# Missing flow. variables

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/missing-flow-variables/52327>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [17 October 2021 15:51 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/missing-flow-variables/52327 "2021-10-17T15:51:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![biros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@biros](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/biros)\
**Post date:** [17 October 2021 15:51 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/missing-flow-variables/52327/1 "2021-10-17T15:51:01Z")

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Hello,  
While I have quite a few, flow variables disappeared.  
Version 2.0.6;

![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/a/e/ae7d04b007232ca180f6a8c76ef6e6a15f9314eb.png)

Am I doing something wrong? I haven't really changed anything node red wise in the last couple of months just updated it continuously.  
Today I enabled context storage in the settings, but they were already gone before this so really i have no idea what's happening.  
Thank you in advance for any input.

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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:** [17 October 2021 17:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/missing-flow-variables/52327/2 "2021-10-17T17:03:13Z")

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If you hadn't previously enabled context storage then the values were only ever held in memory. Each time you restart Node-RED they would be lost.

Beyond that, there is not much more we can say without more information on what you are expecting to see and what you are doing with flow context.

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**Author:** ![ghayne](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/ghayne/32/39_2.png) [@ghayne](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ghayne)\
**Post date:** [17 October 2021 18:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/missing-flow-variables/52327/3 "2021-10-17T18:09:12Z")

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> [@knolleary](#):
>
> If you hadn't previously enabled context storage then the values were only ever held in memory. Each time you restart Node-RED they would be lost.

@knolleary , is there a reason why context storage isn't enabled by default?

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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:** [17 October 2021 18:46 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/missing-flow-variables/52327/4 "2021-10-17T18:46:16Z")

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> [@ghayne](#):
>
> is there a reason why context storage i

Because originally context didn't have any storage option - so to change it to persistent by default would be a breaking change in behaviour. That's something we'd only contemplate on a major version change - and it didn't come up as something to consider for 2.0.

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**Author:** ![ghayne](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/ghayne/32/39_2.png) [@ghayne](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ghayne)\
**Post date:** [17 October 2021 19:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/missing-flow-variables/52327/5 "2021-10-17T19:27:18Z")

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Thanks for the explanation!

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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:** [16 December 2021 19:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/missing-flow-variables/52327/6 "2021-12-16T19:27:44Z")

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