How To Resolve npm Command Not Found Error in NodeJS

Node Package Manager (npm) is the default package manager for NodeJS. It allows developers to easily manage libraries and dependencies in their NodeJS projects. It is an essential tool for managing the installation and versioning of packages from the npm registry.

The npm: command not found error happens when the npm command cannot be found in the system's environment variables. This typically occurs when NodeJS and npm are not properly installed, or the system cannot locate them.

Causes of npm: command not found Error

The npm: command not found error can be caused by several factors:

• NodeJS is not installed: npm is bundled with NodeJS. If NodeJS is not installed, npm will not be available.
• npm is not installed properly: If NodeJS is installed but npm is missing or not installed properly, the error will occur.
• System PATH configuration is incorrect: If the npm binary is not correctly added to the system's PATH variable, the terminal will not recognize the npm command.
• Corrupt or incomplete installation: A failed installation of NodeJS or npm might leave some components missing, causing npm to be unavailable.

Resolve npm Command Not Found Error in NodeJS

1. Verify NodeJS Installation

First ensure that NodeJS is installed on your system. You can check this by opening a terminal or command prompt and typing:

node -v

If NodeJS is installed correctly, this command will display the installed version. If not, visit the official NodeJS website and follow the installation instructions for your operating system.

Reinstall NodeJS/npm

Sometimes, the npm command not found error occurs due to a corrupted installation. In such cases, reinstalling NodeJS/npm can resolve the issue. Here's how:

Step 1: Uninstall NodeJS/npm completely from your system.

Step 2: Download the latest version of NodeJS from the official website.

Step 3: Follow the installation instructions provided for your operating system.

After reinstalling NodeJS, verify that npm is accessible by running:

npm -v

2. Check System's PATH Configuration

The npm command not found error often occurs when the npm executable is not included in the system's PATH environment variable. Here's how to verify and update the PATH configuration:

Windows:

Step 1: Open the Control Panel and navigate to System > Advanced system settings > Environment Variables.

Step 2: In the System Variables section, find the PATH variable and click Edit.

Step 3: Ensure that the directory containing npm usually (C:\Program Files\nodejs\) is included in the PATH. If not, add it.

Restart your command prompt for the changes to take effect.

macOS/Linux:

Open a terminal and edit the ~/.bashrc, ~/.bash_profile, or ~/.profile file using a text editor.

Add the following line at the end of the file:

export PATH="$PATH:/usr/local/bin/node"

Replace /usr/local/bin/node with the actual path to your NodeJS installation directory.

Save the file and execute the following command to apply the changes:

source ~/.bashrc
or
source ~/.bash_profile
or
source ~/.profile

3. Manual Installation of npm

In cases, npm might not be installed properly even after installing NodeJS. In such scenarios, you can manually install npm using Node Version Manager (nvm) or by downloading and installing npm separately.

Using nvm

• Install nvm by following the instructions provided in the official repository (https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm).
• Once nvm is installed, use it to install the desired NodeJS version, which automatically installs npm along with NodeJS.
• Set the installed NodeJS version as the default.

Manual npm Installation

• Download the npm installation script from the official npm repository (https://github.com/npm/cli).
• Execute the installation script using NodeJS. This will install npm globally on your system.

4. Permissions and Ownership

• Ensure that the directories where npm is installed have the correct permissions and ownership. Sometimes, permission issues can prevent npm from being accessed or executed properly. You may need to use administrator or superuser privileges to resolve permission-related errors.

Conclusion

The "npm Command Not Found" error usually results from NodeJS not being installed, or the npm executable not being in your system’s PATH. Ensure NodeJS is installed, check your PATH configuration, and reinstall NodeJS if necessary. This should resolve the issue and allow you to use npm commands.