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nvm Node version manager

Version 0.40.8 · source

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Start here

nvm install --lts
Install latest LTS
nvm ls
List installed versions
nvm use <version>
Switch this shell
nvm alias default <version>
Pick the default
nvm current
Show active version
nvm ls-remote --lts
List LTS releases
nvm use
Follow .nvmrc
nvm uninstall <version>
Remove a version

Concepts

  1. .nvmrc version in project
  2. nvm shell function
  3. ~/.nvm/versions installed Node
  4. node, npm this shell only

Install nvm

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.8/install.sh | bash
Install nvm with curl
wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.8/install.sh | bash
Install nvm with wget
nvm --version
Show the nvm version
command -v nvm
Check that nvm is loaded
Prints nvm when the function exists; empty output means the shell never sourced nvm.sh.
source ~/.bashrc
Reload the shell profile after install
Use ~/.zshrc for zsh. Or just open a new terminal.
PROFILE=/dev/null
Stop the installer editing your profile
Set it in front of the install script's bash, then add the source lines yourself.
XDG_CONFIG_HOME
Keep nvm files under $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/nvm
git fetch --tags origin
Update a git-clone install (then check out the tag)

Install and use

nvm install <version>
Install a Node version
nvm install --lts
Install the newest LTS
nvm install node
Install the latest release
nvm install
Install the version from .nvmrc
nvm use <version>
Use a version in this shell
nvm use --lts
Use the newest LTS
nvm use node
Use the latest release
nvm use system
Use the system-installed Node
nvm use default
Return to the default version
nvm use
Use the version from .nvmrc
nvm install --lts=<name>
Install a named LTS line
nvm install <version> --latest-npm
Upgrade npm to the newest it supports
nvm install-latest-npm
Upgrade npm in the active version
nvm install <version> --reinstall-packages-from=<old>
Install and copy global packages
nvm install -s <version>
Compile from source
nvm install <version> --offline
Install from cached files only

Inspect versions

nvm ls
List installed versions
nvm ls-remote
List all installable versions
nvm ls-remote --lts
List LTS versions only
nvm current
Show the active version
nvm which <version>
Print the path of that node binary
nvm which current
Print the path of the active node
nvm version-remote --lts
Show the newest LTS version number
nvm version <version>
Resolve a name to an installed version
nvm ls --no-colors
List without colour codes
nvm uninstall <version>
Remove an installed version
nvm cache clear
Empty the download cache
Suggested by the docs when an install fails with curl: (33).

Aliases and defaults

nvm alias default <version>
Set the version new shells start with
nvm alias default node
Default to whatever is latest
nvm alias default lts/*
Default to the newest LTS
nvm alias <name> <version>
Create your own alias
nvm alias
List all aliases
nvm unalias <name>
Delete an alias
nvm use lts/<name>
Use a named LTS line, such as lts/iron
LTS aliases are managed by nvm under $NVM_DIR/alias/lts; do not edit them.
nvm deactivate
Undo nvm's PATH changes in this shell
nvm unload
Remove nvm from this shell

Run without switching

nvm run <version> <script.js>
Run node under that version
nvm exec <version> <command>
Run any command under that version
nvm run --lts <script.js>
Run node under the newest LTS
nvm exec --lts npm test
Run npm under the newest LTS
nvm exec default node -v
Check the default version without switching

.nvmrc and packages

echo "lts/*" > .nvmrc
Pin the project to the newest LTS
node -v > .nvmrc
Pin the project to the running version
nvm install && nvm use
Install then use the pinned version
nvm reinstall-packages <version>
Copy that version's global packages here
Installs into the active version; it does not touch npm itself.
npx nvmrc
Validate the .nvmrc file
$NVM_DIR/default-packages
File of packages installed with every new Node
One package per line, anything npm accepts, such as rimraf or object-inspect@1.0.2.
.nvmrc contents
Value Meaning
20 Any installed or installable 20.x
20.11.1 That exact release
lts/* Newest LTS
lts/iron A named LTS line
node Latest release

Shell integration

export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
Where nvm lives
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && . "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"
Load nvm in your shell profile
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && . "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" --no-use
Load nvm without activating the default
Skips the default-version setup, which makes shell startup faster. Run nvm use when you need Node.
NVM_NODEJS_ORG_MIRROR=<url> nvm install <version>
Install from a mirror
NVM_NO_SOURCE_FALLBACK=1
Error instead of compiling when no binary exists
NVM_SYMLINK_CURRENT=true
Keep a current symlink for IDEs

Troubleshooting

Recipes

Set up a machine
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.8/install.sh | bash# open a new terminal, thennvm install --ltsnvm alias default lts/*node -v
Pin a project
cd myappnode -v > .nvmrcgit add .nvmrc# teammates runnvm install && nvm use
Upgrade Node and keep global packages
nvm install --lts --reinstall-packages-from=currentnvm alias default lts/*nvm uninstall <old-version>
Test on several versions
for v in 20 22 24; do  nvm exec $v npm testdone