How to Upload an Image to Midjourney

Updated 14 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Uploading an image to Midjourney lets you use a reference photo as a starting point for new generations, remix existing artwork, or blend multiple images together. You do this by providing the image’s URL in your prompt — there is no direct file upload button. To get the URL, you’ll first host the image somewhere public, then copy that link into Discord or the Midjourney web interface.

What You’ll Need

A Midjourney subscription (any paid plan works).
Access to Discord (for the classic bot method) or the Midjourney website (for the newer web interface).
An image file on your device — JPG, PNG, GIF, or WEBP are all fine.
A way to host the image publicly: Discord itself, Imgur, or any direct-link image host.

Step-by-Step

Open the Midjourney interface. Go to the Midjourney website and sign in, or open Discord and navigate to a server where the Midjourney bot is active.
Upload your image to a host that gives a direct URL. The easiest method is to drag and drop the image into Discord — either into a direct message with the Midjourney bot or into any channel. Right-click the uploaded image and select “Copy Link” (on desktop) or long-press and choose “Copy Media Link” (on mobile). This link ends in .png, .jpg, or similar and is what you’ll use. Alternatively, upload to Imgur, right-click the image, and select “Open image in new tab” — the URL in that tab is the direct link.
Copy that direct URL. Make sure the link ends with an image extension (.png, .jpg, .gif, .webp). If it doesn’t, it’s not a direct link and Midjourney won’t accept it.
Start a new prompt. In Discord, type /imagine and press Enter. In the web interface, click the text box at the bottom of the page.
Paste the image URL first. In the prompt field, paste the URL you copied. It should appear as a blue or gray link. Then press Space and type your description of what you want Midjourney to do with the image — for example, “a cyberpunk version of this character” or “make this into a watercolor painting.”
Send the prompt. Press Enter (or click the arrow). Midjourney will process the image and generate a set of four variations based on your prompt.
Use the result buttons. After the grid appears, you can use the U buttons to upscale one image, V buttons to create variations of a specific one, or the 🔁 re-roll button to try again with the same prompt.
For multiple images, add more URLs. You can paste two or more direct URLs separated by spaces, then add your text. Midjourney will blend the images together according to your description.

Common Mistakes

Using a non-direct link. Links to a webpage (like an Imgur page or a Google Drive share page) won’t work. The URL must point directly to the image file itself.
Putting the URL after the text. While Midjourney usually still reads it, the order can affect how strongly the image influences the result. Putting the URL at the very start of the prompt is the most reliable.
Forgetting the space between URL and text. If you paste the URL and immediately type text without a space, the whole thing becomes one long string and Midjourney will treat it as a single prompt element, often ignoring the image.
Uploading to a private Discord channel. If the channel is private or the bot can’t see the image, the link may not work. Use a public channel or a direct message with the bot.
Using a URL that expires. Some hosts (like temporary file-sharing sites) delete images after a few hours. Use a permanent host like Discord, Imgur, or your own website.

Tips

Use image weight for more control. Add --iw at the end of your prompt followed by a number (0.5 to 2.0 in V6, or 0 to 3 in earlier versions). A higher value (e.g., --iw 2) makes the output stick closer to the original image; a lower value (e.g., --iw 0.5) gives Midjourney more freedom to reinterpret it.
Crop or resize before uploading. Midjourney works best with square images. If your image is very wide or tall, crop it to roughly 1:1 in any photo editor before uploading to avoid unexpected cropping in the output.
Use the web interface for simpler uploads. On the Midjourney website, you can drag and drop an image directly into the prompt box — it automatically uploads and creates a URL for you. This is the easiest method if you’re not comfortable with Discord.
Keep the image under 20 MB. Larger files may fail to upload or cause errors. Compress if needed.
Describe the image in your prompt. Even if you want a faithful copy, adding a short description like “a portrait of a woman” helps Midjourney understand what it’s looking at.

Troubleshooting

“Invalid link” or “URL not accepted” error. The link is not a direct image URL. Re-upload the image to Discord or Imgur and copy the link again. Check that it ends with .png, .jpg, .gif, or .webp.
The image is ignored and only the text prompt works. This usually means the URL is broken or the image host is blocked. Try a different host, or use the Midjourney web interface’s drag-and-drop upload.
Image appears but the result looks nothing like it. Lower the image weight with --iw 1.5 or --iw 2. Also, make sure your text prompt isn’t describing something completely different — the text and image work together.
Upload to Discord fails. Check that the file is under 20 MB and is a supported format. If the channel has slow-mode or file restrictions, try a different channel or a direct message to the bot.
No response from the bot. Ensure you have an active Midjourney subscription. Free trials no longer exist. Also check that the bot is online and that you’re typing the command correctly (/imagine, not just /).
The web interface upload button is missing. Some browser extensions block uploads. Try disabling extensions or using a different browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I upload an image directly from my computer without hosting it?

In the Midjourney web interface, yes — you can drag and drop a file into the prompt box and it will be uploaded automatically. In Discord, you must first upload the image to Discord or another host to get a URL.

What image formats are supported?

JPG, PNG, GIF, and WEBP are all supported. PNG is best for images with transparency, though Midjourney doesn’t preserve transparency in the output.

Can I use an image from Google Images?

You can copy the image URL from Google Images, but it often points to a webpage rather than the direct file. Right-click the image and select “Open image in new tab” to get the direct URL. Be aware of copyright — only use images you have the right to use.

How do I use multiple images in one prompt?

Paste each direct URL separated by a space, then add your text prompt. Midjourney will blend the images together. You can also use the web interface’s upload to add multiple images.

Why does my image get cropped in the output?

Midjourney generates square images by default. If your source image is not square, it will be cropped to fit. Crop your image to a square before uploading, or use the --ar parameter to set a different aspect ratio (e.g., --ar 16:9).

Can I edit an uploaded image, like changing just the background?

Yes, but you need to describe the change clearly in your text prompt, and use a low image weight (--iw 0.5) to allow Midjourney to modify the image. For precise edits, you may need to use a separate image editor first.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.