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[GH-ISSUE #745] [Feature Request]: Portable Mode for Desktop App on Windows #218

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opened 2026-10-31 22:10:13 +00:00 by bsakaguchi · 8 comments

bsakaguchi commented

2026-10-31 22:10:13 +00:00

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Originally created by @Monty1836 on GitHub (Jan 28, 2025).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/Comfy-Org/desktop/issues/745

Originally assigned to: @webfiltered on GitHub.

Prerequisites

I have searched the existing issues and checked the recent builds/commits
I have read the documentation and this feature is not already available
This is a single feature request (not multiple features combined)

Problem Statement

I was poking around with the standalone app because I don't want to use up the space on my system drive, and I've noticed that after installation, the electron app can actually be moved anywhere else on the system, and it still functions just fine. Seeing that, I decided to do a bit more poking around. All of the files specified in the extra model paths can be moved into the real ComfyUI install in the electron app's resources folder without a problem, which isn't surprising. That only leaves the uv-cache folder, logs, and the roaming appdata folder that aren't already portable from what I can tell.

Proposed Solution

Make the electron app's install location user configurable. Given that it can already be moved without causing any issues, this part should be easy. Next, add a checkbox in the installer to install ComfyUI portably. This will take a bit more work, depending on how the code base is set up. Any references to the roaming appdata, uv-cache, and logs will need to be changed to relative links, likely within the base electron install directory.

Potential workflow

Run the ComfyUI installer.
When you reach the point of selecting the install directory, select it as normal. For ease of use, the electron app should now install into this folder rather than the local appdata directory.
On the same screen, select a toggle for portable mode. This will tell the installer to configure ComfyUI to read appdata from a subfolder in the same install directory that was selected.
Continue install as normal, and the ComfyUI install should now be portable, launched by running ComfyUI.exe directly.

Impact Level

High (Major improvement)

Alternatives Considered

A version of the desktop app which links with the existing portable version of ComfyUI could be made, but the app is so close to being portable already, that I feel it would be more work to separate the electron app from its built-in ComfyUI install than to just switch to using relative paths.

Additional information

Allowing portable installs is in my opinion, important for managing drive space. With the number of apps that want to dump files into the appdata folders, the system drive can run out of space fairly quickly if the drive isn't particularly large. The current configurable install directory feels like a bit of a lie, since neither the app, nor ComfyUI even install there, it just configures your extra paths config, and throws a cache, and some logs into the folder. The already fully portable electron app, and ComfyUI install inside it are going to eat up space on the system drive, and the user doesn't get a choice about it.

┆Issue is synchronized with this Notion page by Unito

Originally created by @Monty1836 on GitHub (Jan 28, 2025). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/Comfy-Org/desktop/issues/745 Originally assigned to: @webfiltered on GitHub. ### Prerequisites - [x] I have searched the existing issues and checked the recent builds/commits - [x] I have read the documentation and this feature is not already available - [x] This is a single feature request (not multiple features combined) ### Problem Statement I was poking around with the standalone app because I don't want to use up the space on my system drive, and I've noticed that after installation, the electron app can actually be moved anywhere else on the system, and it still functions just fine. Seeing that, I decided to do a bit more poking around. All of the files specified in the extra model paths can be moved into the real ComfyUI install in the electron app's resources folder without a problem, which isn't surprising. That only leaves the uv-cache folder, logs, and the roaming appdata folder that aren't already portable from what I can tell. ### Proposed Solution Make the electron app's install location user configurable. Given that it can already be moved without causing any issues, this part should be easy. Next, add a checkbox in the installer to install ComfyUI portably. This will take a bit more work, depending on how the code base is set up. Any references to the roaming appdata, uv-cache, and logs will need to be changed to relative links, likely within the base electron install directory. ### Potential workflow 1. Run the ComfyUI installer. 2. When you reach the point of selecting the install directory, select it as normal. For ease of use, the electron app should now install into this folder rather than the local appdata directory. 3. On the same screen, select a toggle for portable mode. This will tell the installer to configure ComfyUI to read appdata from a subfolder in the same install directory that was selected. 4. Continue install as normal, and the ComfyUI install should now be portable, launched by running ComfyUI.exe directly. ### Impact Level High (Major improvement) ### Alternatives Considered A version of the desktop app which links with the existing portable version of ComfyUI could be made, but the app is so close to being portable already, that I feel it would be more work to separate the electron app from its built-in ComfyUI install than to just switch to using relative paths. ### Additional information Allowing portable installs is in my opinion, important for managing drive space. With the number of apps that want to dump files into the appdata folders, the system drive can run out of space fairly quickly if the drive isn't particularly large. The current configurable install directory feels like a bit of a lie, since neither the app, nor ComfyUI even install there, it just configures your extra paths config, and throws a cache, and some logs into the folder. The already fully portable electron app, and ComfyUI install inside it are going to eat up space on the system drive, and the user doesn't get a choice about it. ┆Issue is synchronized with this [Notion page](https://www.notion.so/Issue-745-Feature-Request-Portable-Mode-for-Desktop-App-on-Windows-1896d73d365081d18a50cb4ff66bec9a) by [Unito](https://www.unito.io)

bsakaguchi

2026-10-31 22:10:13 +00:00

closed this issue
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bsakaguchi commented

