# Node-red throwing error "cannot set properties of undefined (setting 'mode')" when starting

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-throwing-error-cannot-set-properties-of-undefined-setting-mode-when-starting/82813>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [13 November 2023 05:38 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-throwing-error-cannot-set-properties-of-undefined-setting-mode-when-starting/82813 "2023-11-13T05:38:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![viniciusleite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/54ee81/32.png) [@viniciusleite](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/viniciusleite)\
**Post date:** [13 November 2023 05:38 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-throwing-error-cannot-set-properties-of-undefined-setting-mode-when-starting/82813/1 "2023-11-13T05:38:06Z")

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I am trying to connect to the pins of an Arduino Uno. The Firmata Standard example has been uploaded to Arduino Uno. Here's the message that is thrown when the error occurs:  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/d/2/d2a614c62942011602df28866a83f0ff97ca51f2.png)

Thanks in advance for helping.

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**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:** [13 November 2023 09:32 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-throwing-error-cannot-set-properties-of-undefined-setting-mode-when-starting/82813/2 "2023-11-13T09:32:35Z")

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What node have you installed to communicate with the arduino? Possibly node-red-contrib-???

In future please copy/paste text output rather than screenshot.

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**Author:** ![viniciusleite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/54ee81/32.png) [@viniciusleite](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/viniciusleite)\
**Post date:** [13 November 2023 12:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-throwing-error-cannot-set-properties-of-undefined-setting-mode-when-starting/82813/3 "2023-11-13T12:45:22Z")

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node-red-node-arduino  
I'll try to do that copy/paste next. It'd that in that CMD of windows 8 it's not possible.

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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:** [13 November 2023 13:22 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-throwing-error-cannot-set-properties-of-undefined-setting-mode-when-starting/82813/4 "2023-11-13T13:22:19Z")

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Could you show us the full startup log please.

> [@viniciusleite](#):
>
> in that CMD of windows 8 it's not possible.

I am sure it is possible, possibly CTRL+SHIFT+C.

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**Author:** ![hardillb](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/hardillb/32/12373_2.png) [@hardillb](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/hardillb)\
**Post date:** [13 November 2023 14:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-throwing-error-cannot-set-properties-of-undefined-setting-mode-when-starting/82813/5 "2023-11-13T14:52:10Z")

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Context:

> <https://stackoverflow.com/questions/77469298/arduino-out-nodes-wont-connect-in-node-red>

> <https://stackoverflow.com/questions/77470347/node-red-throwing-error-cannot-set-properties-of-undefined-setting-mode-wh>

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![viniciusleite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/54ee81/32.png) [@viniciusleite](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/viniciusleite)\
**Post date:** [13 November 2023 15:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-throwing-error-cannot-set-properties-of-undefined-setting-mode-when-starting/82813/6 "2023-11-13T15:03:41Z")

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```auto
PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> node-red
13 Nov 12:00:59 - [info]

Welcome to Node-RED
===================

13 Nov 12:00:59 - [info] Node-RED version: v3.1.0
13 Nov 12:00:59 - [info] Node.js version: v20.9.0
13 Nov 12:00:59 - [info] Windows_NT 6.3.9600 x64 LE
13 Nov 12:01:01 - [info] Loading palette nodes
13 Nov 12:01:04 - [info] Settings file : C:\Users\Leite Lima\.node-red\settings.js
13 Nov 12:01:04 - [info] Context store : 'default' [module=memory]
13 Nov 12:01:04 - [info] User directory : \Users\Leite Lima\.node-red
13 Nov 12:01:04 - [warn] Projects disabled : editorTheme.projects.enabled=false
13 Nov 12:01:04 - [info] Flows file : \Users\Leite Lima\.node-red\flows.json
13 Nov 12:01:04 - [info] Server now running at http://127.0.0.1:1880/
13 Nov 12:01:04 - [warn]

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Your flow credentials file is encrypted using a system-generated key.

If the system-generated key is lost for any reason, your credentials
file will not be recoverable, you will have to delete it and re-enter
your credentials.

You should set your own key using the 'credentialSecret' option in
your settings file. Node-RED will then re-encrypt your credentials
file using your chosen key the next time you deploy a change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

13 Nov 12:01:04 - [info] Starting flows
13 Nov 12:01:04 - [info] Started flows
13 Nov 12:01:20 - [red] Uncaught Exception:
13 Nov 12:01:20 - [error] TypeError: Cannot set properties of undefined (setting 'mode')
    at Firmata.pinMode (C:\Users\Leite Lima\.node-red\node_modules\firmata-io\lib\firmata.js:947:27)
    at doit (C:\Users\Leite Lima\.node-red\node_modules\node-red-node-arduino\35-arduino.js:154:63)
    at Firmata.<anonymous> (C:\Users\Leite Lima\.node-red\node_modules\node-red-node-arduino\35-arduino.js:194:62)
    at Object.onceWrapper (node:events:628:28)
    at Firmata.emit (node:events:526:35)
    at Firmata.ready (C:\Users\Leite Lima\.node-red\node_modules\firmata-io\lib\firmata.js:733:13)
    at Object.onceWrapper (node:events:628:28)
    at Firmata.emit (node:events:514:28)
    at 106 (C:\Users\Leite Lima\.node-red\node_modules\firmata-io\lib\firmata.js:293:11)
    at SerialPort.<anonymous> (C:\Users\Leite Lima\.node-red\node_modules\firmata-io\lib\firmata.js:640:15)

```

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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:** [13 November 2023 15:21 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-throwing-error-cannot-set-properties-of-undefined-setting-mode-when-starting/82813/7 "2023-11-13T15:21:19Z")

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Stop node red then, in a command window run  
`node-red --safe`  
and it will start node-red without starting the flows, which should stop it crashing. Then you can undo whatever change you made that made it fail. When you deploy it will start the flows.

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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:** [12 January 2024 15:22 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-throwing-error-cannot-set-properties-of-undefined-setting-mode-when-starting/82813/8 "2024-01-12T15:22:01Z")

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