By default, ComfyUI saves every image and video in the output folder inside your ComfyUI folder. You can change that with one launch flag, --output-directory, or in the Desktop app's storage settings. This guide shows where the folder is on each installation and four ways to move it, from a one-line change to automatic folders by date.
First published January 2025 on the old PixelAI Labs blog. Refreshed in October 2026: the steps below are checked, the links point to the current project pages, and newer options are mentioned where they help.
Where is the ComfyUI output folder?
| Installation | Default output folder |
|---|---|
| Windows Portable | ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\output |
| Manual install (Windows, Linux, macOS) | ComfyUI/output (next to main.py) |
| Comfy Desktop | The Shared Output folder set in Desktop Settings → Storage |
Images are saved as PNG files with the full workflow embedded, so you can drag any of them back onto the canvas to reload the exact settings.
Method 1: the --output-directory launch flag
This is the cleanest way, and it survives ComfyUI updates.
1. Close ComfyUI.
2. Open your launch file in a text editor. On Portable that is run_nvidia_gpu.bat in the ComfyUI_windows_portable folder (right-click → Edit).
3. Add --output-directory and your folder to the end of the start line. Keep the quotes if the path has spaces:
.\python_embeded\python.exe -s ComfyUI\main.py --windows-standalone-build --output-directory "D:\ComfyUI-Output"On a manual install, start ComfyUI like this instead:
python main.py --output-directory "D:\ComfyUI-Output"On Linux or macOS:
python main.py --output-directory "$HOME/ComfyUI-Output"4. Save the file, start ComfyUI and run a test. New images now land in the new folder. Files you made before stay where they were, so move them yourself if you want everything in one place.
Ready-made launch files for Portable, manual Windows installs and Linux/macOS are in the download section.
Method 2: Comfy Desktop
The Desktop app does not use a batch file. Open the ☰ menu → Desktop Settings → Storage, click the folder icon next to Shared Output and pick your folder. Each instance can override it in its own storage settings. Restart the instance after changing it.
Method 3: subfolders and dates from the Save Image node
You don't have to move the whole folder to stay organized. The filename_prefix field of the Save Image node accepts subfolders. Type this to save one project in its own folder inside output:
portraits/ComfyUIOr add the date, so every day gets its own folder:
%date:yyyy-MM-dd%/ComfyUIThat saves files like output/2026-10-29/ComfyUI_00001_.png.
Building an AI influencer? The UltraRealistic AI Influencer Pro course shows the complete system with today's models: design one character, train her own LoRA, and make KREA 2 photos and MiniMax H3 talking videos, on the cloud or your own GPU.
Method 4: a folder link to another drive
If you can't change how ComfyUI starts, link the output folder to another drive. ComfyUI still writes to output, but the files really live on the other drive. On Windows, close ComfyUI, then in Command Prompt move the folder and create a junction (no admin rights needed):
robocopy "C:\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\output" "D:\ComfyUI-Output" /E /MOVE
mklink /J "C:\ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\output" "D:\ComfyUI-Output"On Linux or macOS, move the folder and create a symbolic link:
mv ~/ComfyUI/output ~/ComfyUI-Output
ln -s ~/ComfyUI-Output ~/ComfyUI/outputOther folders you can move
The same idea works for the rest of ComfyUI's folders: --input-directory (uploaded images), --temp-directory, --user-directory (settings and saved workflows), --models-directory, or --base-directory to move all of them at once. To see every option your version supports:
python main.py --helpFAQ
Where does ComfyUI save images by default?
In the output folder inside your ComfyUI folder. On Windows Portable that is ComfyUI_windows_portable\ComfyUI\output. On Comfy Desktop it is the Shared Output folder in Desktop Settings → Storage.
Does changing the output folder move my old images?
No. Only new images go to the new folder. Copy or move the old ones yourself.
I added the flag but images still go to the old folder. Why?
Usually ComfyUI was started with another launch file, or the path has spaces and no quotes. Start ComfyUI with the file you edited and put the path in quotes.
Can I save each workflow in its own folder?
Yes. Put a folder name in the Save Image node's filename_prefix, for example product-shots/ComfyUI. You can also use dates with %date:yyyy-MM-dd%.
Take it further
A tidy output folder helps once you generate a lot. If you want a ready-made, tested system instead of assembling one yourself, the UltraRealistic AI Influencer Pro course walks through character design, LoRA training, KREA 2 photos and MiniMax H3 videos step by step, and the InstantClone AI Influencer Suite creates consistent images and motion videos from one character image. More free guides are on the PixelAI Labs blog.
Downloads
Launch files with --output-directory already added, for Windows Portable, manual Windows installs and Linux/macOS. Change the path inside the one you use.
