# Transfer whole instance of Node-red to a new computer

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/transfer-whole-instance-of-node-red-to-a-new-computer/82422>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [28 October 2023 09:38 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/transfer-whole-instance-of-node-red-to-a-new-computer/82422 "2023-10-28T09:38:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![algaillard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c5a1d2/32.png) [@algaillard](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/algaillard)\
**Post date:** [28 October 2023 09:38 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/transfer-whole-instance-of-node-red-to-a-new-computer/82422/1 "2023-10-28T09:38:26Z")

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Hello,  
Sorry, I think there is already an anwer for this question, but I didn't find the exact use case.  
My question :  
I presently run a node-red instance on a mac computer, but I want to change to another (mac-mini).  
I can easily migrate the flows, but I need to restore all used nodes.

Is it possible to transfer the global instance (flows + nodes) from a computer to another ?

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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:** [28 October 2023 09:51 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/transfer-whole-instance-of-node-red-to-a-new-computer/82422/2 "2023-10-28T09:51:56Z")

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Assuming you are not using docker, then, after installing node red, transfer the whole .node-red folder except the node\_modules folder. Then go into the .node-red folder and run  
`npm install`  
And it will install all the contrib nodes for you.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![algaillard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c5a1d2/32.png) [@algaillard](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/algaillard)\
**Post date:** [28 October 2023 10:13 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/transfer-whole-instance-of-node-red-to-a-new-computer/82422/3 "2023-10-28T10:13:02Z")

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Thanks a lot !  
Neverthess, I did not found any .node-red folder, and the node-red folder is part of the node\_modules fol

 ![Capture d’écran 2023-10-28 à 12.24.16](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/f/2/f21c4d8c8c7d72b16bb0e3d30a3943724092e02e.jpeg)  
der

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**Author:** ![marcus-j-davies](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/marcus-j-davies/32/103435_2.png) [@marcus-j-davies](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/marcus-j-davies)\
**Post date:** [28 October 2023 10:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/transfer-whole-instance-of-node-red-to-a-new-computer/82422/4 "2023-10-28T10:28:28Z")

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Hi @algaillard

Under normal circumstance, the `.node-red` folder for OSX will be

`/users/<Username>/.node-red`

Its the folder that Node RED uses to store the users data - not the folder that Node RED itself is installed in

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![algaillard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c5a1d2/32.png) [@algaillard](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/algaillard)\
**Post date:** [28 October 2023 10:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/transfer-whole-instance-of-node-red-to-a-new-computer/82422/5 "2023-10-28T10:41:10Z")

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> [@marcus-j-davies](#):
>
> `/users/<Username>/.node-red`

Yes, I got it, thanks

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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:** [27 December 2023 10:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/transfer-whole-instance-of-node-red-to-a-new-computer/82422/6 "2023-12-27T10:41:45Z")

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