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Grok Imagine is xAI's built-in image and video generation tool, accessible through grok.com and the X app. It runs on xAI's Aurora engine, offering Speed and Quality generation modes, reference-based editing, and short AI videos with synced audio. As of March 2026, full access requires a paid plan starting at $8/month — the free tier no longer includes image or video generation.
What Is Grok Imagine?
Grok Imagine is xAI's generative media system, built into the Grok app and accessible via web, X, and the Grok API. It turns text prompts (and optional reference images) into still images or short videos, supports instruction-based editing of existing images, and can chain video clips together into longer sequences. It's positioned as a fast, unified alternative to tools like Midjourney (image-only) or Sora (video-only), since it handles both in one interface.
Features
Image generation
Grok Imagine produces images at 1K or 2K resolution across multiple aspect ratios (1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 4:3, 3:4, 3:2, 2:3, and auto, with wider ratios like 20:9/9:20 available on some model tiers). It's built for photorealistic detail — natural lighting, accurate textures — and handles legible text rendering inside images better than most competing models, provided the exact text is written in capital letters in the prompt.
Video generation & extension
Video clips are generated from a text prompt or a starting image, with context-aware audio generated alongside the visuals rather than a generic soundtrack layered on top. A clip-extension feature lets you chain generations together, with each new segment picking up where the last one ended, so you can build longer sequences from short clips rather than a single long render. Output resolution has moved from 480p toward 720p as the model has been updated through 2026, with higher tiers rolling out over time. Alongside the standard Normal mode, xAI also offers a separate creative mode with looser content restrictions for mature output; access to it depends on account settings and region, and it carries its own moderation rules.
Quality mode vs. Speed mode
Launched in April 2026, these are the two core generation settings:
- Speed mode — fast, continuous generation, prioritizing low latency over fine detail.
- Quality mode — slower, generates a smaller batch at a time, with noticeably better lighting, texture detail, and text rendering. xAI has also been rolling out a Professional/Pro mode aimed at enterprise and API users needing consistent, brand-accurate output.
Remix feature
From any generated image or video, you can create new variations by swiping through alternate takes or feeding the result back in as a new starting point/reference. This lets you iterate on a result you like without starting the prompt from scratch.
Editing existing images
Grok Imagine accepts one or more reference images alongside a natural-language instruction (e.g., "change the background to a beach at sunset, keep the lighting on the subject the same") and edits accordingly. Multi-image editing lets you reference several images in a single instruction to combine or compare elements across them.
Favorites manager
Generated images and videos can be saved to a Favorites page (grok.com/imagine/favorites) for later access. It's a lightweight save/organize feature rather than a full asset library — there's no official bulk-export tool built in, though community-built, third-party browser extensions exist for downloading and organizing saved favorites in bulk (these are unofficial and not maintained by xAI).
What's new in Grok Imagine 2.0 / Pro mode
xAI announced Grok Imagine 1.5 in June 2026, built on a newer "Aurora-2" engine with higher native resolution and improved audio-video sync. There's no officially confirmed "Grok Imagine 2.0" as of this writing — treat that version number as unverified until xAI publishes it directly. Pro mode has been rolling out gradually to API/enterprise users first, focused on consistent, on-brand output at scale, with broader consumer availability expected to follow.
Prompting (Parameters & Best Practices)
Grok Imagine doesn't use Midjourney-style inline flags like --ar or --stylize typed into the prompt itself. Instead, settings are chosen through the UI (aspect ratio picker, mode toggle) or passed as separate parameters via the API.
