# 🎉 Node-RED 5 Beta 4 released

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582>\
**Category:** News\
**Tags:** docker\
**Created:** [17 March 2026 14:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582 "2026-03-17T14:26:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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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 March 2026 14:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/1 "2026-03-17T14:26:17Z")

</div>

🎉 The fourth **beta** release of Node-RED 5 is now available!

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/1/4/14bbb27bcd36d5dbc36873017150afec17543a74.png)

This release has had a lot of small UX updates, addressing feedback from the previous beta and continuing to edge closer to the final design.

The changelog lists out all of the PRs in this release: [node-red/CHANGELOG.md at dev · node-red/node-red · GitHub](https://github.com/node-red/node-red/blob/dev/CHANGELOG.md)

### Install-free Demo

If you have a WebKit-based browser (eg Chrome), you can preview the release here:

> **[Node-RED Preview](https://dev--node-red-preview.netlify.app/)**

### Notable changes

- The reorder of sidebar buttons is much smoother and responsive now.
- The long row of buttons handle narrower screen sizes
- Shift-scroll now behaves properly for all browsers/OS
- The dropdown menus now scroll if there's not enough vertical space for them, and are more touch-accessible.
- Restored the behaviour of clicking the workspace to close (confirm) the edit dialog. We'd had enough feedback that removing that behaviour wasn't the right choice. We do have an open PR to give users the choice of the behaviour - but I'd prefer we didn't add lots of micro choices and customisations if we can avoid it. So we'll keep that PR in the pocket for now.
- A tinted shade when dialogs are open

This last item is likely to cause debate. I knew there were some issues with the shade we showed when the edit dialog was open. In debugging some of the overlapping/missing shades I added a coloured tint to make it easier to spot the issues as I was working. But I very quickly came to like the tinted shade. It provides a good contrast and adds some variety to the otherwise fairly monochrome editor.

What do you think?

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/7/7/7736adf84b89d9f9d0373e416371debbaa7784bf.jpeg)

* * *

## Installing the beta

If you want to try out the beta, you will need specify node-red@next when you use npm to update. Without the `@next` you'll still get 4.1.x

So on a Pi you'd do:

```auto
sudo npm install -g --unsafe-perm node-red@next

```

## Docker images

The beta images are available under `nodered/node-red-dev:v5.0.0-beta.4` - with the default image being based on **Node 24**.

## Reporting problems

If you hit any problems, please report them either as a reply on this topic, or in the #core-dev slack channel. Please do not post new topics to the forum regarding the beta as that could confuse users who are not using the beta.

## What's Next

The Node-RED 5.0 work is being tracked in [this issue](https://github.com/node-red/node-red/issues/5362). From there you'll find sub-issues for the various strands of activity going into Node-RED 5.

For the UX updates, you can follow [this issue](https://github.com/node-red/node-red/issues/5291) - with a number of sub-issues already raised for the next betas to address.

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**Author:** ![MyRandomThoughts](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/myrandomthoughts/32/41085_2.png) [@MyRandomThoughts](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/MyRandomThoughts)\
**Post date:** [17 March 2026 14:31 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/2 "2026-03-17T14:31:29Z")

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Another awesome release thanks.  
One thing I missed from the other betas is the new tab placement is cutting off the end of my instance name:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/6/f/6fe0aef5a609f3602d2fa26d9b81e4713bd559b2.png)

Not a major issue by any means, but when you have free text in the settings file, it may upset some people.

Obviously if I resize the left bar the full name appears, but this is with the default size.

```
editorTheme: {
    header: {
        title: "Node-RED -- DEVELOPMENT",
    },

```

Thanks

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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 March 2026 14:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/3 "2026-03-17T14:36:53Z")

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@MyRandomThoughts Yes, this was something I knew could be a problem when we moved the tabs up. On my list of things still to tackle.

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**Author:** ![kitwar](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/kitwar/32/55008_2.png) [@kitwar](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/kitwar)\
**Post date:** [17 March 2026 16:07 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/4 "2026-03-17T16:07:43Z")

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> [@knolleary](#):
>
> This last item is likely to cause debate.

Definitely. I actually really like it, very cool!

If that gets removed in the future, I'll mod my instances to use it.

I also notice the perfect top left edge alignment of the tabs, it was mentioned in the previous Beta by someone and I liked their comment.

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**Author:** ![Botched1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/botched1/32/21190_2.png) [@Botched1](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Botched1)\
**Post date:** [17 March 2026 16:22 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/5 "2026-03-17T16:22:15Z")

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> [@knolleary](#):
>
> A tinted shade when dialogs are open

I like it.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [17 March 2026 17:13 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/6 "2026-03-17T17:13:29Z")

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> [@knolleary](#):
>
> A tinted shade when dialogs are open

Pretty in Pink! 😃 Looks rather 1970's on my monitor to be honest. I think I had a shirt that colour back then. 🤣

Not an issue as long as it can easily be controlled via a style sheet.

> [@knolleary](#):
>
> a number of sub-issues already raised for the next betas to address

I couldn't find one that deals with the problem of not always being able to drag panel icons across the upper/lower panel boundary as I reported in the previous beta. Might be hidden in one of them?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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 March 2026 17:17 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/7 "2026-03-17T17:17:54Z")

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I refer the honorable gentleman to the first listed 'notable change':

> - The reorder of sidebar buttons is much smoother and responsive now.

