Bash npm command not found windows

If you’re a Node.js developer, npm is an essential package manager that helps you install and manage modules for your applications. However, encountering the “npm command not found” error can be frustrating and prevent you from using npm. This error occurs when your computer cannot locate the npm executable file, which could result from installation problems, system path issues or permission limitations.

Before you attempt to resolve this issue, ensure that both Node.js and npm are installed on your computer by typing “node -v” and “npm -v” in a terminal or command prompt window. If these commands don’t work, download and install the latest versions of Node.js and npm for your operating system.

If Node.js and npm are already installed, but you’re still getting the error message, it’s possible that your computer can’t find the executable file because of system path issues. You can solve this by adding the directory containing the npm executable file to your system path by editing the PATH environment variable. The steps to take this will differ depending on your operating system.

Alternatively, if there is a corrupted installation of npm on your computer due to installation problems or update issues, strange behaviour with using npm commands or error messages may occur. In such cases, fixing a corrupted installation should resolve the problem by executing “npm” command without difficulty.

Introduction

NPM is a package manager for node.js. It helps you to install packages or modules for Node.js applications.

You get an npm error, when your operating system can’t find the npm executable. If you are getting any of the following errors related to npm, follow the article –

• sudo npm command not found
• mac npm command not found
• Bash npm command not found
• npm command not found windows
• npm command not found Ubuntu
• npm install not working

This issue may occur when you have recently installed or upgraded npm (node package manager) and node js.

Possible Causes –

1. Npm and Node.js are not installed
2. System PATH is not setup correctly
3. Permission issues
4. No package.json file describing the dependencies
5. Integrity check failed error

Tutorials, you may find useful –

• Yarn command not found error
• Sudo command not found error
• Fix “mkvirtualenv command not found” error
• Nodemon command not found
• Nodemon app crashed – Waiting for file changes before starting
• Keytool command issues
• Cmake command errors

Solution 1 – How to fix the npm command not found in Windows 10/11

If you don’t know the prerequisite and correct way of npm installation. Then, you will definitely land into this npm error situation. If you have npm already installed then skip to solutions 3, 4 or 5 based on what OS you have to fix your path or system variable.

Check out my script to automatically fix your npm errors for Linux and Mac users. Else you can look for these manual methods.

Let me show you the correct way of npm installation in Windows.

How to install Node.js on Windows 10/11

Step1 – Download Node.js

Download Node.js software from the nodejs.org website. The latest LTS version is node-v18.16.0 as per the nodejs website. The package npm 9.5.1 is included with node.js, so you don’t need to install it separately.

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Step2– Install Node.js and npm

Double-click installer node-v18.16.0-x64.msi and follow the installation wizard.

Step 2.1 – Accept the terms in the license agreement and click next.

Step 2.2 – Select the destination folder for node.js installation. The default location of node.js is “C:\Program Files\nodejs\“. I will recommend keeping it default.

Step 2.3 – Select node.js features. I will suggest you leave it as default. Make a note, that npm (node package manager) will be there as part of this installation. You don’t need to install it separately.

Step 2.4 – Choose an optional tool (chocolatey) to compile native modules, if required. I will suggest you, keep it unchecked.

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Step2.5 – Click install, Sit back and relax. it will take a few minutes.

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Step 3 – Check the npm and Node.js versions.

Open the command prompt and run the following commands to confirm node.js and npm installation.

Check the node js version

C:\> node -v 

Check the npm (node package manager) version

C:\> npm -v

Now you will not get any “npm command not found error” in Windows.

Detailed step-by-step guide on, how to install Node.js and npm using PowerShell (Chocolatey) tool.

Solution 2 – How to fix the npm command not found error in Linux

I have taken an example of Ubuntu 22.04 OS for output shared in the tutorial.

Debian-based Linux Distributions

1. Open a terminal window on your Debian-based Linux distribution.
2. Update the package list by running the following command: sudo apt update
3. Install the Node.js package by running the following command: sudo apt install nodejs. It will install the npm package also.
4. Verify that Node.js and npm are installed by running the following commands:
   • node -v (This should print the version number of Node.js.)
   • npm -v (This should print the version number of npm.)

Below-mentioned is the screenshot for your reference. I have installed the latest version of node v19.9.0 and npm 9.6.3 for Ubuntu 22.04

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Red Hat based Linux Distributions

1. Open a terminal window on your Red Hat based Linux distribution.
2. Update the package list by running the following command: sudo dnf update
3. Install the Node.js package by running the following command: sudo dnf install nodejs. The NPM package will automatically install
4. Verify that Node.js and npm are installed by running the following commands:
   • node -v (This should print the version number of Node.js.)
   • npm -v (This should print the version number of npm.)

Congrats! you have fixed the “Bash or sudo: npm command not found” error by installing npm and Node.js.

