How to Install Node-RED on Raspberry Pi: Step-by-Step Guide 2025

Are you ready to supercharge your Raspberry Pi projects with easy automation? Meet Node-RED—the tool making IoT and smart home setups easier than ever. Whether you’re a hobbyist just starting out or a seasoned tech tinkerer, Node-RED gives you a visual way to connect sensors, devices, and web services, all without writing complex code.

Node-RED dashboard running on a Raspberry Pi

In this simple guide, I’ll show you exactly how to install Node-RED on your Raspberry Pi. You don’t need to be a Linux expert, and the whole process usually takes less than 30 minutes, even if you’re brand new to the Pi world.

Let’s jump in!

What is Node-RED?

Think of Node-RED as a digital workbench where you can drag, drop, and connect different building blocks (called “nodes”) to automate tasks. Want your Raspberry Pi to turn on a light when you get an email? Or log sensor data and send you alerts? Node-RED can do all that, visually, and with minimal fuss.

Why Should You Run Node-RED on a Raspberry Pi?

• It’s visual: You don’t need to be a programming genius—just connect nodes like puzzle pieces.
• Perfect for IoT: Quickly connect sensors, devices, or online services in a single flow.
• It’s lightweight: Even an older Raspberry Pi can handle it!
• Huge community: If you get stuck, there’s always someone who can help.

What You’ll Need

• Any Raspberry Pi model (with Raspberry Pi OS installed)
• An internet connection
• Access to the Pi’s terminal (either directly or through SSH)

Pro Tip: Always update your Pi before starting a new project. It avoids surprises!

Step 1: Update Your Raspberry Pi

First things first—let’s make sure your Raspberry Pi is up to date. Open your terminal and type:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Give it a minute to run. This helps you avoid weird errors later on.

Step 2: No Need to Worry About Node.js!

Node-RED runs on Node.js, but you don’t have to install Node.js separately. The Node-RED installation script handles everything for you!

Step 3: Install Node-RED Using the Official Script

Here’s where the magic happens. Enter this command in your terminal:

bash <(curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/node-red/linux-installers/master/deb/update-nodejs-and-nodered)

What does this do?

• Installs Node-RED (and the right Node.js version)
• Sets it up to run as a service (so it can start up automatically)

Just follow the prompts and relax for a few minutes while your Pi does the work.

Step 4: Start Node-RED

Once the installation is done, fire up Node-RED by typing:

node-red-start

You should see some messages in the terminal telling you that Node-RED is running.

Step 5: Access Node-RED From Your Browser

Now for the fun part! On your Pi (or any computer on the same Wi-Fi network), open your web browser and go to:

http://<your_pi_ip_address>:1880

Or, if you’re using your Pi directly:

http://localhost:1880

The Node-RED editor should pop up, ready for your first project.

Step 6: Keeping Node-RED Up to Date (Optional)

To keep things running smoothly and get the latest features, you’ll want to update Node-RED once in a while. You can do that with:

sudo npm install -g --unsafe-perm node-red

Or just re-run the install script from Step 3!

How to Auto-Start Node-RED on Startup

If you want Node-RED to run automatically every time your Raspberry Pi boots up, you can easily enable this feature with a single command. This is especially useful if you’re building a smart home or IoT project that needs to be “always on” without manual intervention.

Just open your terminal and enter:

sudo systemctl enable nodered.service

That’s it! Node-RED will now start automatically in the background whenever you power on or reboot your Raspberry Pi.

If you ever want to disable auto-start, simply run:

sudo systemctl disable nodered.service

What to Do If Something Goes Wrong (Troubleshooting)

• Node-RED won’t start?
  Double-check your installation finished successfully. Run node-red-start again. Still stuck? Try rebooting with sudo reboot.
• Can’t find your Pi’s IP address?
  Run hostname -I in the terminal. Use the number you see (e.g., 192.168.1.100:1880) in your web browser.
• Getting “Permission Denied” errors?
  Make sure you’re using sudo where needed. Copy and paste the commands exactly.
• Can’t connect to port 1880?
  Is Node-RED running? Are both your Pi and your computer on the same network? Check your router’s firewall.
• How do I stop Node-RED?
  In the terminal: node-red-stop or sudo systemctl stop nodered.service.
• Want Node-RED to start up every time?
  Run: sudo systemctl enable nodered.service
• How do I update Node-RED safely?
  Use the official install script or sudo npm install -g --unsafe-perm node-red. Always back up your flows before upgrading!

Recap & What’s Next

And that’s it—you’re ready to automate just about anything with Node-RED on your Raspberry Pi! Start playing with simple flows, connect sensors, or dream up your own smart home project.

Found this guide useful? Share it, leave a comment, or let me know what you build next!

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