I listed it first just for you 😉

This was the issue for the sidebar button reordering - [UX: reordering of sidebar buttons is fiddly and unreliable · Issue #5524 · node-red/node-red · GitHub](https://github.com/node-red/node-red/issues/5524). As noted, the fixes related to handling narrow screens appeared to kick things enough to resolve this issue as well.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [17 March 2026 17:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/8 "2026-03-17T17:19:27Z")

</div>

> [@knolleary](#):
>
> I refer the honorable gentleman to the first listed 'notable change':
> 
> > - The reorder of sidebar buttons is much smoother and responsive now.
> 
> I listed it first just for you 😉

Well, OK, thanks. 😃 But the issue remains so not so "notable" a change maybe?

* * *

Seems to be only the left-hand side now. If I drag the Explorer icon into the .... hold on, a vid would be better.

![Animation1](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/1/e/1e60d3f3c2d73ed08e53dc0c541823b16d5f7819.gif)

Note that the explorer cannot be dragged back unless it has been moved to the front of the top-panel list.

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**Author:** ![dceejay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dceejay/32/38_2.png) [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)\
**Post date:** [17 March 2026 22:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/9 "2026-03-17T22:09:41Z")

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Like the shade but think the zoom controls and update indicator should now have a solid background like the other bottom row buttons.  
( and easily edited colour choice for the shade would be good )

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**Author:** ![ralphwetzel](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/ralphwetzel/32/53713_2.png) [@ralphwetzel](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ralphwetzel)\
**Post date:** [18 March 2026 07:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/10 "2026-03-18T07:53:12Z")

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First of all: Great progress! 👍

> [@TotallyInformation](#):
>
> Seems to be only the left-hand side now.

There's a similar issue at the right hand button bar: If all buttons are in one bar, the edge button (left-most / right-most) when dragged (to the left / to the right) cannot trigger the creation of the second bar.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jbudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f8ce5/32.png) [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)\
**Post date:** [18 March 2026 11:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/11 "2026-03-18T11:42:14Z")

</div>

I think the button showing the logged in user ("admin") is an NR 5 feature?

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/9/5/957987b914dd332245a9657a0604a2fec6816121.png)

The popup is an unordered list, both username and "Logout" are link tags.  
If you click on the username it closes the popup, but right click and you get options including "Open link in a new tab", which indeed opens a new tab pointing to the first flow tab.

Now we can again close popups by clicking outside them (hooray!), is it better to make the username simple text?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [18 March 2026 12:56 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/12 "2026-03-18T12:56:08Z")

</div>

> [@jbudd](#):
>
> I think the button showing the logged in user ("admin") is an NR 5 feature?

No, it has been there since the very early days of NR 1.0. The menu and its contents haven't changed at all - but I agree there is scope for something better.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jbudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f8ce5/32.png) [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)\
**Post date:** [18 March 2026 12:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/13 "2026-03-18T12:59:36Z")

</div>

> [@knolleary](#):
>
> No, it has been there since the very early days of NR 1.0.

Ha. Shows how observant I am!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aaqu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/aaqu/32/101407_2.png) [@Aaqu](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Aaqu)\
**Post date:** [18 March 2026 13:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/14 "2026-03-18T13:45:41Z")

</div>

I updat

> [@dceejay](#):
>
> Like the shade but think the zoom controls and update indicator should now have a solid background like the other bottom row buttons.  
> ( and easily edited colour choice for the shade would be good

if update "update indicator" means deploy, I agree with the data, **deploy need shadow**

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dceejay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dceejay/32/38_2.png) [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)\
**Post date:** [18 March 2026 13:48 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/15 "2026-03-18T13:48:43Z")

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No I meant this row

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/c/3/c3d2c5ab377f45a278592cc46358ca18fc3b1a1a.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [18 March 2026 21:49 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/16 "2026-03-18T21:49:04Z")

</div>

I am not keen on the pink background when importing a flow. It makes me think there is an error.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aaqu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/aaqu/32/101407_2.png) [@Aaqu](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Aaqu)\
**Post date:** [18 March 2026 21:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/17 "2026-03-18T21:54:56Z")

</div>

Previously, the top bar with the Deploy button had a drop shadow applied to it. That shadow is now missing. The red shadow doesn't look right.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aaqu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/aaqu/32/101407_2.png) [@Aaqu](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Aaqu)\
**Post date:** [18 March 2026 21:57 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/18 "2026-03-18T21:57:25Z")

</div>

> [@TotallyInformation](#):
>
> ![Animation1](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/1/e/1e60d3f3c2d73ed08e53dc0c541823b16d5f7819.gif)

From my testing, you have to swipe left first, then right before it actually triggers. Not intuitive at all. On the right side, the sequence is reversed.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [18 March 2026 22:02 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/19 "2026-03-18T22:02:53Z")

</div>

Thanks. Just tried that and indeed it does work. Both on left and right if you are dealing with the lower panel.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tinbum1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/tinbum1/32/60100_2.png) [@Tinbum1](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Tinbum1)\
**Post date:** [19 March 2026 00:00 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582/20 "2026-03-19T00:00:38Z")

</div>

Could we have the sidebars a bit wider and possibly darker so they are easier to use and be seen?

 ![sidbars](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/0/d/0d84221337517e4931165482eb373e5957fc8edb.png)

[Next page](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-beta-4-released/100582.md?page=2)