How to Download Weights

Learn how Roboflow automatically handles model weight downloads so you can focus on building, not infrastructure.

Overview

Roboflow Inference is our recommended package for running inference. Model weights are downloaded and cached automatically—no manual setup required. Whether you're using InferencePipeline, the SDK client, or loading models directly, Roboflow fetches and caches your weights behind the scenes the first time you run inference.

How It Works

When you make your first inference request, Roboflow:

1. Downloads the model weights from Roboflow's cloud servers

2. Caches them locally on your machine

3. Reuses the cached weights for all future requests

This happens seamlessly across all methods of using Roboflow:

• InferencePipeline – Weights download when you start the pipeline. Use InferencePipeline for video inference on webcams, RTSP streams, and video files.

• Workflows – Weights download when your workflow executes for the first time

• SDK Client – Weights download on your first prediction call

• Direct Model Loading – Weights download when the model initializes

What This Means for You

You don't need to manage weight files, configure download paths, or worry about versioning. Just write your inference code and run it—Roboflow takes care of the rest.