Midjourney Not Generating Images – 8 Proven Fixes (2026)

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Midjourney not generating images is a frustrating issue that stops your creative workflow in its tracks. When this occurs, your prompts fail to produce any visual output. This guide covers every possible cause and provides clear steps to resolve Midjourney not generating images quickly.

For more AI troubleshooting guides, visit our AI Tools Troubleshooting Hub. You can also check our guide on ChatGPT errors if you are experiencing similar issues with other AI tools.

For additional help, refer to Midjourney’s official status page and test your internet speed at Fast.com to check your connection quality.

Featured Snippet: To resolve Midjourney not generating images, start by checking Midjourney’s server status and verifying your subscription is active. If that does not work, check Discord bot permissions, restart Discord, or simplify your prompt. For persistent issues, try switching to Fast mode or re-inviting the Midjourney bot.

Why Midjourney Fails to Generate Images

Several factors can cause the Midjourney not generating images problem. About 90% of the time when Midjourney seems broken, the problem isn’t Midjourney—it’s Discord, a queue backup, or a server incident[reference:0]. Understanding the root cause helps you apply the right fix.

Here are the most common reasons why this issue happens:

  • Server Outages: Midjourney’s generation service or API may be experiencing downtime or degraded performance[reference:1].
  • Expired or Paused Subscription: Your plan may be marked as “Paused” due to a payment failure[reference:2].
  • Bot Permission Issues: The Midjourney bot may not have the required permissions in your Discord server[reference:3].
  • Queue Backups: During peak hours, generation times can extend significantly[reference:4].
  • Prompt Errors: Unsupported characters, improper formatting, or triggering content filters can stop generation[reference:5].
  • Reference Image Issues: Expired Discord links or oversized files can cause failures[reference:6].

💡 Quick Tip: Start by checking Midjourney’s server status—this resolves the issue for many users when the problem is on Midjourney’s end.

Method 1: Check Midjourney Server Status

Before troubleshooting your own setup, verify if the problem is on Midjourney’s end. Server issues will be recovered automatically, usually within about two hours[reference:7].

  1. Visit Midjourney’s official status page.
  2. Look for any components showing “Degraded Performance” or “Partial Outage”[reference:8].
  3. Check the Midjourney Discord server’s #status channel for more granular updates[reference:9].
  4. If an outage is confirmed, wait for automatic recovery and try again later.

✅ Expected Result: After confirming server status, you can either wait for Midjourney to fix the issue or proceed with local troubleshooting.

⚠️ Important Warning: No amount of prompt tweaking or Discord channel-hopping will fix a backend outage[reference:10]. Wait for official updates from Midjourney.

Method 2: Verify Your Subscription is Active

An expired or paused subscription is a common cause of Midjourney not generating images. If your subscription doesn’t renew because of a payment failure, your plan will be marked as “Paused”[reference:11].

  1. Type /info in any channel where the Midjourney bot is present.
  2. Check the “Subscription” field—it should show “Active”[reference:12].
  3. If it shows “Expired” or “None,” type /subscribe to get the payment page link[reference:13].
  4. Complete the payment process and wait a few minutes for the subscription to activate.
  5. Try generating an image again.

✅ Expected Result: After reactivating your subscription, Midjourney not generating images resolves and you can generate images again.

⚠️ Additional Note: Midjourney V7 has completely closed free trial access—unsubscribed accounts cannot even trigger basic commands[reference:14]. Visa international credit cards are the primary supported payment method.

Method 3: Check Bot Permissions in Discord

If the Midjourney bot isn’t responding to your commands, the most common cause is missing permissions[reference:15].

  1. In your Discord server, go to Server Settings > Roles.
  2. Find the Midjourney Bot role and ensure these permissions are enabled[reference:16]:
    • Send Messages
    • Embed Links
    • Attach Files
    • Read Message History
    • Add Reactions
    • Use Application Commands (critical for slash commands)[reference:17]
  3. Verify the bot’s online status—the avatar should show green, not gray[reference:18].
  4. Type /info to confirm the bot is listening. If it responds, the bot is functional[reference:19].

✅ Expected Result: After enabling the correct permissions, the Midjourney not generating images issue resolves and commands work again.

💡 Common Mistake: Many users assume that adding the bot is enough. However, the bot does not have read message permissions by default—you must manually enable them[reference:20].

Method 4: Restart Discord or Refresh Your Session

Temporary glitches in Discord can cause the Midjourney not generating images issue. Restarting Discord or refreshing your session often resolves the problem[reference:21].

  1. For Desktop: Close all Discord windows completely, then relaunch the app[reference:22].
  2. For Mobile: Force close the Discord app from recent apps, wait a few seconds, and reopen[reference:23].
  3. If the issue persists, try logging out and logging back in.
  4. You can also try refreshing your Discord session by pressing Ctrl+R (Windows) or Cmd+R (Mac) inside Discord.

✅ Expected Result: After restarting Discord, the Midjourney not generating images issue resolves and commands work again.

Method 5: Review and Simplify Your Prompt

The “creation failed, something went wrong” error in Midjourney is typically related to content moderation or temporary server issues[reference:24]. Sometimes a slight modification in wording can help bypass the false positive flagging system[reference:25].