If you are interested in the latest version of npm and Node.js installation. Checkout out this tutorial on Node.js and npm using the Node Source repository

Solution 3 – How to Fix npm command not found error on macOS

Run node -v and npm -v commands to check the existing installation, if you are still facing npm-related errors, you can remove the existing installation and then install it again.

Step1 – Remove the node_modules folder

 > rm -rf /usr/local/lib/node_modules

Step2 – Uninstall Node.js using the brew command

> brew uninstall node

Step3 – Install node with –without-npm option.

> brew install node --without-npm

###Then####

> echo prefix=~/.npm-packages >> ~/.npmrc

Step4 – Install the npm package using the install script

> curl -L https://www.npmjs.com/install.sh | sh

Step5 – Set environment variable in Bash

> export PATH="$HOME/.npm-packages/bin:$PATH"
> export PATH="$HOME/.node/bin:$PATH"

This will resolve all your npm errors in macOS. Watch out for the official node source installation guide for further reference.

Solution 4 – Path or system variable changed resulting in npm error

Although, Path and variables are set by default when you install Node.js and npm in Windows and Ubuntu. But in rare cases, it doesn’t happen. Or maybe you messed up with it. Even in that case, you will get the npm command not found error.

Let’s see how to check and set up PATH variables for npm in the case of Ubuntu 22.04

How to check the npm path variable in Ubuntu 22.04

First, you need to make sure, npm is installed, if not, follow the How to install node JS and npm in Ubuntu 20.04 steps in this post.

Step1 – Check the default path for the npm command

$ which npm

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Step2 – Check /etc/environment file for the npm path

Now we need to check, do we have /usr/bin/npm or your npm command path in /etc/environment file.

$ cat /etc/environment

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As you will see, /usr/bin is already part of my environment variable. So I will not get this error. In case you don’t have your npm path in this file, add it.

Step3 – Edit /etc/environment file and add npm path

$ vi /etc/environment

Add the npm path till bin folder at the end of the environment file, separated by a colon “:”. Save and exit from the file. Make a note, the npm path should be within quotes” “.

For example, /usr/bin in my case.

Reload the environment file for changes.

$ source /etc/environment

How to check the npm path variable in Windows

First, you need to make sure, node js and npm are installed in Windows. If it’s already there, you need to follow these steps

Step1 – Search for the environment variable

Step1.1 – Type “environment variable” in the search box and click open.

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Step 1.2 – Click on “Environment variables” in the Advanced tab of System Properties.

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Step 1.3 – Select “Path” and then click Edit.

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Step1.4 – Check for npm path “C:\Program Files\nodejs“. It is the default target directory for Node.js and npm.

If the npm variable path doesn’t exist, Click New > Add npm variable path “C:\Program Files\nodejs” > Click OK.

Please make a note, that you need to replace the default “C:\Program Files\nodejs” with your custom target Folder. In case you have selected a different folder during installation.

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Click OK twice to close all open dialogue boxes.

Solution 5 – Permission issues on “node_modules“

If you are getting permission-related errors, please run this command to give ownership to your user. It’s applicable to mac and Linux users.

For Mac users –

$ sudo chown -R $(whoami):admin /usr/local/lib/node_modules/

For Linux users –

$ sudo chown -R $(whoami):root /usr/local/lib/node_modules/

or

$ sudo chown -R $(whoami) ~/.npm

Make sure you provide the correct path for node_modules.

Solution 6 – Old Node version installed

If you are running an old version of npm already. You can upgrade it to the latest by using the following command to resolve the npm command not found error.

Run this command, if you are running Ubuntu Linux

$ sudo npm install npm@latest -g

Check Node version

$ npm -v

For Windows users

Run the below-mentioned commands in PowerShell one by one.

c:> Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Scope CurrentUser -Force 
c:> npm install -g npm-windows-upgrade 
c:> npm-windows-upgrade

Check Node version

c:\> node -v

Solution 7 – No package.JSON file issue

If you run the npm install command and then make sure you have a package.json file existing in the same directory. Else you will encounter npm install errors.

• Run ls -l command to check whether the package.json file exists or not.

$ ls -1
index.js
package-lock.json
package.json

• Then run npm install command and recommendation are to run it always from the root folder. The npm install command by default install all the packages under the dependencies object of your package.json file.

For example –

{
"name": "sample-app",
"version": "2.0.1",
"description": "A Node app",
"dependencies": {
"jest": "^28.1.1",
"typescript": "^4.5.5",
}
}

In this example, the npm install the command will install jest and typescript packages to the generated node_modules folder as it’s mentioned in the package.json file.

Solution 8 – Integrity check failed

If you have a package.json file under your project directory, and you are trying to run the npm install command. The npm will compare the integrity of the package you downloaded with the one specified in the package-lock.json file. In cases it differs, it will throw an error integrity failed check error.

npm ERR! Verification failed while extracting @my-package@^1.3.0:
npm ERR! Verification failed while extracting @my-package@^1.3.0:
npm ERR! Integrity check failed:

To solve this error, move or delete your lock file and clean the npm cache. Follow these steps from your project’s root directory.

