# How "difficult" is it to install NR on an Android phone?

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-difficult-is-it-to-install-nr-on-an-android-phone/100234>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [24 January 2026 08:40 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-difficult-is-it-to-install-nr-on-an-android-phone/100234 "2026-01-24T08:40:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [24 January 2026 08:40 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-difficult-is-it-to-install-nr-on-an-android-phone/100234/1 "2026-01-24T08:40:09Z")

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(Ok, I have been offered this topic)

> [@Problem in installing node-red on android](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/problem-in-installing-node-red-on-android/638):
>
> i get this error when trying to install node-red on android: cannot read property ‘length’ of undefined this error shown when i type: npm i -g --unsafe-perm node-red

Android V14.

That thread I mentioned shows _how_ to install it, but I am missing something.

To me, I would need CLI access at/in/to the phone.

That's beyond me.  
(Maybe not for this forum, but......)

But as I'm kinda known here, I thought I'd ask.

I'm asking because I used to use another program and wrote apps for it, but then _THEY_ stuffed up the O/S and my apps stopped working/are no longer supported.

This (maybe/probably) leads to the next **obvious** question:

What can and can't NR do to/with the phone?  
Access GPS?  
Turn on WiFi/Mobile data?  
MQTT is/was a big thing I use.

Send SMS?  
Dial numbers?  
Control other stuff?

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**Author:** ![E1cid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/e1cid/32/77971_2.png) [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)\
**Post date:** [24 January 2026 08:56 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-difficult-is-it-to-install-nr-on-an-android-phone/100234/2 "2026-01-24T08:56:52Z")

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Fairly easy to install using the install procedure here [Running on Android : Node-RED](https://nodered.org/docs/getting-started/android)  
You need to install termux using fdroid not google store.

Here is a good install and start up readme. [Android - termux - Playstore no longer a recommended install source - #5 by btsimonh](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/android-termux-playstore-no-longer-a-recommended-install-source/85034/5)

As to other questions yes to all. you will need to install termux api app, then you can send messages call phone number etc using the exec node.  
You will need to learn about termux, there is a lot of information out there on the web though.

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**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [24 January 2026 08:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-difficult-is-it-to-install-nr-on-an-android-phone/100234/3 "2026-01-24T08:59:19Z")

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Appreciated.

I did see I need that program `termux`.

Reading that thread.

Another vertical learning curve on which I am about to embark. 😉

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**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [24 January 2026 12:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-difficult-is-it-to-install-nr-on-an-android-phone/100234/4 "2026-01-24T12:37:49Z")

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> [@Trying\_to\_learn](#):
>
> Another vertical learning curve on which I am about to embark

Do let us know how you get on.

In my view, development for mobiles is a complete mess. It should be easy - but isn't. Most things are locked behind proprietary development tools. Mobile really needs the equivalent of Electron.

One day, I hope to have more time to look into web apps for mobile devices. With the right setup, there ARE web API's for accessing many mobile functions such as locations and this would fit in nicely with UIBUILDER of course. But it is yet another set of rabbit holes to go down.

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**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [24 January 2026 15:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-difficult-is-it-to-install-nr-on-an-android-phone/100234/5 "2026-01-24T15:24:05Z")

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OK, couldn't resist.

> [@UIBUILDER Offline Mobile web apps](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/uibuilder-offline-mobile-web-apps/100238):
>
> Oh boy, I was really triggered me with this thread! rofl So I decided to have another go at doing an offline capable mobile web app using UIBUILDER. But this time, instead of trying to do the horrible, complex manifest and worker's, I used Vite with the vite-plugin-pwa plugin which uses Google Workbox to do some of the heavy lifting. A couple of hours later - shazam! I have a working (very simplistic) version. Complete with a call to the browser's location API. No frameworks i…

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**Author:** ![btsimonh](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/btsimonh/32/3318_2.png) [@btsimonh](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/btsimonh)\
**Post date:** [26 January 2026 10:47 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-difficult-is-it-to-install-nr-on-an-android-phone/100234/6 "2026-01-26T10:47:16Z")

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Beware of termux and battery use... I installed NR over termux on an old tablet, which I intended to have powered all the time, and use as my house NR. Now I don't use it, I have to make sure that I turn off the tablet between uses :). I've not yet found a way to reliably terminate termux's sleep lock (but not looked too hard).

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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:** [9 February 2026 10:48 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-difficult-is-it-to-install-nr-on-an-android-phone/100234/7 "2026-02-09T10:48:14Z")

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