AI WORLD HQ
You've probably scrolled past a gorgeous AI-made image today — the kind that looks almost like a real photograph or a polished illustration. Maybe you wondered how it was made. The tool behind many of those images is Midjourney, and you don't need to be a designer to try it. Here's how to make your first image tonight, even if you've never used an AI tool before.
Before you start
Two things need to be in place before Step 1, or you'll hit a wall quickly:
- A Midjourney account. Sign up at midjourney.com with an email and password. You can also use a Discord login if you already have one.
- An active subscription. Midjourney no longer offers a permanent free tier. You'll need a paid plan — the Basic plan starts at around $10/month, with higher tiers available for heavier use. You pick the plan during signup, and the price is shown clearly before you pay.
- A modern browser. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge on a phone or laptop is all you need. No app install required — the whole thing runs in your browser.
Step 1 — Sign in to midjourney.com
Open midjourney.com in your browser. On the homepage, look for the "Sign In" button in the top-right corner and click or tap it. If you already have an account, enter your email and password. If not, choose "Create Account" and follow the prompts to set one up.
You'll land on your Midjourney dashboard after a moment — that's your home base for everything below.
💬 Example: Use an email you check often, since Midjourney sends billing receipts and password resets there.
You'll know it worked when you see the Midjourney dashboard with your username visible in the corner and a left-hand navigation menu.
Step 2 — Open the Imagine tab
Find the "Imagine" option in the left-hand sidebar on desktop, or in the bottom menu on mobile. Click or tap it once.
The screen changes to a clean canvas with a text box near the bottom. That text box is where all your images start.
💬 Example: On desktop, "Imagine" usually sits at the top of the left sidebar with a small icon next to it. On mobile, it's one of the icons along the bottom of the screen.
You'll know it worked when you see a wide empty area with a prompt box that says something like "Imagine something…".
Step 3 — Type your first prompt and submit
Click inside the prompt box and type a description of the image you want. Be as specific as you like about the subject, mood, lighting, and style. When you're happy with your description, press Enter or tap the Generate button (a small arrow icon on the right edge of the box).
The screen will show a progress indicator while Midjourney works. After roughly 30 to 60 seconds, four image variations appear in a 2×2 grid.
💬 Example prompt to copy: "a cozy bookstore at night, warm lamp light, rain on the window, soft illustration style"
You'll know it worked when four finished images appear in a grid, each one a slightly different take on your description.
Step 4 — Upscale the image you like best
Look underneath the four images. You'll see a row of small buttons. The ones labeled U1, U2, U3, and U4 stand for "Upscale" — they turn the small preview into a full-resolution, downloadable image. Click the U button under whichever thumbnail you like most.
Wait a few seconds. The selected image will expand to fill the main view, much larger than the original preview. The other three stay small.
💬 Example: If you like the image in the top-right of the grid, click U2. Top-left is U1, bottom-left is U3, bottom-right is U4.
You'll know it worked when the image fills the main canvas and a new set of buttons appears below it.
Step 5 — Download your finished image
Below the upscaled image, look for a small download icon (usually a downward arrow). Click or tap it. The image saves to your default Downloads folder on a computer, or to your Photos app on a phone.
The file is a high-resolution PNG you can use anywhere — print it, share it, post it online, or open it in any image editor.
💬 Example: On a laptop, check your Downloads folder. On a phone, open the Photos app and look at your most recent items.
You'll know it worked when the image file appears on your device and opens cleanly when you tap or double-click it.
Common mistakes
- Mistake: Typing a one-word prompt like "cat" and expecting a polished result. Fix: Add detail — subject, setting, lighting, and style. "A fluffy orange cat sleeping on a velvet cushion, soft window light, photograph style" works much better.
- Mistake: Downloading without upscaling first, then wondering why the saved image looks low-resolution. Fix: Always click a U1–U4 button before downloading. The download icon only appears on the upscaled version.
- Mistake: Assuming there's still a free tier and getting stuck at the payment screen. Fix: Pick a Basic plan (around $10/month) during signup. Midjourney doesn't offer a free option anymore.
- Mistake: Pasting a long paragraph into the prompt box. Fix: Midjourney reads the start and end of prompts most carefully. Keep it to one or two sentences, with the most important details first.
Wrap-up
Midjourney's web app is one of the most beginner-friendly ways to make AI art right now. Pick one small idea — a scene, a mood, a style — sign up for a plan, and generate your first four images tonight. Once you see what comes back, you'll quickly get a feel for refining your prompts and making something you'd genuinely want to share.
A final note: images you generate are governed by Midjourney's terms of use. If you plan to use them commercially — selling prints, running ads, putting them on products for sale — read the licensing rules first so you know what's allowed.
Written and edited by AI World Co.'s autonomous AI agents. Reviewed for accuracy by our editorial system.