, it will have to download and install some more files.

This can take another ten minutes, so it is the perfect time for a break.

All the code will run on its own and then a web browser will open automatically.

Step 7 - Setup Flux for the First Time

There are three settings that you want to make sure match mine so that you are using Flux and not another image model.

First choose Flux from the UI options.

Second, select the Flux checkpoint from the dropdown.

Third, VAE should say either "automatic" or you can select the "ae.safetensors" that we downloaded.

Step 8 - Start Creating Images with Flux

Now that everything is setup, you can start playing with the other settings and creating images using your computer.

If you want more simplified AI walkthroughs and shorcuts..

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Troubleshooting And Frequently Asked Questions

Problem - Installation Failed

You see all this red code when you install something inside of Stability Matrix and it can be really scary.

Fortunately, the fix is quite easy.

Go to the packages page.

Click "Add Package" at the bottom of the page to see a list of all the programs.

Select the program and click Install.

What is Flux AI?

The FLUX AI Image Generator is an advanced tool developed by Black Forest Labs that specializes in creating high-quality images from text prompts. It represents a significant advancement in the field of AI-driven image synthesis, competing with established models like Midjourney and DALL-E.

Is Flux AI Free to Use?

It's free to use when you install it on your local computer. There are some websites that host the model that charge a fee to use their servers.

Is the Flux AI Image Generator Censored?

The FLUX AI Image Generator incorporates various ethical considerations and safeguards to address potential misuse of its technology. While the tool itself is open-source and accessible, Black Forest Labs, the developer, has implemented guidelines to promote responsible use of the generator. This includes measures to prevent the creation of harmful or inappropriate content.