How to Fix “Error: error:0308010C

envelope routines::unsupported" in Node.js

How to Fix "Error: error:0308010C:digital envelope routines::unsupported" in Node.js

When developing and running Node.js applications, especially those involving encryption and decryption operations, you might encounter the following error:

Error: error:0308010C:digital envelope routines::unsupported

This error is typically caused by a mismatch between the Node.js version and the OpenSSL version you are using. It is especially common when using Node.js v17 and later versions with incompatible OpenSSL versions. In this blog post, we will explore the root cause of this error and provide multiple solutions to fix it. You can choose the solution that best fits your environment and needs.

Understanding the Error

The error message indicates that certain encryption operations cannot be executed due to incompatibility between the Node.js and OpenSSL versions. Starting from Node.js v17, support for OpenSSL 3.0 was introduced, which also means some older encryption algorithms and configurations might no longer be supported.

Solutions

Solution 1: Downgrade Node.js

Downgrade Node.js to a version that is compatible with your current OpenSSL version. For example, Node.js v14 or v16 usually works without this issue.

# If you use nvm (Node Version Manager)
nvm install 16
nvm use 16

Solution 2: Set the OpenSSL Legacy Provider

You can set the NODE_OPTIONS environment variable to enable the legacy provider for OpenSSL.

For Unix/Linux/MacOS:

export NODE_OPTIONS= - openssl-legacy-provider

For Windows (Command Prompt):

set NODE_OPTIONS= - openssl-legacy-provider

For Windows (PowerShell):

$env:NODE_OPTIONS=" - openssl-legacy-provider"

Solution 3: Add Node.js Flag in package.json

You can also add the flag directly in your project's package.json file.

"scripts": {
 "start": "node - openssl-legacy-provider your-script.js"
}

Replace your-script.js with the entry point of your application.

Solution 4: Upgrade OpenSSL

If possible, upgrade OpenSSL to a version that is compatible with your Node.js version.

# Example command to upgrade OpenSSL on Ubuntu
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade openssl

Solution 5: Manage Node.js Versions on macOS Using Homebrew

On macOS, you can use Homebrew to manage and switch Node.js versions.
First, ensure you have Homebrew installed. If not, you can install it using the following command:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Then, use the following commands to manage Node.js versions:

# Install different Node.js versions
brew install node@20
brew install node@22
# Unlink the current version
brew unlink node@22
# Link to a more stable version
brew link node@20

By following these steps, you can downgrade Node.js to version 20, thus resolving the error.

Summary

The "Error: error:0308010C:digital envelope routines::unsupported" error is primarily caused by incompatibility between Node.js and OpenSSL versions. Depending on your development environment, you can choose one of the following solutions:

1. Downgrade Node.js
2. Set the OpenSSL Legacy Provider
3. Add Node.js Flag in package.json
4. Upgrade OpenSSL
5. Manage Node.js Versions on macOS Using Homebrew For macOS users, you can downgrade Node.js versions with the following commands:

brew unlink node@22
brew link node@20

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the error and run your Node.js application smoothly. I hope this blog post helps you quickly fix the issue and ensures a seamless development experience! If you need further assistance, feel free to leave a comment.