Fixing npm path in Windows 8 and 10

Question

Have done a lot of googling, tried reinstalling node.js using the official installer, but my npm pathing still doesn't work.

This doesn't work

npm install foo

I get an error message saying missing module npm-cli.js

2 hours of googling later I discovered a workaround
Instead of simply 'npm' I type

node C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\bin\npm-cli.js

But how can I correct my nodejs install so I can simply type 'npm' ?

Vermicular

You need to add `C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\bin` to your PATH. – Aegaeon

At first please check` npm --v` for that it shows the verssion or not. – Degradation

Answer 1

You need to Add C:\Program Files\nodejs to your PATH environment variable. To do this follow these steps:

1. Use the global Search Charm to search "Environment Variables"
2. Click "Edit system environment variables"
3. Click "Environment Variables" in the dialog.
4. In the "System Variables" box, search for Path and edit it to include C:\Program Files\nodejs. Make sure it is separated from any other paths by a ;.

You will have to restart any currently-opened command prompts before it will take effect.

Psychiatrist

thanks will try, Is it necessary to reboot for the changes to have effect? – Vermicular

I assume this SHOULD work, but I now get 'Error : Cannot find module 'npmlog' – Vermicular

Try changing the path C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\bin to C:\Program Files\nodejs – Psychiatrist

In my case autocomplete was not working, but node and npm worked. – Allhallowtide

Where does VS 2017 install nodejs, I'm unable to find it. – Thiel

Tried 20+ accepted answers in last 4 days. Nothing works for me. process.env.ANY_VARIABLE always gives undefined – Healion

@VipulHadiya I'm not sure your issue is related to a the original question, it seems more a node/project configuration issue. – Psychiatrist

Answer 2

get the path from npm:

npm config get prefix

and just as a future reference, this is the path I added in Windows 10:

C:\Users\{yourName}\AppData\Roaming\npm

---

Update:

If you want to add it for all users just add the following path [by @glenn-lawrence from the comments]:

%AppData%\npm

Jactitation

Exactly this! For some reason my PATH lost that folder, the npm was working and installing apps such as uglify-js was properly done, but they were not showing up in any terminal. I just did what you wrote, added that folder to PATH and Sublime Text can now read those apps. Appreciated. – Beekman

On Windows 8 and 10 you can just use %AppData%\npm to make it work for any user. – Globigerina

If you're landing here from a search, you're most likely looking for this. – Sweat

on my Windows 10 Home laptop: I used Glenn's solution, but for some weird reason had to move %APPDATA%\npm to be high up in the list of entries for PATH. on other computers I did not have to do that ... – Seamount

The developer's life is definitely harder on Windows. This tip is really useful. – Ampere

Answer 3

I have used the cmdlet and navigate to the path you want to switch your npm files to. Type in npm root -g to see what the current path your npm is installed to. Next use npm config set prefix and your npm path will be changed to whatever directory you are currently on.

Mountain

I agree with Mr Z. Khullah, no one solutions was worked for me, accept the solution provided by Mr Martez C. environment/os windows 10 home with multi-users. – Gershom

Answer 4

Try this one dude if you're using windows:

1.) Search environment variables at your start menu's search box.
2.) Click it then go to Environment Variables...
3.) Click PATH, click Edit
4.) Click New and try to copy and paste this: C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\bin

If you got an error. Do the number 4.) Click New, then browse the bin folder

• You may also Visit this link for more info.

Relator

Answer 5

Go to control panel -> System -> Advanced System Settings then environment variables.

From here find the path variable, Go to the end of the line and paste "C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\bin" (change the path to the directory to where ever you installed it e.g. if you specifically installed it anywhere change it)

Adz

Answer 6

Edit the System environment variables, and enter following path:

C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe;

C:\Users\{yourName}\AppData\Roaming\npm

Nmr

Answer 7

Installed Node Version Manager (NVM) for Windows: https://github.com/coreybutler/nvm-windows

I'm using Windows 10 - 64 bit so I run... Commands:

• nvm arch 64 (to make default the 64 bit executable)
• nvm list (to list all available node versions)
• nvm install 8.0.0 (to download node version 8.0.0 - you can pick any)
• nvm use 8.0.0 (to use that specific version)

In my case I had to just switch to version 8.5.0 and then switch back again to 8.0.0 and it was fixed. Apparently NVM sets the PATH variables whenever you do that switch.

