How to Install Stable Diffusion on Mac

Step by step

1. Install Homebrew and Python

   Open Terminal and install Homebrew by running `/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"`. After installation completes, run `brew install [email protected]` to install Python 3.10, which Stable Diffusion requires.

   Note: Check your Python version with `python3 --version` to confirm you have 3.10 or later installed.

2. Install Git and clone the repository

   Run `brew install git` to install Git if you don't have it. Navigate to your desired installation directory in Terminal, then clone the AUTOMATIC1111 repository with `git clone https://github.com/AUTOMATIC1111/stable-diffusion-webui.git`. This downloads all necessary files to run Stable Diffusion.

   Note: Create a dedicated folder like `~/AI` to keep your AI tools organized and easy to find.

3. Download a Stable Diffusion model

   Navigate to the models folder with `cd stable-diffusion-webui/models/Stable-diffusion`. Download a model file from Hugging Face or CivitAI. For beginners, download the standard SD 1.5 model by running `wget https://huggingface.co/runwayml/stable-diffusion-v1-5/resolve/main/v1-5-pruned-emaonly.safetensors`.

   Note: Model files are large (2-7GB). Use a wired internet connection and expect 10-30 minutes download time depending on your connection.

4. Run the installation script

   Navigate back to the main directory with `cd ../..` then run `./webui.sh`. This script automatically installs all Python dependencies, sets up the virtual environment, and starts the web interface. The first run takes 10-15 minutes as it downloads additional components.

   Note: If you encounter permission errors, run `chmod +x webui.sh` first to make the script executable.

5. Access the web interface

   Once installation completes, the terminal displays a local URL like `http://127.0.0.1:7860`. Open this URL in your web browser to access the Stable Diffusion interface. You'll see text input fields for prompts and various generation settings.

   Note: Bookmark this URL for quick access. The interface only works while the terminal process is running.

6. Generate your first image

   Type a descriptive prompt in the main text box, such as "a peaceful mountain landscape at sunset". Leave other settings at default and click "Generate". Your first image typically takes 30-60 seconds to generate, depending on your Mac's specifications.

   Note: Start with simple prompts to test functionality before experimenting with complex descriptions or advanced settings.

7. Configure for optimal performance

   For better performance on Mac, add `--medvram` to the launch arguments by editing the `webui-user.sh` file and adding this flag to the `COMMANDLINE_ARGS` line. This reduces VRAM usage at the cost of slightly slower generation times.

   Note: If you have an M1 or M2 Mac with plenty of RAM, you can skip the --medvram flag for faster generation speeds.