• Remove or move your package-lock.json file.

$ sudo rm package-lock.json
or
$ sudo mv package-lock.json /tmp

• Move or delete the node-modules folder. You can also delete it but I will recommend it to move them to a different or /tmp directory to roll back changes, in case required.

$ sudo mv node_modules /tmp

# in case you want to delete

$ sudo rm -rf node_modules

• Forcefully clear the npm cache

$ npm cache clean --force

Then run the npm install command again. It should fix your integrity issue.

Frequently asked questions

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we discussed the causes of the “npm command not found” error and how to fix it. If you encounter this error, the first thing you should check is the installation of Node.js and npm. If the installation is successful, check the path and permission issues. By following the steps mentioned in this article, you should be able to fix the “npm command not found” error and continue your work with Node.js and npm.

Note: The npm client is part of the default Node.js package.

Note: If the Path variable does not exist, click New to create a new Path variable, and add the npm installation directory path.

Note: If Node.js is not installed, the system proceeds to install both Node.js and npm from the Ubuntu repository.

Note: Installing Node.js and npm from the official repository of your Linux distribution has the fewest steps but may result in installing an older Node.js version. Use the Node Version Manager (nvm) to install the latest Node.js version on CentOS and other RHEL-based distributions.

Note: If Node.js is not installed, the system proceeds to install npm, Node.js, and Node.js dependencies.

Was this article helpful?

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• Understanding the Problem
• Possible Causes
  • 1. Incorrect Installation
  • 2. Path Configuration Issue
• Resolving the Issue
  • 1. Reinstall Node.js
  • 2. Verify the Installation
  • 3. Check the PATH Variable
  • 4. Adding the Directory to PATH
  • 5. Restart Your Terminal
• Related Articles

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If you are a developer working with Node.js, chances are you have encountered the dreaded «bash: npm: command not found» error. This error occurs when the npm command is not recognized by the Bash shell. In this article, we will explore the common causes of this issue and provide solutions to help you get npm up and running again.

Understanding the Problem

After installing Node.js, you might expect that the npm command would be available by default. However, in certain cases, you may encounter the «bash: npm: command not found» error when you try to run npm commands. This error typically indicates that the system cannot locate the npm executable.

Possible Causes

1. Incorrect Installation

One possible cause of the «bash: npm: command not found» error is an incorrect installation of Node.js. During the installation process, it is important to ensure that the «npm» package is included. If it is not selected, npm will not be installed along with Node.js.

2. Path Configuration Issue

Another common cause is an incorrect configuration of the system’s environment variables, specifically the PATH variable. The PATH variable contains a list of directories in which the system looks for executable files. If the directory containing the npm executable is not included in the PATH variable, Bash will not be able to find it.

Resolving the Issue

1. Reinstall Node.js

If you suspect that the npm installation was skipped or not installed correctly, the simplest solution is to reinstall Node.js with the npm package included. Make sure to select the option to install npm during the installation process.

2. Verify the Installation

After reinstalling, you can verify that npm is correctly installed by running the following command in your terminal:

npm --version

If the command returns the version number of npm, then the installation was successful.

3. Check the PATH Variable

If the issue persists, you should check the configuration of your system’s PATH variable. To do this, open your terminal and run the following command:

echo $PATH

This will display the list of directories included in your PATH variable. Verify that the directory containing the npm executable is included. If it is not, you will need to add it to the PATH variable.

4. Adding the Directory to PATH

To add the directory containing the npm executable to the PATH variable, open your terminal and open the .bashrc or .bash_profile file in a text editor. Add the following line at the end of the file:

export PATH="$PATH:/path/to/npm/directory"

Replace /path/to/npm/directory with the actual directory path where npm is installed on your system. Save the file and then run the following command in your terminal to apply the changes:

source ~/.bashrc

or

source ~/.bash_profile

5. Restart Your Terminal

Sometimes, changes to environment variables may not take effect immediately. In such cases, simply closing and reopening your terminal window can solve the «bash: npm: command not found» error.

Related Articles

To further explore topics related to command not found errors, you may find the following articles helpful:

1. Bash Command Not Found: Offers solutions to common «command not found» errors in the Bash shell.
2. bash: docker: command not found: Focuses on troubleshooting and fixes for the «bash: docker: command not found» error.
3. sudo: easy_install: command not found: Provides solutions for the «sudo: easy_install: command not found» error.
4. bash: aws: command not found: Explores solutions to the «bash: aws: command not found» error in the AWS command-line interface.
5. npm command not found mac: Addresses the «npm command not found» issue specifically on macOS systems.

