Get started with RunPod and claim your free credit:

1. Visit RunPod: Click on our affiliate link to sign up
2. Create account: Complete the registration process
3. Claim bonus: Receive your $5 credit automatically
4. Add funds: Add at least $10 to your account for optimal usage

Navigate to the template selection:

1. Click "Pod Templates": Find this option in the RunPod dashboard
2. Browse templates: Explore the available pre-configured templates

Pick the template that fits your needs:

1. Find ComfyUI: Look for the ComfyUI:latest template
2. Check version: This template has the most up-to-date ComfyUI version
3. Read description: Review what's included in the template

Initiate the pod deployment:

1. Click "Deploy Pod": Press the deploy button on your chosen template
2. Read the credentials: A text box will appear with your login credentials
3. Save credentials: IMPORTANT - Copy and save these credentials securely (username and password)
4. Remember for later: You'll need these credentials to access the file browser

Pick the right GPU for your workflow:

1. Review GPU list: Browse available GPUs and their specifications
2. Check VRAM: Look at the VRAM (memory) each GPU offers
3. Consider your needs:
   • Image generation: Most GPUs are sufficient (8-16GB VRAM)
   • Video generation: We recommend 32GB VRAM+ for best results
4. Check availability: Select a GPU that's currently available

Finalize your pod configuration:

1. Scroll down: Navigate to the billing section
2. Review costs: Check the hourly rate and estimated costs
3. Verify settings: Double-check your GPU selection and storage
4. Click "Deploy On Demand": Press the button to start your pod

Your pod is now starting up:

1. Sidebar opens: A sidebar will automatically appear on the right
2. Wait patiently: The pod initialization takes a few minutes
3. Monitor progress: Watch the status indicators

Ensure all services are ready:

1. Open sidebar: View the pod overview in the right sidebar
2. Find "HTTP Services": Locate this section in the overview
3. Check status: All services should show "Ready" status
4. Wait if needed: If services show "Starting", wait a bit longer

Check the detailed startup process:

1. Click "Logs" tab: Find this tab in the sidebar
2. View log output: Monitor the startup messages
3. Look for errors: Check if there are any issues

Verify ComfyUI has fully started:

1. Watch the logs: Monitor the log output in the Logs tab
2. Wait for port 8188: Look for the message showing "ComfyUI started on port 8188" or similar
3. Be patient: This can take some time due to RunPod's high GPU power but lower CPU/network performance
4. Confirm ready: Once you see the port message, ComfyUI is ready!

Confirm everything is operational:

1. Return to overview: Click back to the main pod overview
2. Check all services: Verify all HTTP services show "Ready"
3. Confirm port 8188: Make sure ComfyUI port is active

Access the file management system:

1. Find port 8080: Locate the File Browser service in the HTTP Services section
2. Click port 8080: Click on the port number to open the file browser
3. Login screen appears: You'll see a login window

4. Enter credentials: Use the credentials from Step 4 (usually username is "admin")
5. Access granted: You now have full access to the file system

Start using ComfyUI:

1. Return to overview: Go back to the main pod overview

2. Click ComfyUI port: Click on port 8188 to open the web GUI

3. ComfyUI loads: The familiar ComfyUI interface appears

4. Import workflow:

   • Click the ComfyUI logo in the top left
   • Select "File" → "Open"
   • Browse and select your workflow JSON file

Your workflow may require custom nodes:

1. Message appears: A popup shows missing custom nodes
2. Review list: Check which nodes are needed
3. Don't worry: We'll install them in the next steps

Use ComfyUI Manager to install missing nodes:

1. Find Manager button: Look in the top right corner of the ComfyUI interface
2. Click "Manager": This opens the ComfyUI Manager panel

Install all required custom nodes:

1. Click "Install Missing Custom Nodes": Find this option in the Manager menu
2. Wait for list: A list of missing nodes appears

Select all nodes for installation:

1. Review the list: Check all the missing custom nodes
2. Select all: Click the checkboxes to select all nodes in the list
3. Confirm selection: Make sure all required nodes are checked

Let the installation complete:

1. Installation begins: Manager downloads and installs each node
2. Watch progress: Monitor the installation status for each node
3. Be patient: This can take several minutes depending on the number of nodes
4. Wait for completion: All nodes should show "Installed" or "Complete"

5. Restart required: Click the "Restart" button in the bottom left when everything is done

ComfyUI needs to restart to load the new nodes:

1. Restart initiated: ComfyUI begins restarting
2. Loading screen: You may see a "ComfyUI is starting" message
3. Wait patiently: Give it 30-60 seconds
4. Refresh if needed: If you see the loading screen for too long, refresh the page

Congratulations! Your setup is complete:

1. Workflow loaded: Your ComfyUI workflow is now fully functional
2. All nodes available: Custom nodes are installed and ready
3. Start creating: Begin your generations!

Optimize your RunPod usage:

1. Pause when done: Always pause your pod after finishing your work
2. Stop billing: Paused pods don't incur GPU costs (only minimal storage costs)
3. Plan generations: Batch your work to minimize idle time
4. Monitor usage: Keep an eye on your credit balance