How To Run Wan 2.1 Locally On SwarmUI. Free And Open Source Video Generation Model

3 min read 7 days ago
Published on Mar 02, 2025 This response is partially generated with the help of AI. It may contain inaccuracies.

Table of Contents

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of running the Wan 2.1 video generation model locally using SwarmUI. Developed by Alibaba Cloud, Wan 2.1 is a powerful tool for generating high-quality AI videos from text and images. This step-by-step guide is designed for both beginners and advanced users, providing all the necessary instructions to set up your environment and start creating stunning AI-generated videos.

Step 1: Install Git and Dot NET 8 SDK

To get started, you'll need to install two essential tools: Git and the Dot NET 8 SDK.

  1. Download Git

    • Visit Git Download Page.
    • Choose the appropriate version for your operating system and follow the installation instructions.
  2. Download Dot NET 8 SDK

Practical Tip: Make sure to restart your computer after the installations to ensure the tools are properly configured.

Step 2: Install SwarmUI

Next, you will need to install SwarmUI, which acts as the interface for using the Wan 2.1 model.

  1. Access SwarmUI Repository

  2. Download and Set Up SwarmUI

    • Follow the provided instructions to download and set up SwarmUI on your local machine.
    • Ensure you have the necessary dependencies installed as per the instructions.

Common Pitfall: Double-check that all dependencies are installed correctly to avoid runtime issues later.

Step 3: Download Wan 2.1 Model Files

Now it's time to download the necessary model files for Wan 2.1.

  1. Download the Main Model Files

  2. Place Files in Correct Directory

    • Move the downloaded files to the SwarmUI models directory, typically located at ...\SwarmUI\Models\diffusion_models.

Practical Tip: Keep your downloaded files organized to easily locate them later.

Step 4: Download Example Workflows

To maximize the capabilities of Wan 2.1, download example workflows that demonstrate its use.

  1. Access Workflow Repository

  2. Download Workflows

    • Select and download the workflows that interest you, following the available links.

Practical Tip: Review the documentation provided with the workflows to understand how to implement them effectively.

Step 5: How to Use Wan 2.1

After setting everything up, you can start using Wan 2.1.

  1. Launch SwarmUI

    • Open the SwarmUI application.
  2. Load the Wan 2.1 Model

    • Navigate to the models section and select Wan 2.1.
  3. Input Your Text or Images

    • Depending on your task (text-to-video or image-to-video), input the necessary information.
  4. Generate Video

    • Follow the prompts to create your video and review the output.

Common Pitfall: Ensure your inputs are formatted correctly to avoid errors during the video generation process.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we covered the essential steps to set up and run the Wan 2.1 video generation model locally using SwarmUI. You learned how to install Git and Dot NET 8 SDK, set up SwarmUI, download the necessary model files, and utilize example workflows. Now you're ready to create high-quality AI-generated videos with ease. Explore different inputs and workflows to fully leverage the capabilities of Wan 2.1 and enjoy your video creation journey!