| # Models | |
| ## Checkpoint and Diffusers Models | |
| The model checkpoint files (`*.ckpt`) are the Stable Diffusion "secret sauce". They are the product of training the AI on millions of captioned images gathered from multiple sources. | |
| Originally there was only a single Stable Diffusion weights file, which many people named `model.ckpt`. | |
| Today, there are thousands of models, fine tuned to excel at specific styles, genres, or themes. | |
| !!! tip "Model Formats" | |
| We also have two more popular model formats, both created [HuggingFace](https://huggingface.co/): | |
| - `safetensors`: Single file, like `.ckpt` files. Prevents malware from lurking in a model. | |
| - `diffusers`: Splits the model components into separate files, allowing very fast loading. | |
| InvokeAI supports all three formats. | |
| ## Starter Models | |
| When you first start InvokeAI, you'll see a popup prompting you to install some starter models from the Model Manager. Click the `Starter Models` tab to see the list. | |
| You'll find a collection of popular and high-quality models available for easy download. | |
| Some models carry license terms that limit their use in commercial applications or on public servers. It's your responsibility to adhere to the license terms. | |
| ## Other Models | |
| There are a few ways to install other models: | |
| - **URL or Local Path**: Provide the path to a model on your computer, or a direct link to the model. Some sites require you to use an API token to download models, which you can [set up in the config file]. | |
| - **HuggingFace**: Paste a HF Repo ID to install it. If there are multiple models in the repo, you'll get a list to choose from. Repo IDs look like this: `XpucT/Deliberate`. There is a copy button on each repo to copy the ID. | |
| - **Scan Folder**: Scan a local folder for models. You can install all of the detected models in one click. | |
| !!! tip "Autoimport" | |
| The dedicated autoimport folder is removed as of v4.0.0. You can do the same thing on the **Scan Folder** tab - paste the folder you'd like to import from and then click `Install All`. | |
| ### Diffusers models in HF repo subfolders | |
| HuggingFace repos can be structured in any way. Some model authors include multiple models within the same folder. | |
| In this situation, you may need to provide some additional information to identify the model you want, by adding `:subfolder_name` to the repo ID. | |
| !!! example | |
| Say you have a repo ID `monster-labs/control_v1p_sd15_qrcode_monster`, and the model you want is inside the `v2` subfolder. | |
| Add `:v2` to the repo ID and use that when installing the model: `monster-labs/control_v1p_sd15_qrcode_monster:v2` | |
| [set up in the config file]: ../configuration.md#model-marketplace-api-keys | |