Kennel

I forget to turn on nvm. So I have to execute "nvm on" command. This is for first time installation. – Grippe

Answer 8

You can follow the following steps:

• Search environment variables from start menu's search box.
• Click it then go to Environment Variables
• Click PATH
• click Edit
• Click New and try to copy and paste your path for 'bin' folder [find where you installed the node] for example according to my machine 'C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\bin'

If you got any error. try the another step:

• Click New, then browse for the 'bin' folder

Degradation

It was helpful for me. – Kerf

It is my pleasure. – Degradation

Answer 9

I did this in Windows 10,

1. Search for Environment Variables in the Windows search
2. "Edit the System environment variables" option will be popped in the result
3. Open that, select the "Path" and click on edit, then click "New" add your nodeJS Bin path i.e in my machine its installed in c:\programfiles\nodejs\node_modules\npm\bin
4. Once you added click "Ok" then close

Now you can write your command in prompt or powershell.

If you using WIndows 10, go for powershell its a rich UI

Spiry

Answer 10

If after installing your npm successfully, and you want to install VueJS then this is what you should do

after running the following command (as Admin)

npm install --global vue-cli

It will place the vue.cmd in the following directory C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\npm

you will see this in your directory.

Now to use vue as a command in cmd. Open the cmd as admin and run the following command.

setx /M path "%path%;%appdata%\npm"

Now restart the cmd and run the vue again. It should work just fine, and then you can begin to develop with VueJS.

I hope this helps.

Missie

Answer 11

This worked for me: 1. npm root -g (to see the current npm is installed) 2. npm config set prefix (to change the path)

Niko

Answer 12

change the path for nodejs in environment varibale.

Gunplay

Answer 13

add Environment Path to

C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe;C:\Users[your username]\AppData\Roaming\npm

Jacobs

Answer 14

steps 1 in the user variable and system variable

  C:\Program Files\nodejs

then check both node -v and the npm -v then try to update the the npm i -g npm

Baronet

Answer 15

The problem for me was a Zscaler certificate issue. I reached out to the IT team and they gave me a Zscaler certificate with a .pem extension to use.

Then you can run this line

npm config set cafile <Path to Certificate>/<certificate name>.pem

Artificial

Answer 16

I've had this issue in 2 computers in my house using Windows 10 each. The problem began when i had to change few Environmental variables for projects that I've been working on Visual studio 2017 etc. After few months coming back to using node js and npm I had this issue again and non of the solutions above helped. I saw Sean's comment on Yar's solution and i mixed both solutions: 1) at the environmental variables window i had one extra variable that held this value: %APPDATA%\npm. I deleted it and the problem dissapeared!

Jewelljewelle

Answer 17

If you can't work with npm packages, you propably has bad config with npm install packages, you try this:

Run the following command in your terminal to revert back to the default registry

npm config set registry https://registry.npmjs.org/

https://docs.npmjs.com/misc/config#registry

Delozier

Answer 18

When you're on Windows but running VS Code in Windows Subsystem for Linux like this

linux@user: /home$ code .

you actually want to install NodeJs on Linux with

linux@user: /home$ sudo apt install nodejs

Installing NodeJs on Windows, modifying PATH and restarting will get you no results.

Deiform

Answer 19

If, like me, you have MSYS_NO_PATHCONV = 1 configured as a user variable for Git Bash, this issue will be triggered. To workaround, you can either remove this variable or use a different shell (PowerShell) for npm.

Cressida

Answer 20

I did Node repair with the .msi file and everything worked well.

Gleason

Answer 21

I tried to update the environment variables to "C:\Program Files\nodejs". It did nothing for me.

• Open Command Prompt.
• Execute the following command "npm config edit"
• Search "prefix" and remove the semicolon before the prefix.
• Put the path to nodejs folder location(Eg: C:\Program Files\nodejs).
• Save and exit the file.

Waw

Answer 22

I may be a total noob but I had no clue I had to install npm-cli first. I had just assumed I already had it.

npm install --global vue-cli

Michalmichalak

The answer you've mentioned refers to npm-cli, but your snippet refers to vue-cli. Which one do you intend to use? – Corroboree

It make no sense to do this :( – Patiencepatient