How to Install Custom Nodes in ComfyUI (With and Without Manager)

Out of the box, ComfyUI is a capable image generation tool — but its real power comes from the community ecosystem of custom nodes that extend what the interface can do. Custom nodes add everything from advanced image processing and face detailing to batch processing, video generation, and specialised model loaders. This guide explains what custom nodes are, how to install them using ComfyUI Manager or manually via the command line, and which nodes are worth installing first.

What Custom Nodes Are

Custom nodes are Python modules that plug into ComfyUI’s node system. When installed, they appear as new node types in the Add Node menu, giving you new capabilities within your workflows without modifying the core ComfyUI codebase. They are maintained by third-party developers in separate GitHub repositories and range from single-purpose utilities to entire suites of interconnected nodes.

Because many workflows shared online rely on custom nodes, you will quickly find that you cannot load certain workflows without having the right nodes installed. Understanding how to install them confidently is an essential ComfyUI skill.

Installing ComfyUI Manager

ComfyUI Manager is the standard way to manage custom nodes. It adds a graphical interface directly within ComfyUI for browsing, installing, updating, and disabling nodes. If you do not have it installed yet, it is the first thing you should add.

To install ComfyUI Manager manually, navigate to your ComfyUI directory and clone the repository into the custom_nodes folder:

cd /path/to/ComfyUI/custom_nodes
git clone https://github.com/ltdrdata/ComfyUI-Manager.git

Restart ComfyUI. A Manager button will appear in the top-right area of the interface. Click it to open the Manager panel.

Installing Nodes via the Manager UI

With ComfyUI Manager open, click Install Custom Nodes. You will see a searchable list of available nodes from the community registry. Find the node you want, click Install, and wait for the process to complete. Manager will clone the repository and attempt to install any Python dependencies automatically.

After installation, click Restart in the Manager panel (or stop and restart the ComfyUI process manually) for the new nodes to become available. They will then appear in your Add Node menu.

Manager also lets you view installed nodes, check for updates, and disable or uninstall nodes that are causing problems — all without touching the command line.

Manual Installation via Git Clone

If a node is not listed in ComfyUI Manager’s registry, or if you prefer to install it directly, the process is straightforward. All custom nodes live in the ComfyUI/custom_nodes/ directory. Clone the repository there:

cd /path/to/ComfyUI/custom_nodes
git clone https://github.com/example-author/example-node.git

Replace the URL with the actual repository URL for the node you want to install.

Installing Python Dependencies

Many custom nodes have their own Python package requirements listed in a requirements.txt file within the repository. After cloning, install them using the virtual environment that ComfyUI runs in:

source /path/to/ComfyUI/venv/bin/activate
pip install -r /path/to/ComfyUI/custom_nodes/example-node/requirements.txt

If you skip this step, the node may fail to load and show as broken in the interface. Always check for a requirements.txt or an install.py file when installing manually.

Enabling and Disabling Nodes

ComfyUI Manager lets you disable individual custom nodes without uninstalling them. This is useful when a node is causing a conflict or error but you do not want to lose it entirely. In the Manager panel, go to Manager > Custom Nodes Manager, find the node, and toggle it off. Re-enable it the same way.

Disabled nodes are still present in the custom_nodes/ folder but ComfyUI will not load them at startup.

Updating Custom Nodes

Custom nodes are updated frequently. To update all installed nodes at once, open ComfyUI Manager and click Update All. To update a specific node, find it in the custom nodes list and click its Update button.

For manually installed nodes, you can update by navigating to the node’s folder and running git pull:

cd /path/to/ComfyUI/custom_nodes/example-node
git pull

Essential Custom Nodes Worth Installing

ComfyUI-Impact-Pack

One of the most widely used node suites. Impact Pack adds face detection, segmentation, and detail enhancement nodes (including FaceDetailer). Essential for fixing faces in generated images and for advanced masking workflows. Install via ComfyUI Manager by searching for Impact Pack.

WAS Node Suite

A large collection of utility nodes covering image processing, file operations, text handling, and more. WAS Node Suite fills many gaps in ComfyUI’s core functionality and is required by a large number of shared workflows. Search for WAS Node Suite in Manager.

ComfyUI-Advanced-ControlNet

Extends ComfyUI’s built-in ControlNet support with additional features including animated ControlNet, weight scheduling, and better mask support. If you work with ControlNet regularly, this is a significant improvement over the basic implementation.

rgthree-comfy

A quality-of-life node pack from the developer rgthree. Includes Power Lora Loader (which simplifies stacking multiple LoRAs), improved reroute nodes, and a context node system that makes complex workflows significantly cleaner and easier to read.

Custom Node Safety Considerations

Custom nodes are community-maintained code that runs with the same permissions as ComfyUI itself. Before installing any node, it is good practice to check that the repository is actively maintained, has reasonable star and fork counts, and has recent commits. Nodes with no recent activity may be broken on the latest version of ComfyUI, and nodes from unknown authors should be reviewed before installation.

This is particularly relevant when downloading workflows from third-party sources. A workflow file can specify custom node requirements, and if you install nodes blindly to load a workflow, you are running code you have not reviewed. Sticking to widely used nodes from established developers significantly reduces this risk.

Troubleshooting Broken Nodes

When a custom node fails to load, it will typically show as a red or greyed-out node in your workflow. Common causes and fixes:

• Missing Python dependency: Activate the venv and run pip install -r requirements.txt inside the node’s folder.
• Outdated node: Run git pull inside the node’s folder or use Manager to update it. The node may have been updated to resolve an incompatibility.
• ComfyUI version conflict: Some older nodes may not be compatible with the latest ComfyUI. Check the node’s GitHub issues page for known compatibility problems.
• Conflicting nodes: Two nodes occasionally define the same node type name, causing a conflict. Disable one and restart to identify the culprit.
• install.py not run: Some nodes include an install.py script that handles additional setup steps. Run it manually with the venv Python if Manager did not execute it automatically.

For a full index of every ComfyUI guide on Serverman, see the ComfyUI complete guide and hub.