2026-10-31 22:10:13 +00:00

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@robinjhuang commented on GitHub (Jan 29, 2025):

@Monty1836 Thanks for the detailed issue. We currently only install a few hundred megabytes into AppData which includes the electron application binaries and ComfyUI source code.

Majority of the space taken will be models, custom nodes, input/output files etc which will be stored in your chosen directory. That directory can be moved around, although you need to edit some config files after doing that. Desktop can add support for that though if you want to move that around.

Do you actually need the source code to be portable as well? If so please let us know why!

@robinjhuang commented on GitHub (Jan 29, 2025): @Monty1836 Thanks for the detailed issue. We currently only install a few hundred megabytes into AppData which includes the electron application binaries and ComfyUI source code. Majority of the space taken will be models, custom nodes, input/output files etc which will be stored in your chosen directory. That directory can be moved around, although you need to edit some config files after doing that. Desktop can add support for that though if you want to move that around. Do you actually need the source code to be portable as well? If so please let us know why!

bsakaguchi commented

2026-10-31 22:10:13 +00:00

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@Monty1836 commented on GitHub (Feb 4, 2025):

A few hundred megabytes adds up when a large number of applications are installed. In my case, it's a matter of wanting to be able to control where that drive space is used up because my OS, and as a result the AppData folder are installed onto a small SSD, while I have much larger drives for storage, and installing applications onto. I do understand that most of the space is in models, and custom nodes, that is true, and I appreciate being able to move those already.

That said, I do think there's also merit in being able to have a portable installation on a USB drive for people who use multiple PCs. It would allow for just plugging the USB drive into another system, and picking up where you left off. For instance, I do actually use two systems for my daily use. Being able to move your whole ComfyUI install, and pick up where you left off on a different PC would be good for people like myself that have both a desktop, and a high end laptop or other portable device capable of running diffusion models. Technically, you could do that by forwarding ports, and using ComfyUI over the internet, but that does also raise some security concerns that a portable install wouldn't need to worry about.

@Monty1836 commented on GitHub (Feb 4, 2025): A few hundred megabytes adds up when a large number of applications are installed. In my case, it's a matter of wanting to be able to control where that drive space is used up because my OS, and as a result the AppData folder are installed onto a small SSD, while I have much larger drives for storage, and installing applications onto. I do understand that most of the space is in models, and custom nodes, that is true, and I appreciate being able to move those already. That said, I do think there's also merit in being able to have a portable installation on a USB drive for people who use multiple PCs. It would allow for just plugging the USB drive into another system, and picking up where you left off. For instance, I do actually use two systems for my daily use. Being able to move your whole ComfyUI install, and pick up where you left off on a different PC would be good for people like myself that have both a desktop, and a high end laptop or other portable device capable of running diffusion models. Technically, you could do that by forwarding ports, and using ComfyUI over the internet, but that does also raise some security concerns that a portable install wouldn't need to worry about.

bsakaguchi commented

2026-10-31 22:10:14 +00:00

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@jordanjay29 commented on GitHub (Feb 4, 2025):

In my case, it's a matter of wanting to be able to control where that drive space is used up because my OS, and as a result the AppData folder are installed onto a small SSD, while I have much larger drives for storage, and installing applications onto.

I will second this as my case as well. I continue to use the portable standalone install for this reason alone.

@jordanjay29 commented on GitHub (Feb 4, 2025): > In my case, it's a matter of wanting to be able to control where that drive space is used up because my OS, and as a result the AppData folder are installed onto a small SSD, while I have much larger drives for storage, and installing applications onto. I will second this as my case as well. I continue to use the portable standalone install for this reason alone.

bsakaguchi commented

2026-10-31 22:10:14 +00:00

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@dosubot[bot] commented on GitHub (May 6, 2025):

Hi, @Monty1836. I'm Dosu, and I'm helping the desktop team manage their backlog. I'm marking this issue as stale.

Issue Summary:

You requested a feature for the Windows desktop app to support portable mode for better drive space management.
Robinjhuang noted that most space is used by models and custom nodes, which can already be moved.
You emphasized the need for portability due to limited SSD space and convenience across multiple PCs.
Jordanjay29 supported the request, citing similar storage concerns.

