# Problem with functionExternalModules
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/problem-with-functionexternalmodules/45430
**Category:** General
**Created:** [10 May 2021 15:17 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/problem-with-functionexternalmodules/45430 "2021-05-10T15:17:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@jukow](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jukow)
#### Post date: [10 May 2021 15:17 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/problem-with-functionexternalmodules/45430/1 "2021-05-10T15:17:19Z")
I want to use the new node-red v1.3 function for loading modules into function nodes. I installed string-similarity via npm and it shows up in node-red:
I restarted node-red and got an error message on the console:
```auto
10 May 16:50:02 - [error] [function:58f3bc8.6a90344] Fehler beim Laden des Moduls : Error: Module not allowed
10 May 16:50:02 - [error] [function:58f3bc8.6a90344] Error: Function node failed to load external modules
```
Any ideas?
---
### Author:  [@knolleary](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/knolleary)
#### Post date: [10 May 2021 15:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/problem-with-functionexternalmodules/45430/2 "2021-05-10T15:41:36Z")
Have you done anything with the `externalModules` setting?
The error (module not allowed) is triggered if the runtime thinks the module you've tried to use is on one of the Deny-Lists under `externalModules`. But if you haven't done anything with the `externalModules` setting, then it should work...
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### Author:  [@jukow](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jukow)
#### Post date: [10 May 2021 15:47 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/problem-with-functionexternalmodules/45430/3 "2021-05-10T15:47:51Z")
I have not touched `externalModules` settings at all.
Is it right that the module is installed both in ./externalModules and ./node\_modules?
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### Author:  [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)
#### Post date: [10 May 2021 16:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/problem-with-functionexternalmodules/45430/4 "2021-05-10T16:05:10Z")
> [@jukow](#):
>
> Is it right that the module is installed both in ./externalModules and ./node\_modules?
If it is in ./node\_modules that suggests you manually installed it yourself. Node red will automatically install it in ./externalModules/node\_modules for you.
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### Author:  [@knolleary](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/knolleary)
#### Post date: [10 May 2021 16:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/problem-with-functionexternalmodules/45430/5 "2021-05-10T16:33:25Z")
> [@jukow](#):
>
> Is it right that the module is installed both in ./externalModules and ./node\_modules?
As Colin says, currently NR will install those modules under the externalModules directory and expect to use it from there.
I wonder if there's an issue if the module exists in both places...
Could you raise an issue? [GitHub - node-red/node-red: Low-code programming for event-driven applications](https://github.com/node-red/node-red)
---
### Author:  [@jukow](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jukow)
#### Post date: [10 May 2021 18:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/problem-with-functionexternalmodules/45430/6 "2021-05-10T18:16:58Z")
I solved my problem now.
First i did a fresh node-red install. Problem persisted regardless of the module i picked.
Then i updated my nodejs version from 8.x to 14.x and it worked straight away.
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### Author:  [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [24 May 2021 18:17 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/problem-with-functionexternalmodules/45430/7 "2021-05-24T18:17:54Z")
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