Parameter reference table
Setting Where it's set Values / Notes Aspect ratio UI dropdown / aspect_ratio (API) 1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 4:3, 3:4, 3:2, 2:3, auto (wider ratios on some tiers) Resolution UI toggle / resolution (API) 1k, 2k (images); 480p–720p (video) Output count API only n parameter, up to 10 outputs per request Mode UI toggle / boolean (API) Speed (fast) vs. Quality (detailed, slower) Reference images Upload in UI / image array (API) Up to 3 references; reference with @image1, @image2, etc. Exact on-image text Typed directly in prompt Write the desired text in ALL CAPS for literal rendering
Example prompts by category
- Portrait/photo realism: describe subject, age, setting, specific lighting direction, and a lens/aperture reference (e.g., "shot on a 50mm f/1.8 lens, shallow depth of field") — concrete photographic details outperform vague style words.
- Product shots: describe the product, surface, and background light source precisely, and leave negative space if the image is for an ad or package with text overlay.
- Text-in-image: write the exact wording in capital letters within the prompt (e.g., a sign reading OPEN 24 HOURS) rather than describing that there should be "some text."
- Video from a photo: describe one clear action plus camera movement in a single sentence — one action per clip tends to render more reliably than multiple actions stacked together.
Common prompting mistakes
- Vague, one-word style tags instead of concrete lighting/lens/composition detail.
- Describing text ("a sign with a slogan") instead of writing the literal text in capitals.
- Not selecting an aspect ratio before generating, leading to awkward crops later.
- Chaining too many video extensions without re-anchoring the subject description, which can drift the character or scene over several segments.
- Packing multiple actions into one video prompt instead of one clear action per clip.
Image Moderation
Like most mainstream image/video generators, Grok Imagine applies content filters before or after generation. Broad categories that commonly trigger moderation include: sexual or exploitative content, real identifiable people depicted in fabricated or misleading scenarios, graphic violence, content mimicking copyrighted characters or trademarks, and material that could facilitate harm. Moderation criteria and thresholds are set by xAI and change over time, so a prompt that was allowed previously may not always behave the same way later.
How to revise a prompt to get it approved
- Replace real named people with generic descriptions ("a woman in her 30s" instead of a celebrity's name).
- Avoid explicit, violent, or harm-related descriptors — describe mood and setting instead of graphic detail.
- Use original character concepts rather than copyrighted franchise characters.
- If a video extension gets flagged, try regenerating the specific segment rather than the whole sequence, since moderation is often applied per-clip.
How to appeal or contact support
If you believe a moderation decision was a false positive, use the in-app feedback/report option on the flagged item, or reach out through xAI's official support channel at help.x.ai or the Grok support contact on X. Include the prompt and, if possible, a screenshot of the moderation notice — appeals are reviewed manually and aren't instant.
How to Access Grok Imagine (Web, Desktop, PC)
1. Accessing via Grok.com / browser
The primary way to use Grok Imagine is through grok.com in any modern browser — no separate installer is required. Sign in with an X account or supported email login, then open the Imagine tab.
2. Desktop app availability
There isn't a dedicated standalone desktop application for Grok Imagine specifically; on PC and Mac, access is through the browser version of grok.com, or through the X desktop app where Grok is integrated.
3. Mobile access
Grok Imagine is available inside the Grok app (iOS/Android) and inside the X app, where it's bundled for X Premium subscribers. Feature availability (like the mature-content mode) can differ by app and region.
4. Regional/account requirements
Some features — particularly looser-moderation creative modes — require age verification and are geographically restricted based on local regulations. If a feature appears greyed out, check your account's region and age-verification status before assuming it's a bug.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
1. "Server failed to respond" fix
This usually means a temporary load issue rather than a problem with your account. Refresh the page, check your internet connection, wait a minute and retry, and if it persists, try switching networks (Wi-Fi to mobile data) or clearing your browser cache.
2. Checking if Grok Imagine is down
Check xAI's official status channels or search for recent posts from the @grok or @xai accounts on X, which typically post acknowledgment of outages quickly. Third-party outage-tracking sites can also confirm if the issue is widespread rather than local to your device.
3. How to delete your history/videos
Open your Favorites/History page inside Grok Imagine, select the item, and use the delete/unfavorite option. For full account-level data deletion, use the data/privacy settings in your X or Grok account settings, where you can request removal of generated content tied to your account.
