ComfyUI model not found
Check loader choices, model locations and compatible model families.
Recognize the message
Value not in list: ckpt_name; model file not found
A loader cannot resolve the selected model in the current installation. The filename stored in a shared workflow may only exist on its author’s computer. A valid JSON file does not include model weights.
Work through the evidence
- Record the loader class and exact selected filename. Inspect the model choices in the running ComfyUI rather than relying on a screenshot from another setup.
- Choose an installed compatible model from that loader’s list. Follow the official model-folder documentation and any explicit extra-model-path configuration for your installation.
- Verify that the download is complete and belongs to the intended family. Keep the original graph while updating the selection in a copy, then refresh or restart as documented.
Verify the result
The loader resolves the real file and a small run reaches the next stage. Check encoder and VAE compatibility if the next exception changes.
What this does not prove
Do not replace a Flux diffusion loader with an arbitrary SD checkpoint merely because both filenames end in safetensors. A file being present does not prove compatible architecture.
Inspect before changing your workflow
The log inspector works in your browser. The workflow checker reads exported graph structure. Neither sends files automatically or executes nodes. Preserve the original, inspect a copy and record the actual test result in Casebook.
Inspect your log ↗ · Check the graph ↗ · Record a recovery case ↗Before asking for help
Include the first full exception, the failing stage, software versions, model family and the smallest reproducible graph. Redact API keys, user paths and private prompts. A summary such as “KSampler broken” removes the context that distinguishes one failure from another.
Prepare a redacted copy ↗Related investigations
ComfyUI CUDA out of memory · ComfyUI missing custom nodes · ComfyUI custom node import failed · ComfyUI tensor shape mismatch
Source and scope
These are OnBeg’s diagnostic checklists, informed by official ComfyUI troubleshooting. They are not universal fixes and do not replace model- or extension-specific instructions.