By referring to these related articles, you can broaden your knowledge and troubleshoot similar issues that you may encounter in your development journey.

In conclusion, the «bash: npm: command not found» error can be frustrating, but with the proper troubleshooting steps outlined in this article, you can resolve the issue and get back to developing with Node.js. Remember to double-check your installation, verify the PATH variable, and refer to related articles for additional guidance. Happy coding!

Have you ever actually met that pesky error message npm: command not found or zsh command not found npm to run npm commands in your terminal? No, you probably are not alone. This is the message that annoyingly haunts developers in their development environment, especially when doing anything with Node.js. Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned developer, such an error can really be annoying, for it causes a setback in your workflow. So, what causes such an error, and how to troubleshoot the same?

This full guide on the npm command not found error will bring you a step-by-step guide on how to fix npm for you. You can throw in anything from improper installation to incorrect PATH configurations. There you go; you’ll also be able to verify whether npm appears to be properly installed, manage its versions, and troubleshoot many common concerns like permissions or cache corruption.

When you finish reading this article, you will already know why npm creates such error, together with the know-how and tools at hand to be able to fix it right away. So let’s get the ball rolling; we want to make certain your Node.js development setup is quite seamless!

What is Behind the “npm command not found” Error?

Generally, the message npm command not found indicates that your operating system or environment is not able to find the npm executable. npm, which stands for Node Package Manager, is responsible for managing JavaScript packages and dependencies when working with Node.js applications. This error usually indicates one of the following reasons:

• You haven’t installed npm on your machine.
• The installation was incomplete or corrupted.
• The npm executable is not included in your system’s PATH environment variable.
• There are conflicting versions of Node.js and npm.
• Permissions issues because of which npm is unable to execute properly.

We will discuss each of these causes in greater specificity and see how best to fix the error.

Common Causes of npm command not found

1. npm-not-installed proper

A proper install of npm can also cause an error called npm: command not found. It’s really at home with Node.js, which can be troublesome for npm with many other options.

Things to Do:

Check whether npm is installed: Start your terminal session and run the following command:

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You will see the command not found npm because npm is missing on the machine.

Reinstall Node.js and npm: This is very simple. Uninstall Node.js and reinstall it. Go to the official page nodejs.org and download the latest version. Alternatively, on macOS, you can install via a package manager like Homebrew:

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Check the Installation: Now that you have reinstalled both, confirm if both Node.js and npm have been installed:

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It must show the versions installed, indicating that npm was installed correctly.

2. PATH Variable Misconfigured

In such a case, if npm was installed but you are getting zsh: command not found: npm, then maybe that is because of the wrong entry in your PATH environment variable. The PATH variable is a variable in an environment that tells your terminal where to look for executable files. If it is not found in the PATH-included directories, your system cannot search subsequently.

How to Fix It:

Current Check PATH: To check which directories are listed by your PATH, run the following command:

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Find npm: To find the directory for npm, use:

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This command will return a path to where its executable is. If that is clear, then you need to add that dir to path.

Update PATH: For that, taking the directory containing npm and add it to PATH:

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 Usually, it means opening shell configuration file (~/.zshrc for zsh and ~/.bash_profile for bash) and adding this line:

Replace /usr/local/bin with the actual location where npm is located. 

Reload configuration:

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Verify npm: Lastly, check whether npm is recognized:

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3. Node Version Conflicts 

Sometimes multiple installed Node.js versions can clash resulting in errors as the npm command not found. Switching between projects requiring different versions of Node.js mostly leads to such scenarios. 

How to Fix:

To keep multiple versions of Node and npm without conflict, utilize nvm (Node Version Manager). nvm allows the installation of different Node.js and npm versions without conflicts. Switch, or even clean, all versions using nvm with ease.

Install nvm:

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Install the Latest Version of Node.js:

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Latest Version Switching: 

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Current Version Check: 

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4. Permission Issues

Permission issues are yet another possible reason for an npm: command not found error. If npm was installed globally, but adequate permissions were not set, you would be unable to issue npm commands. 

How to Fix It: 

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Change Permission and run the following command to fix all ownership issues with npm: 

Reinstall npm: 

After fixing the permissions, npm’s reinstallation may be necessary:

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Verify npm: 

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5. Corrupted npm Cache 

Bad npm cache might sometimes lead some issues including the fact that npm will not run commands correctly. 

How to Fix: 

Clear Cache: 

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Verify npm: 

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6. Outdated Version of npm 

Sometimes, an outdated version of npm creates compatibility issues. If you are running into issues with npm, it is worth upgrading the version. 

How to Fix: 

Update npm: 

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Verify Installation: 

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Fixing the npm command not found on Ubuntu and Linux

You can find npm command not found error on Ubuntu and Linux that is usually caused by incomplete installation of npm or an issue with the PATH configuration.

