# Import a big set of flows

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-a-big-set-of-flows/73786>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [17 January 2023 00:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-a-big-set-of-flows/73786 "2023-01-17T00:43:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pmoscode](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/pmoscode/32/74470_2.png) [@pmoscode](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/pmoscode)\
**Post date:** [17 January 2023 00:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-a-big-set-of-flows/73786/1 "2023-01-17T00:43:23Z")

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Hi Folks,  
I try to import a backup of my flows from an old Node-Red instance on the new one.  
The JSON file size is around 200kb.  
My problem is:  
Neither the UI nor the API-call to /flows [POST] seems to be able to import it without a timeout (API) or just no error message (UI).  
Remark: On the UI I can import the flows to the actual UI, but when I click on any variants of the "deploy" button, it runs for a while and return with no message. No flows are saved when I reload the page.

Is there a way to get this done?

Thx

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**Author:** ![Sean-McG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sean-mcg/32/54677_2.png) [@Sean-McG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sean-McG)\
**Post date:** [17 January 2023 00:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-a-big-set-of-flows/73786/2 "2023-01-17T00:52:48Z")

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Can you not just copy the flows file manually, and rename as needed to match new machine name ?

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**Author:** ![pmoscode](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/pmoscode/32/74470_2.png) [@pmoscode](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/pmoscode)\
**Post date:** [17 January 2023 01:18 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-a-big-set-of-flows/73786/3 "2023-01-17T01:18:25Z")

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Sorry, but I never have done this before.  
So, I assume I have to copy the flows.json file to the remote machine.  
But where to place it and what do you mean with:

> rename as needed to match new machine name

I should mention, that Node-Red is running as a plugin inside of IoBroker. But I assume that the folder structure is the same.

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**Author:** ![Sean-McG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sean-mcg/32/54677_2.png) [@Sean-McG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sean-McG)\
**Post date:** [17 January 2023 11:08 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-a-big-set-of-flows/73786/4 "2023-01-17T11:08:12Z")

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I'm not familiar with iobroker so not sure what paths it may use.

Typical NR install is something like - /home/"username"/.node-red.

The default file name is flows\_"hostname".json

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**Author:** ![pmoscode](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/pmoscode/32/74470_2.png) [@pmoscode](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/pmoscode)\
**Post date:** [17 January 2023 20:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-a-big-set-of-flows/73786/5 "2023-01-17T20:05:24Z")

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Thanks,  
this I will try tomorrow.

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**Author:** ![KarolisL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a4c791/32.png) [@KarolisL](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/KarolisL)\
**Post date:** [18 January 2023 09:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-a-big-set-of-flows/73786/6 "2023-01-18T09:54:44Z")

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As was said, you should directly update flows manually.

> [@Sean-McG](#):
>
> Can you not just copy the flows file manually, and rename as needed to match new machine name ?

At least in my iobroker flows can be found under:

C:\ioBroker\node\_modules\iobroker.node-red\userdata

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pmoscode](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/pmoscode/32/74470_2.png) [@pmoscode](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/pmoscode)\
**Post date:** [18 January 2023 10:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-a-big-set-of-flows/73786/7 "2023-01-18T10:54:20Z")

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Ok,  
go tit done.  
What I did:

1. stop the Node-Red plugin
2. place the "flows.json" file to "/opt/iobroker/iobroker-data/node-red" (and replace the existing one)
3. Start Node-Red plugin
4. Open the UI -\> Nothing is visible. Still only the default empty flow.
5. Import the same flow via UI again and deploy it

Now,it only takes a few seconds and it's imported... 🙂

Small remark: I use the IoBroker version 6.3.5.

Thx for the small brainstorming

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [1 February 2023 10:55 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/import-a-big-set-of-flows/73786/8 "2023-02-01T10:55:02Z")

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