  1. Review your prompt against Midjourney’s community guidelines—avoid:
    • Disrespectful or aggressive content[reference:26]
    • Names of real people or celebrities[reference:27]
    • Adult or gore content[reference:28]
  2. Simplify your prompt by removing unnecessary words or special characters[reference:29].
  3. Check for unsupported characters or hidden formatting copied from external sources[reference:30].
  4. Try changing the image or your prompt and attempt again[reference:31].

✅ Expected Result: After modifying your prompt, the Midjourney not generating images issue resolves and generation proceeds.

⚠️ Important Warning: Even safe prompts can be mistakenly flagged by the bot[reference:32]. If you’re certain your prompt doesn’t violate guidelines, try again later or modify your wording slightly.

Method 6: Check Image Reference URL and File Size

When using image references (–sref or –cref), expired Discord links or oversized files can cause Midjourney not generating images[reference:33].

  1. Verify the reference image URL by pasting it into a browser—if it shows a 404 or “Missing Access” page, the link has expired[reference:34].
  2. For local image uploads, ensure:
    • File size is ≤5 MB[reference:35]
    • Shortest side is ≥1024px[reference:36]
  3. For V7 users, check that the –iw parameter is between 0.25 and 2.0 (in multiples of 0.25)[reference:37].
  4. Re-upload the image to Discord and copy a fresh URL.

✅ Expected Result: After fixing the image reference, the Midjourney not generating images issue resolves.

⚠️ Additional Note: Files over 5MB will trigger an error without any explicit error message[reference:38]. Always check your file size before uploading.

Method 7: Switch to Fast Mode or Change Server Region

Queue backups during peak hours can cause Midjourney not generating images delays. Switching to Fast mode or waiting for off-peak hours can help[reference:39].

  1. Check your remaining Fast hours with /info command[reference:40].
  2. Use /settings to confirm you’re in Fast mode. Fast mode cuts typical wait times roughly in half[reference:41].
  3. If you’re on a Standard or above plan, consider Turbo mode for rapid iteration (costs 2x Fast hours but generates significantly faster)[reference:42].
  4. Schedule heavy generation sessions for off-peak hours (midnight to 9am Eastern) when queue times are dramatically shorter[reference:43].

✅ Expected Result: After switching to Fast mode or waiting for off-peak hours, the Midjourney not generating images issue resolves.

💡 What Happens Next: A 90-second generation time isn’t a bug—it’s normal for V7 at off-peak hours. During peak usage, you can expect an additional minute or two in queue[reference:44].

Method 8: Re-invite the Midjourney Bot

If none of the above methods resolve the Midjourney not generating images issue, the connection between your Discord account and the Midjourney bot may be corrupted[reference:45].

  1. Right-click on the Midjourney bot in Discord.
  2. Select “Remove” or “Uninvite” from your server[reference:46].
  3. Close the DM window and wait 5-10 minutes[reference:47].
  4. Go to the Midjourney website and click “Join Discord” to get a new invite link[reference:48].
  5. Accept the invitation and re-add the bot to your server[reference:49].
  6. Test by typing /imagine to confirm the bot is working.

✅ Expected Result: After re-inviting the bot, the Midjourney not generating images issue resolves and generation works again.

⚠️ Note: This reset process clears any corrupted connection between your Discord account and the Midjourney bot[reference:50].

Conclusion: Resolving the Image Generation Issue

When Midjourney not generating images occurs, start by checking the server status and verifying your subscription. Most cases resolve quickly by checking bot permissions, restarting Discord, or simplifying your prompt. If the problem persists, try switching to Fast mode or re-inviting the Midjourney bot. The Midjourney not generating images problem is often temporary and can be resolved with the right troubleshooting steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Midjourney not generating images?

Midjourney not generating images typically occurs due to server outages, expired subscriptions, bot permission issues, or prompt errors. Start by checking the server status to resolve the issue.

How do I check if Midjourney is down?

Visit status.midjourney.com to check server status. You can also check the #status channel in the Midjourney Discord server for real-time updates[reference:51].

Can a VPN cause Midjourney not generating images?

Yes. VPNs can route your traffic inefficiently, causing delays or blocks[reference:52]. Try disconnecting your VPN to see if it resolves the issue.

Why does Midjourney say “creation failed, something went wrong”?

This error is typically related to content moderation or temporary server issues[reference:53]. Review your prompt against community guidelines and try again later[reference:54].

Does Midjourney V7 still have free trials?

No. Midjourney V7 has completely closed free trial access. Unsubscribed accounts cannot even trigger basic commands[reference:55]. A paid subscription is required.

How do I fix the “Midjourney bot not responding” issue?

Type /info to check if the bot is functional[reference:56]. If it doesn’t respond, check bot permissions in your server settings and ensure the bot has “Use Application Commands” enabled[reference:57].

What file formats and sizes does Midjourney support for image references?

Image references must be ≤5 MB with a shortest side ≥1024px[reference:58]. For V7, the –iw parameter must be between 0.25 and 2.0 in 0.25 increments[reference:59].

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