Step 1: Verify that npm is installed

Check if it is available.

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If any of the above fails, that means npm isn’t installed, or it can’t be found in the place it is configured in the system.

Step 2: Install Node.js and npm

 To install Node.js and npm, run the following commands:

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Step 3: Check Verify Installation

After completing the installation, check both Node.js and npm:

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Here, v16.13.0 version is for Node.js, and 8.1.0 is the version of npm. Thereby confirming that it is the correct npm installation.

Step 4: PATH Update (if necessary)

If it still does not accept the npm command, it means that the npm path is not defined in your PATH variable. To fix this consider checking out where npm is:

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If you don’t receive any output for a path, you need to set up a new PATH variable.

In your ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc file, type in:

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Once you have edited it, you load in the configuration:

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Step 5: Check npm again 

Check if npm works:

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The above confirms that npm works and the error is resolved.

Fixing of npm command not found in Windows 10

Typically, the npm command not found error on Windows 10 occurs when npm is not installed, or when the PATH variable of the system is not set correctly. 

Step 1: Verify npm installation

Open the Command prompt or PowerShell and check the npm version using the command below: 

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If the above message appears, it means that npm is not installed or is not in the PATH.

Step 2: Install Node.js and npm

Visit the official Node.js website and download the latest version. This installer will automatically install both, Node.js and npm.

Run installer. Once installed, restart your Command prompt or PowerShell.

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Step 3: Verify installation

After installation now verify if npm is correctly installed:

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This confirms the installation of both Node.js and npm. 

Step 4: Update Path if Needed

If you still do not get it recognized, it may not be in your PATH. So to add npm manually to the PATH: 

• Press Windows logo key + S to open Search and type ‘’Edit the system environment variables”

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• Click “Advanced system settings” and “Environment Variables.”

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• In System Variables, click Edit.

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• Add the following line:

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Step 5: Check Again 

Now, check the version of npm: 

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Repairing npm command not found on macOS

In macOS, the npm command not found error typically indicates that the installation of Node.js or npm is incomplete or perhaps the PATH is misconfigured.

Step 1: Check Installed npm

Open a terminal and test if it’s possible to find out whether npm is installed or not:

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This indicates that npm is either not installed or unrecognized in the terminal.

Step 2: Install Node.js and npm Using Homebrew

In the first step, if you don’t have Homebrew on your system, you can install it as follows:

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

Then, by means of Homebrew, install Node.js and npm as follows:

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Step 3: Check the Installation

After installation, check npm’s version: 

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Step 4: Update PATH (if necessary) 

If npm still fails to work, then update the PATH variable. Open the ~/.zshrc file (for Zsh users), or ~/.bash_profile (for Bash users):

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Add this line:

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Save and close (Ctrl + X, then Y to confirm). Run the changes with: 

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Step 5: Verify npm Once Again 

Now you should verify whether npm is working or not:

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Important Points To Fix npm command not found error

• Ubuntu/Linux: To install npm run, use sudo apt install nodejs npm. If still not found, update your path.
• Windows 10: Reinstall Node.js and npm from the official website, and update the PATH if required.
• macOS: Install Node.js and npm using Homebrew, and as always, check that the PATH is configured properly.

Now, you should be able to troubleshoot the npm command not found error and continue with your Node.js development. Do not allow this error to prohibit you from using a great tool for managing JavaScript packages- because within no time, with these fixes, you will be up and running again!

Introducing CyberPanel in Fixing npm command not found Error

Another problem that you might have when you are dealing with web hosting and managing your own server is the npm command not found error, mostly done if you are running Node.js applications. One great way of solving this with CyberPanel-a popular web hosting control panel-is properly configuring Node.js and npm through the panel’s interface or how CyberPanel helps and how to use it to fix the npm command not found error.

CyberPanel lets you install and manage Node.js and npm through the interface of CyberPanel itself; thus it makes it really simple to overcome the npm command not found problem. Here’s how it helps:

1. Install Node.js and npm through CyberPanel

CyberPanel has also a built-in feature that would make the installation of Node.js and npm easy because there is no requirement to do it manually using SSH or the command line.

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How to Run Node.js and npm Installation through CyberPanel: 

Sign-in to CyberPanel: 

Open your browser and sign in to CyberPanel dashboard.

Browse on the Applications Manager:

On the left menu, click Applications under Server. 

This is where you can manage applications such as Node.js, Python, etc.

Install Node.js:

• Find Node.js in the list of applications available.
• Click Install Node.js and select the version you want (EB: version 14.x, 16.x, etc. Click Install and CyberPanel will automatically install Node.js along with npm.

Verify the Installation: At this juncture, Node.js will be installed. You can check for the version of Node.js along with npm through the terminal in CyberPanel or SSH into the server and run:

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The above command worked, meaning therefore npm is installed and the npm command not found has been fixed.

