# Unable to start node-red post domain change

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/unable-to-start-node-red-post-domain-change/100000>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [20 December 2025 11:06 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/unable-to-start-node-red-post-domain-change/100000 "2025-12-20T11:06:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![joey\_ind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@joey\_ind](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/joey_ind)\
**Post date:** [20 December 2025 11:06 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/unable-to-start-node-red-post-domain-change/100000/1 "2025-12-20T11:06:49Z")

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Hi folks,  
I am absolutely going bonkers after a domain change done on a PC (windows) and post which I am not able to start node-red via cmd-command. I can see the node files in .node folder but the application wont start.

I beginning to panic since a lot is in the project and everything has stopped. Please assist...

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**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:** [20 December 2025 11:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/unable-to-start-node-red-post-domain-change/100000/2 "2025-12-20T11:16:21Z")

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Hi, do you have any errors in the Node-RED log?

If you are concerned about the flows and data, you should make sure that your backup of the `~/.node-red` folder is current! 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![joey\_ind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@joey\_ind](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/joey_ind)\
**Post date:** [20 December 2025 11:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/unable-to-start-node-red-post-domain-change/100000/3 "2025-12-20T11:24:04Z")

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Hi,  
its not even running ...says "unrecognized command"..I know flows are there but if I need to install the nodes , it would be herculean task.

Can I start node-red from particular domain or user?

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**Author:** ![jbudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f8ce5/32.png) [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)\
**Post date:** [20 December 2025 11:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/unable-to-start-node-red-post-domain-change/100000/4 "2025-12-20T11:35:43Z")

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Precisely how are you trying to start Node-red?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![joey\_ind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@joey\_ind](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/joey_ind)\
**Post date:** [20 December 2025 11:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/unable-to-start-node-red-post-domain-change/100000/5 "2025-12-20T11:37:55Z")

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from command prompt- would type - node-red

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![joey\_ind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@joey\_ind](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/joey_ind)\
**Post date:** [20 December 2025 11:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/unable-to-start-node-red-post-domain-change/100000/6 "2025-12-20T11:39:42Z")

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from command prompt- would type - node-red

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/2/b/2bf78d8611bc625adccc8b5b925668b91b8813af.png)

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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:** [20 December 2025 12:01 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/unable-to-start-node-red-post-domain-change/100000/7 "2025-12-20T12:01:32Z")

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> [@joey\_ind](#):
>
> its not even running ...says "unrecognized command"..I know flows are there but if I need to install the nodes , it would be herculean task.

OK, so this is a minor issue. And reinstalling nodes is actually very simple. Node-RED is a node.js app and uses npm to manage package installation which is entirely standard. There is a `package.json` file in your `~/.node-red` folder that defines all of the installed packages.

But in this case, the only issue is that you are using a terminal prompt that is failing to understand where Node-RED is installed.

Can you type `node --version` at that terminal prompt. This will make sure that it is Node-RED's command that is the issue and not node.js itself.

If that command works OK, I would suggest simply running `npm install node-red -g` again - assuming you are using at least node.js v20, if not, please start by upgrading node.js to the current "LTS" version by following the instructions on their website (it is a simple download and install of the new version).

Reinstalling node-red this way will not impact your existing flows and data but should reinstate the `path` that Windows needs to find the command. You will need to close the terminal after reinstallation and start a new session, you shouldn't need to restart the computer but occasionally, you may have to log out and back in to get the updated path correctly.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![joey\_ind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@joey\_ind](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/joey_ind)\
**Post date:** [20 December 2025 12:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/unable-to-start-node-red-post-domain-change/100000/8 "2025-12-20T12:24:07Z")

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Hey thanks a ton mate...Now got it to start...but cannot see any of my flows ,nodes etc. do I need to copy the contents of the old .node folder and paste it in the new one ??Is that how it works?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![joey\_ind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@joey\_ind](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/joey_ind)\
**Post date:** [20 December 2025 12:38 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/unable-to-start-node-red-post-domain-change/100000/9 "2025-12-20T12:38:55Z")

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Ok...couldn't wait ..did that and its working....Thank you once again mate...saved me a lot of hassle....God bless and Merry Christmas!

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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:** [3 January 2026 12:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/unable-to-start-node-red-post-domain-change/100000/10 "2026-01-03T12:39:35Z")

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