# Upgrade to NR 5.0? Requirements not enforced by installation script?
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/upgrade-to-nr-5-0-requirements-not-enforced-by-installation-script/101330
**Category:** General
**Tags:** docker
**Created:** [21 June 2026 05:18 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/upgrade-to-nr-5-0-requirements-not-enforced-by-installation-script/101330 "2026-06-21T05:18:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Nodi.Rubrum](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Nodi.Rubrum)
#### Post date: [21 June 2026 05:18 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/upgrade-to-nr-5-0-requirements-not-enforced-by-installation-script/101330/1 "2026-06-21T05:18:45Z")
So upgrading to 5.0... (from 4.1.4 if memory serves)...
The recommended Node.js version for Node-RED 5.0 is Node.js 24. [[1](https://nodered.org/blog/2026/06/09/version-5-0-released), [2](https://github.com/node-red/node-red/releases)]
While the project recommends Node.js 24, here are the detailed system requirements to keep in mind:
**Node.js Compatibility**
- **Recommended:** Node.js 24 (LTS). This is the version that the official Node-RED Docker images are built upon.
- **Absolute Minimum:** Node.js 22.9.0. Node-RED 5.0 will actively refuse to start on any older versions. [[1](https://nodered.org/blog/2026/06/09/version-5-0-released), [2](https://nodesource.com/blog/nodejs-24-becomes-lts), [3](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-5-0-0-beta-6-available/100878)]
**However... when I ran the install/upgrade script...**
Running Node-RED install for user nodered at /home/nodered on debian
This can take 20-30 minutes on the slower Pi versions - please wait.
Stop Node-RED ✔
Remove old version of Node-RED ✔
Node option not specified : --node20, --node22 or --node24
Leave existing Node.js : v20.20.1 Npm 10.8.2
Clean npm cache -
Install Node-RED core
Move global nodes to local
Npm rebuild existing nodes
Install extra Pi nodes
Add shortcut commands
Update systemd script
Any errors will be logged to /var/log/nodered-install.log
**Clearly the install/upgrade script does or did not enforce --node22, what is the deal?**
Of course this results...
$ sudo node-red-start
Start Node-RED
Once Node-RED has started, point a browser at [http://192.168.1.7:1880](http://192.168.1.7:1880)
On Pi Node-RED works better with the Firefox or Chrome browser
Use sudo systemctl enable nodered.service to autostart Node-RED at every boot
Use sudo systemctl disable nodered.service to disable autostart on boot
To find more nodes and example flows - go to [http://flows.nodered.org](http://flows.nodered.org)
Starting as root systemd service.
Started nodered.service - Node-RED graphical event wiring tool.
nodered.service: Referenced but unset environment variable evaluates to an empty string: NODE\_RED\_OPTIONS
Unsupported version of Node.js: v20.20.1
Node-RED requires Node.js v22.9 or later
nodered.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
nodered.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
**Of course also... I could use --node22 but that is not the default? For 5.0 Upgrade?**
---
### Author:  [@hardillb](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/hardillb)
#### Post date: [21 June 2026 09:08 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/upgrade-to-nr-5-0-requirements-not-enforced-by-installation-script/101330/2 "2026-06-21T09:08:48Z")
Please be explicit as to exactly which script you ran, there is a new one and also include the exact command line you ran so we can see the options.
Given the script output you have posted still lists `--node20` and that is not included in the latest version of the install script we need to confirm which of the 2 scripts you are running? I suspect you ended up running the `update-nodejs-nodered` not the `install-undate-nodered`
And as always contribution to update the install scripts are always welcome
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### Author:  [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)
#### Post date: [21 June 2026 10:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/upgrade-to-nr-5-0-requirements-not-enforced-by-installation-script/101330/3 "2026-06-21T10:10:14Z")
I see the [website](https://nodered.org/docs/getting-started/raspberrypi) has been updated to point to the new one. I had expected the old script to have been updated to the new one, which would be less confusing I think.
I notice that the description on the website of what the script does has not been updated. I would submit a PR but I am not certain exactly what it does under all circumstances.
---
### Author:  [@Nodi.Rubrum](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Nodi.Rubrum)
#### Post date: [22 June 2026 20:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/upgrade-to-nr-5-0-requirements-not-enforced-by-installation-script/101330/4 "2026-06-22T20:33:04Z")
Since I pulled the what I believed was the official install/update script... I had to run said script explicitly with --node22 as documented to address the issue.
The only script I ran was... Or so I believe given it will update in place... Google A.I. return this script, and it looked correct as memory served, and the script name made sense, so ran it...
bash \<(curl -sL [https://github.com/node-red/linux-installers/releases/latest/download/install-update-nodered-deb](https://github.com/node-red/linux-installers/releases/latest/download/install-update-nodered-deb))
Once without --node22, then once with --node22 since the expected forced update of at least node.js to version 22.x was not implicitly done.
I pulled out my old notes, the last time I did an explicit update to 4.1.4 (I believe) some time ago...
$ bash \<(curl -sL [https://github.com/node-red/linux-installers/releases/latest/download/update-nodejs-and-nodered-deb](https://github.com/node-red/linux-installers/releases/latest/download/update-nodejs-and-nodered-deb))
Google A.I. seems to consistently return this...
$ bash \<(curl -sL [https://github.com/node-red/linux-installers/releases/latest/download/install-update-nodered-deb](https://github.com/node-red/linux-installers/releases/latest/download/install-update-nodered-deb))
Given the name of the script one would think 'install-update-nodered' would always do just that... install or update automatically.
Maybe a version number in the script name or something in the script output as to the script version would be a good idea? No? As to which script was run?
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [20 September 2026 20:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/upgrade-to-nr-5-0-requirements-not-enforced-by-installation-script/101330/5 "2026-09-20T20:33:30Z")
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