2. Node.js and npm Version Management

With CyberPanel, it becomes easier to manage various installations of Node.js and npm, especially for those involved in different projects that require specific versions.

Switching Node.js Versions:

• Once you’ve installed Node.js, switching between versions becomes much easier.
• In CyberPanel, navigate to Applications, then Manage Node.js, and choose an update or switch version from the options.
• This case pertains to the compatibility issue that you may be experiencing from using a certain version of npm or Node.js.

3. Server Environment Configuration

In some cases, the failure of the npm command is attributed to a poor server environment or PATH variable configurations. Indeed, the whole configuration procedures related to installing and maintaining your applications on the server are automated by CyberPanel.

How CyberPanel Helps with Configuration

• During the installation of Node.js, CyberPanel automatically updates the PATH variable, eliminating the need for any manual adjustments via SSH.
• If you use the Terminal option in CyberPanel (available on the dashboard), it will already have the correct environment settings, and running npm commands should work without needing to tweak the PATH.

4. Solution for Permission Issues 

File permissions are another common reason why npm commands do not work – especially under Linux servers. Managing permissions of files and directories is easily done by CyberPanel.

CyberPanel has made it easy for users to manage and set permissions. The File Manager has a built-in option to check and adjust file permission settings in a given directory. 

You can also run commands like chmod or chown through CyberPanel’s Terminal feature to correct permissions for directories related to npm.

FAQs About the npm command not found Error

1. What is this npm command not found error?

The npm command not found error happens when your terminal is not able to find the executable file for npm. npm: Node Package Manager, the main tool used for managing JavaScript packages for Node.js projects. This error occurs when Node.js and npm aren’t installed well, or the PATH environment variable has been incorrectly set.

How to Fix: 

Node.js and npm are meant to be installed using commands, such as sudo apt install NodeJS npm, on Linux. For the other case of Windows and macOS, simply download the installer from the Node.js website. The PATH should be checked because it can be the configuration that will not add the npm directory to the PATH by running echo $PATH in the terminal.

2. Even after Installing npm, why it is still not recognized?

You may still be getting the npm command not found error even after installing npm. This usually results from not adding the installation directory of npm to the PATH variable of your system, or there was a problem in the installation of the package itself.

How to Fix:

 Confirm the PATH: Ensure the Directory for installation of npm is under PATH environmental variable of your system. Rerun npm: Reinstall through the official installer for your operating system or through package managers of City apt, brew, or choco.

3. Can I use npm with no installation of Node.js?

Npm, the Node Package Manager, is bundled along with Node.js. Npm cannot be used independently as it is mostly coupled with Node.js.

Solution:
Install Node.js that would automatically install npm along with it. On Ubuntu/Linux, you can use the following commands:

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4. How can I reinstall npm without reinstalling Node.js?

If npm is what is causing problems but you don’t want to reinstall Node.js, then npm can be reinstalled separately. 

Solution: 
This would globally install npm without interfering with your installation of Node.js. 

5. What if I use a version manager like nvm?

Error npm command not found might appear if you are nvm (Node Version Manager) and the active version of Node.js you have does not include version of npm or you have not set default version. 
Solution: 

Install npm for the current version: 

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Switch to an active Node.js version:

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Culmination: npm command not found- made easy

To sum up, the npm command not found error can cause frustration; however, one can use the appropriate arrangement to remove the problem that occurs on any operating system, whether Ubuntu, windows, or Mac. The first and perhaps the most essential thing is that Node.js and npm must be correctly set up to ensure that a system’s PATH is properly configured. By following the steps described in this article, you will be able to get npm running, helping to streamline your development process.

Be bold and face the empty command issue fix it today and take your Node.js work to the next level!

If you are trying to work on a project in Node.js, and encountering the error ‘npm command not found’ you may have improperly installed the npm repository. In this article, you will find information about JavaScript, Node.js, and npm, as well as the solution to the ‘npm command not found error’. Step-by-step solutions are provided below for the three major operating systems, Windows, Linux, and Mac.

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JavaScript, Node.js, and npm

npm is the package manager that is associated with JavaScript, and specifically the interpreter Node.js. npm is a repository allowing developers to publish their Node.js projects online, where any other developer or community member can access them. The npm repository hosts both open-source and paid packages.

JavaScript is a very popular programming language. JavaScript has been a primary language used to make web applications interactive since HTML5 became standard around 2010. Over the last 10 years, many JavaScript front-end frameworks have been developed, such as Vue, Angular, React, and React Native. A few back-end frameworks have been developed for JavaScript, such as Next, Meteor, and Express. Frameworks allow developers to access a suite of code libraries, to improve development timelines. Instead of writing common code from scratch each time, libraries provide that code already, allowing developers to instead focus their attention on coding custom content and actions.