Next Steps:

Please let us know if this issue is still relevant to the latest version of the desktop repository by commenting here to keep the discussion open.
If there is no further activity, this issue will be automatically closed in 7 days.

Thank you for your understanding and contribution!

@dosubot[bot] commented on GitHub (May 6, 2025): Hi, @Monty1836. I'm [Dosu](https://dosu.dev), and I'm helping the desktop team manage their backlog. I'm marking this issue as stale. **Issue Summary:** - You requested a feature for the Windows desktop app to support portable mode for better drive space management. - Robinjhuang noted that most space is used by models and custom nodes, which can already be moved. - You emphasized the need for portability due to limited SSD space and convenience across multiple PCs. - Jordanjay29 supported the request, citing similar storage concerns. **Next Steps:** - Please let us know if this issue is still relevant to the latest version of the desktop repository by commenting here to keep the discussion open. - If there is no further activity, this issue will be automatically closed in 7 days. Thank you for your understanding and contribution!

bsakaguchi commented

2026-10-31 22:10:14 +00:00

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@Monty1836 commented on GitHub (May 7, 2025):

I do still think that a fully portable version of this standalone app would be helpful. I've actually gone back to the older portable version of ComfyUI without the standalone app because of it. I just don't have the space on my OS drive to justify wasting a few hundred megabytes for the luxury of the standalone app.

@Monty1836 commented on GitHub (May 7, 2025): I do still think that a fully portable version of this standalone app would be helpful. I've actually gone back to the older portable version of ComfyUI without the standalone app because of it. I just don't have the space on my OS drive to justify wasting a few hundred megabytes for the luxury of the standalone app.

bsakaguchi commented

2026-10-31 22:10:14 +00:00

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@dosubot[bot] commented on GitHub (May 7, 2025):

@robinjhuang, the user @Monty1836 has indicated that the need for a fully portable version of the standalone app is still relevant, especially due to space constraints on their OS drive. Could you please assist them with this issue?

@dosubot[bot] commented on GitHub (May 7, 2025): @robinjhuang, the user @Monty1836 has indicated that the need for a fully portable version of the standalone app is still relevant, especially due to space constraints on their OS drive. Could you please assist them with this issue?

bsakaguchi commented

2026-10-31 22:10:14 +00:00

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Owner

@jordanjay29 commented on GitHub (May 7, 2025):

Seeing as my C drive is the smallest and meant for my OS, I move my documents and the majority or program install locations elsewhere. This is a dealbreaker for the app.

@jordanjay29 commented on GitHub (May 7, 2025): Seeing as my C drive is the smallest and meant for my OS, I move my documents and the majority or program install locations elsewhere. This is a dealbreaker for the app.

bsakaguchi commented

2026-10-31 22:10:14 +00:00

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Owner

@dosubot[bot] commented on GitHub (Sep 13, 2025):

Hi, @Monty1836. I'm Dosu, and I'm helping the desktop team manage their backlog and am marking this issue as stale.

Issue Summary:

You requested a portable mode for the ComfyUI Windows desktop app to keep all data (uv-cache, logs, appdata) within the install directory.
This feature aims to enable easy relocation of the app and save space on small OS drives.
It was noted that large files like models and custom nodes can already be moved, but full source code portability is still a concern.
You and others emphasized the importance of full portability for users with limited SSD space and multi-PC setups.
The issue remains unresolved and was previously marked stale but confirmed as still relevant by you.

Next Steps:

Please confirm if this issue is still relevant with the latest version of the desktop app to keep the discussion open.
If no further updates are provided, I will automatically close the issue in 7 days.

Thank you for your understanding and contribution!

@dosubot[bot] commented on GitHub (Sep 13, 2025): Hi, @Monty1836. I'm [Dosu](https://dosu.dev), and I'm helping the desktop team manage their backlog and am marking this issue as stale. **Issue Summary:** - You requested a portable mode for the ComfyUI Windows desktop app to keep all data (uv-cache, logs, appdata) within the install directory. - This feature aims to enable easy relocation of the app and save space on small OS drives. - It was noted that large files like models and custom nodes can already be moved, but full source code portability is still a concern. - You and others emphasized the importance of full portability for users with limited SSD space and multi-PC setups. - The issue remains unresolved and was previously marked stale but confirmed as still relevant by you. **Next Steps:** - Please confirm if this issue is still relevant with the latest version of the desktop app to keep the discussion open. - If no further updates are provided, I will automatically close the issue in 7 days. Thank you for your understanding and contribution!

bsakaguchi referenced this issue

2026-10-31 22:16:04 +00:00

[PR #218] [MERGED] Add Github action to publish typelib to npm #696

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