# Your flow credentials file is encrypted using a system-generated key

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [25 November 2019 10:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382 "2019-11-25T10:09:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![robbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@robbe](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/robbe)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 10:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/1 "2019-11-25T10:09:04Z")

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Help i'm completely new and i don't understand what to do. can someone help step by step?

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/2X/0/0b4fba6cde0e066d0a10ad29e975b0ad04a2d871.png)

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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:** [25 November 2019 10:12 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/2 "2019-11-25T10:12:11Z")

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1. Open your Node-RED settings file (typically `~/.node-red/settings.js` - but Node-RED logs the full path to the file it is using so you can check).

2. Find the `credentialSecret` entry. Remove the `//` from the start of the line to uncomment it and then change the value (`a-secret-key`) to be whatever string you want to use to encrypt your credentials file. You will need to remember that value if you every want to move your flows to another machine (for example).

3. Restart Node-RED. Done.

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**Author:** ![robbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@robbe](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/robbe)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 10:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/3 "2019-11-25T10:16:56Z")

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> [@knolleary](#):
>
> typically `~/.node-red/settings.js`

![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/2X/8/86766d16137f749487bf0406c88028aeb663bcd8.png)

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**Author:** ![bakman2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/bakman2/32/6207_2.png) [@bakman2](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/bakman2)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 10:17 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/4 "2019-11-25T10:17:42Z")

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`nano ~/.node-red/settings.js`

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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:** [25 November 2019 10:18 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/5 "2019-11-25T10:18:22Z")

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Hi @robbe - you cannot just type the file name in. You have to open it in an editor, such as `vi` or `nano`.

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**Author:** ![robbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@robbe](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/robbe)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 10:21 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/6 "2019-11-25T10:21:12Z")

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where can i open that. sorry i'm very new

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/2X/5/588276ffae80ea2612d359122f460aed10b7b409.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@robbe](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/robbe)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 10:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/7 "2019-11-25T10:33:11Z")

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now i have this

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/2X/7/766d485e9548798ca6fcbb1cdd903cadea02242b.png)

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**Author:** ![ghayne](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/ghayne/32/39_2.png) [@ghayne](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ghayne)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 10:34 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/8 "2019-11-25T10:34:23Z")

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Click on the fourth icon from the left (to the left of the node-red symbol) and a command prompt will open. Then follow @bakman2's instructions above. When you have edited the file press ctrl and O and press return to confirm the file you want to write, then press ctrl and X to exit nano.

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**Author:** ![robbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@robbe](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/robbe)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 10:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/11 "2019-11-25T10:45:55Z")

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now i'm here do i need to change something ?

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/2X/c/c6dfc0d9dc42fa9be2c40b6a60daa43ad8501d1e.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![Bobo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/bobo/32/8401_2.png) [@Bobo](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Bobo)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 10:47 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/12 "2019-11-25T10:47:29Z")

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> [@knolleary](#):
>
> 1. Open your Node-RED settings file (typically `~/.node-red/settings.js` - but Node-RED logs the full path to the file it is using so you can check).
> 2. Find the `credentialSecret` entry. Remove the `//` from the start of the line to uncomment it and then change the value ( `a-secret-key` ) to be whatever string you want to use to encrypt your credentials file. You will need to remember that value if you every want to move your flows to another machine (for example).
> 3. Restart Node-RED. Done.

As per above.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@robbe](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/robbe)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 11:01 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/13 "2019-11-25T11:01:19Z")

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i can t chance anything?

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/2X/2/222f4be4a13551cee18a24e971dd9b84d770d1e0.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ghayne](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/ghayne/32/39_2.png) [@ghayne](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ghayne)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 11:14 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/14 "2019-11-25T11:14:36Z")

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If you press ctrl and W together and then type "a-secret-key" (without the quotes) and press return you should be at the line you need to change.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@robbe](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/robbe)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 11:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/15 "2019-11-25T11:16:20Z")

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yes i see

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/2X/a/a9a8aaec928898071bd00668d725dd16d88b78ab.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@robbe](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/robbe)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 11:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/16 "2019-11-25T11:27:06Z")

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do i need to do something with the key now ?  
because i can't start node red yet.

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**Author:** ![kuema](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/kuema/32/6542_2.png) [@kuema](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/kuema)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 11:34 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/17 "2019-11-25T11:34:27Z")

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> [@knolleary](#):
>
> - Find the `credentialSecret` entry. **Remove the `//` from the start of the line to uncomment it and then change the value ( `a-secret-key` ) to be whatever string you want to use to encrypt your credentials file. You will need to remember that value if you every want to move your flows to another machine (for example).**
> - Restart Node-RED. Done.

As described by Nick.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@robbe](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/robbe)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 12:01 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/18 "2019-11-25T12:01:58Z")

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i don't know but it still doesn't work?

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/2X/7/7271714e9ccb4b1bcf165519ee1bb60911a414d3.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kuema](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/kuema/32/6542_2.png) [@kuema](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/kuema)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 12:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/19 "2019-11-25T12:03:17Z")

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Did you (re-)start Node-RED?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@robbe](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/robbe)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 12:07 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/20 "2019-11-25T12:07:22Z")

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if i do node-red-restart.  
command not found

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ghayne](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/ghayne/32/39_2.png) [@ghayne](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ghayne)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 12:08 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/21 "2019-11-25T12:08:17Z")

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node-red-stop followed by node-red-start.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@robbe](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/robbe)\
**Post date:** [25 November 2019 12:12 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/your-flow-credentials-file-is-encrypted-using-a-system-generated-key/18382/22 "2019-11-25T12:12:56Z")

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no doesn't work. he is continuously Searching

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/2X/8/881d552fdacd6b579e2c2bd04ba89c4abea7cf62.png)

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