Node.js is not a back-end or front-end framework, instead Node.js is a runtime environment. Yet, Node.js is the most popular for back-end development of applications. The runtime environment can handle hundreds of calls in the loop simultaneously without waiting for an API to respond. Node.js was developed in 2009 using Google’s V8 JavaScript engine (from Chrome). Since then, Node.js has been adopted by many large companies. Amazon Web Services (AWS) which provides about 33% of all web services, uses Node.js. Walmart, Yahoo!, Microsoft, PayPal, and Netflix are just a few of the other major companies using this runtime environment. 

What causes the ‘npm command not found’ error?

This article has been organized into solutions for different operating systems, to provide an easier way for you to find the solutions that are pertinent to your system. The causes are primarily the same across Windows, Linux, and Mac, but the methods are different.

There are four main causes that can trigger the ‘npm command not found’ error:

1. npm package manager is not installed
   • When you install Node.js on Windows, npm should automatically be included. However if you selected custom install and didn’t select to install the npm package manager, you may not actually have npm on your system.
   • Unlike Windows, npm is not automatically installed on Linux distributions. If you didn’t select to install npm, the error will continue to appear until you install it.
2. PATH and system variables are not set correctly
   • When you install Node.js on Windows, the PATH and system variables are automatically set, but if you selected custom install and didn’t select ‘Add to PATH’ you may have an incorrectly set PATH.
3. Outdated version of Node.js
   • If Node.js is outdated, this can cause the npm package manager commands to fail.
4. A permission issue is preventing the use of npm commands
   • For Mac and Linux operating systems, you may need to adjust permissions for your npm directory.

Windows Operating System

The following solutions are for users and developers trying to solve the ‘npm command not found’ error on a Windows operating system. As Windows 10 is the most updated and supported version of Windows, the step-by-step instructions use Windows 10.

1. Verify/Install Node.js and npm

Before going any further and trying any other solutions, it’s important to verify that Node.js and npm are installed on your system:

1. Right-click on the Windows icon on the taskbar. Select Windows PowerShell (Admin).

1. Enter “node -v” and Windows Powershell will print the Node.js version number.
2. Enter “npm -v” to print the npm version number.
3. If both of the above commands report version numbers, then Node.js and npm are on your system.
4. Otherwise, you will need to download the installer for Windows (x64). Run the installer and follow the prompts to install the default settings. Npm package manager should be installed with Node.js, as well as online documentation shortcuts, and it will be added to PATH.

2. Check PATH and system variables

To check and fix PATH and system variables for Node.js on Windows:

1. Click on the Windows icon on the taskbar and search environment variable. Click open for the option listed as Edit the system environment variables.

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1. The System Properties window will open. Select the Advanced tab and then Environment Variables…

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1. In the Environment Variables window, under System variables, select Path, then Edit…

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1. Search the list for C:\Program Files\nodejs. If this path doesn’t exist, you need to create a new one.

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1. Click New…, then input a Variable name. For the Variable value enter “C:\Program Files\nodejs“. Now click OK. 

3. Update Node.js

Outdated versions of Node.js can cause serious issues. To upgrade Node to the latest version:

1. Right-click on the Windows icon on the taskbar. Select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2. Run the following commands to update Node.js and npm:
   • Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Scope CurrentUser -Force
   • npm install -g npm-windows-upgrade
   • npm-windows-upgrade
3. After any packages install and update, check your version of Node.js to ensure it’s updated by entering “node -v“.

Linux Operating System

There are many Linux distributions available, but for the purpose of simplicity, this article will focus on solutions for Ubuntu. Ubuntu boasts the largest Linux distribution market share and has been around since 2004. Other popular distributions include Manjaro, Linux Mint, and Red Hat, but much of the solutions will be applicable to these distributions as well. The solutions are specifically for Ubuntu 20.04.

Below are four solutions to solve the ‘npm command not found’ error on Ubuntu:

1. Install Node.js and npm

Installing Node.js and npm on Ubuntu is fairly simple:

1. Open a terminal window pressing CTRL+ALT+T simultaneously. Alternatively you can navigate to the Activities menu and search terminal, then clicking on the resulting icon for terminal.
2. Type the following commands:
   • sudo apt update
   • sudo apt install nodejs npm
3. When the packages are finished installing, you can verify that both Node.js and npm are installed by entering:
   • node –version
   • npm –version

In this solution, the sudo command gives the user elevated permissions (the same as an administrator). Now that Node.js and npm have been installed and verified, you can attempt to run an npm command.

