# What happens when Flows file not found?

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/what-happens-when-flows-file-not-found/68543>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [4 October 2022 11:55 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/what-happens-when-flows-file-not-found/68543 "2022-10-04T11:55:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![awneil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@awneil](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/awneil)\
**Post date:** [4 October 2022 11:55 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/what-happens-when-flows-file-not-found/68543/1 "2022-10-04T11:55:54Z")

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The log tells me:

```auto
dd Mmm hh:mm:ss - [info] Flows file : /home/pi/.node-red/flows_raspberrypi.json
dd Mmm hh:mm:ss - [info] Creating new flow file

```

So it says it's created a new file, but I don't see a `flows_raspberrypi.json` file appear in the ` /home/pi/.node-red/` directory.

Should I, or is it just some sort of a temporary or "virtual" file?

Asking out of curiosity rather than it being a problem or anything needing fixing.

On Raspberry Pi.

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**Author:** ![knolleary](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/knolleary/32/3_2.png) [@knolleary](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/knolleary)\
**Post date:** [4 October 2022 11:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/what-happens-when-flows-file-not-found/68543/2 "2022-10-04T11:59:05Z")

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It will only actually create the file when you deploy something from the editor.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![awneil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@awneil](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/awneil)\
**Post date:** [4 October 2022 12:02 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/what-happens-when-flows-file-not-found/68543/3 "2022-10-04T12:02:54Z")

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That makes sense - 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:** [18 October 2022 12:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/what-happens-when-flows-file-not-found/68543/4 "2022-10-18T12:03:39Z")

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