# Export flows form one device to an other one

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/export-flows-form-one-device-to-an-other-one/21974>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [19 February 2020 11:00 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/export-flows-form-one-device-to-an-other-one/21974 "2020-02-19T11:00:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mike67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@mike67](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/mike67)\
**Post date:** [19 February 2020 11:00 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/export-flows-form-one-device-to-an-other-one/21974/1 "2020-02-19T11:00:37Z")

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Hello  
i read something in the past that if i need to export flows from one device, and insert them in an other device, the credentials, passwords, etc... are lost.  
But i think there is a way to make nodeRed work in the same way about the security/credentials on several machines, so that a flow created on one device acn be imported on an other one without loosing anything.  
But how to do this?  
Thanks

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**Author:** ![Andrei](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/andrei/32/10446_2.png) [@Andrei](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Andrei)\
**Post date:** [19 February 2020 11:14 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/export-flows-form-one-device-to-an-other-one/21974/2 "2020-02-19T11:14:58Z")

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> [@Export functionality clears node properties](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/export-functionality-clears-node-properties/3470/4):
>
> If you have full access to the server file system then of course you can copy anything. The flows\_{name}\_cred.json file contains the encrypted credentials for the flows\_{name}.json flow file.

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**Author:** ![Christian-Me](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/christian-me/32/10774_2.png) [@Christian-Me](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Christian-Me)\
**Post date:** [19 February 2020 11:29 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/export-flows-form-one-device-to-an-other-one/21974/3 "2020-02-19T11:29:54Z")

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Or use projects and transfer via GitHub. If you have done the setup once it is a very convenient way including version control.  
I use it for transfers between my develomnent laptop and my server.  
And if anybody lives under as stone 😉 you don’t have to share your project with the rest of the world. Thank you microsoft! Don’t know why you got so generous these days 👍

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**Author:** ![mike67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@mike67](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/mike67)\
**Post date:** [19 February 2020 12:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/export-flows-form-one-device-to-an-other-one/21974/4 "2020-02-19T12:33:35Z")

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hello

and where is this file,

From:  
"Andrei Ochmat  
via Node-RED Forum" [nodered@discoursemail.com](mailto:nodered@discoursemail.com)

To:  
[mschneider@phoenixcontact.fr](mailto:mschneider@phoenixcontact.fr),

Date:  
19/02/2020 12:31

Subject:  
[Node-RED Forum]  
[General] Export flows form one device to an other one

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Andrei](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/andrei/32/10446_2.png) [@Andrei](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Andrei)\
**Post date:** [19 February 2020 12:38 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/export-flows-form-one-device-to-an-other-one/21974/5 "2020-02-19T12:38:56Z")

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> [@mike67](#):
>
> and where is this file,

In Node-RED (hidden) home directory:

**~/.node-red/flows\_{computer\_name}\_cred.json**

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**Author:** ![knolleary](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/knolleary/32/3_2.png) [@knolleary](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/knolleary)\
**Post date:** [19 February 2020 12:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/export-flows-form-one-device-to-an-other-one/21974/6 "2020-02-19T12:42:39Z")

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To be more precise, Node-RED logs the full name of the file it is using when it starts.

And when you come to copy it, you _must_ also copy the matching \_creds file - as that is what holds the credentials that the editor cannot export.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [19 April 2020 12:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/export-flows-form-one-device-to-an-other-one/21974/7 "2020-04-19T12:42:44Z")

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