2. Check PATH and system variables

You now know that npm is correctly installed on your system. Next we will verify the default path for the npm command:

1. Open a terminal window pressing CTRL+ALT+T simultaneously. Alternatively you can navigate to the Activities menu and search terminal, then click on the resulting icon for terminal.
2. To check the current path for npm commands enter “which npm“.
3. The /etc/environment file needs to be checked for the file path from above, which may look something like /usr/bin/npm. Enter “cat /etc/environment“.
4. This will give you a readout of your environment variable. You want to find the same file path from step 2, in your environmental variable. If not, continue on to add the npm path.
5. To edit the /etc/environment file enter “vi /etc/environment“.
6. Now you need to add a colon(:) and the npm path from step 2 to the end of the environmental file. This path file should end at ‘bin’. Make sure this path is before the end of the quotes.
7. Enter “source /etc/environment” to reload the file with the changes.

3. Give User Permissions to Run Commands

Linux has been designed to be a secure operating system, because most applications have very limited permissions. Sometimes this can cause interference with how programs work. To give yourself permissions to edit node modules (where npm is located):

1. Open a terminal window pressing CTRL+ALT+T simultaneously. Alternatively you can navigate to the Activities menu and search terminal, then click on the resulting icon for terminal.
2. Enter “sudo chown -R $(whoami):admin /usr/local/lib/node_modules/“.
3. Attempt to run an npm command and see if the problem reoccurs.

4. Update Node.js

Finally, older outdated versions of Node.js can cause version issues. To upgrade Node to the latest version, you will use npm:

1. Open a terminal window pressing CTRL+ALT+T simultaneously. Alternatively you can navigate to the Activities menu and search terminal, then click on the resulting icon for terminal.
2. Enter “sudo npm cache clean -f” to clear your current cache so that there are no problems accessing the correct file path, if you changed it in the second solution.
3. Now enter “sudo npm install npm@latest -g“.
4. You can verify that Node updated to the latest version by entering “npm -v“.

MacOS

1. Install Node.js and npm

Homebrew is a highly popular package manager for MacOS. If you have Homebrew installed on your Mac computer, it is very easy to install Node.js. You should strongly consider downloading Homebrew if you don’t have it. This solution will show you how to install Homebrew, as well as Node.js and npm:

1. Click the Launchpad icon in the Dock, then search for Terminal. Click the result for Terminal.
2. Type in the following command into your Terminal window to install Homebrew:
   • /bin/bash -c “$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)”
3. Then enter:
   • brew update
   • brew install node
4. To verify that both are installed, enter “node -v” and “npm -v” to confirm the version of both Node.js and npm.
5. Check if the ‘npm command not found’ error remains.

Alternatively you can find and use the Node.js installer for macOS.

2. Check PATH and system variables

For macOS, npm is usually found under /usr/local/bin. To check your PATH variable:

1. Click the Launchpad icon in the Dock, then search for Terminal. Click the result for Terminal.
2. Into the terminal enter echo $PATH, to display your PATH variable.
3. Now enter “npm get prefix“. Compare the two outputs. Most likely the npm get prefix command will report /usr/local/bin. This should also be found in your PATH variable.
4. If the prefix is NOT found in the PATH variable, it needs to be set. To set your PATH enter “export PATH=”[prefix]/bin:$PATH” >> ~/.bash_profile“. [prefix] is the value returned in step 3. Now enter “source ~/.bash_profile“.
5. Check to see if the ‘npm command not found’ error is now resolved by trying the same command that failed previously.

3. Give User Permissions to Run Commands

MacOS shares a lot of similarities with Linux. Like Linux, you may need to give yourself permissions to edit node modules to bypass this error:

1. Click the Launchpad icon in the Dock, then search for Terminal. Click the result for Terminal.
2. Enter “sudo chown -R $(whoami):admin /usr/local/lib/node_modules/“.
3. Attempt to run an npm command and see if the problem reoccurs.

4. Update Node.js and npm

If you installed Homebrew from the first MacOS solution, this will be extremely simple. If you don’t have Homebrew or another package manager like Nvm or N, you need to visit the Node.js website to find the newest installer for the updated version. Make sure to follow the default installation settings and don’t choose custom install unless you know what you are doing.

1. If you have Homebrew, click the Launchpad icon in the Dock, then search for Terminal. Click the result for Terminal.
2. Enter “brew upgrade node“.
3. That’s it! Double-check by entering “node -v” and “npm -v” to ensure you are up-to-date.

Key Takeaway

The ‘npm command not found’ can be a major pain when you are working to develop an application and can’t access an important directory like npm. Without npm you don’t have access to the libraries for Node.js, and will spend significant extra time coding simple and common features by hand.

This article was broken down into three major sections for the operating systems Windows, Linux, and MacOS. This was to allow you easy access to solutions that would be helpful for your system, without requiring you to wade through non-useful information.

The four primary causes of the ‘npm command not found’ error are Node.js and/or npm not installed, path and system variables not set properly, outdated Node.js, and permissions conflicts. The solutions across all three operating systems are fairly simple and straightforward. If you were not familiar with command line (terminal, bash, etc) commands, you may have learned some useful commands in these solutions. Let us know in the comments section which solution worked, or if we have left out anything!