How to Update NPM?

NPM (Node Package Manager) is the default package manager for Node.js and is written entirely in JavaScript. It manages all the packages and modules for Node.js and includes a command-line client, npm. NPM is installed automatically with Node.js.

Managing Packages with NPM

The required packages and modules in a Node.js project are installed using npm. This efficient tool streamlines package management, ensuring that dependencies are easily installed and maintained.

Updating NPM

A basic method to update npm on any device is by using the command.

npm update [-g] [<pkg>...]

Updating npm means updating the Node Package Manager to the latest version. This process also ensures that Node.js and its associated modules are kept up-to-date, providing access to the latest features and security improvements.

How to Update npm on Windows, MacOS, or Linux

To update npm on Windows, MacOS or Linux follow the following methods. Depending on your operating system we have provided 5 methods to update npm on your machine.

Table of Content

  • Using npm update
  • Using npm@latest
  • Using PPA repository (only for Linux)
  • Using cache cleaning & stable installation (only for Linux)
  • Using npm@next
  • Conclusion

Using npm update

Write the following command to update the node package manager on your device(Windows, MacOS, or Linux)

npm update -g

This method updates all globally installed packages to their latest versions.

Using npm@latest

Write the following command to update the node package manager(NPM) to the latest version.

npm install npm@latest -g

This command installs the latest version of NPM globally on your system(Windows, MacOS, or Linux).

Using PPA repository (only for Linux)

Write the following command to install Node.js and npm.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:chris-lea/node.js
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nodejs npm

Using cache cleaning & stable installation (only for Linux)

Write the following command to update Node.js to a stable module.

sudo npm cache clean -f
sudo npm install -g n
sudo n stable

Using npm@next

Write the following command to install the pre-release version of the Node package manager(npm)

npm install -g npm@next

This command will install the next(pre-release) version of npm globally on your device.

Conclusion

npm allows developers to install, manage, and publish code libraries and modules written in JavaScript(JS). It is a very important component in Node.js as it is a large repository of open-source packages.

In this tutorial, we have covered 5 methods with examples to update npm/install the latest npm version on your device. These methods will work on every device(Windows, Linux, or MacOS). Install the latest NPM version to get the latest collection of packages and improve your web development experience!

Frequently Asked Questions-  How to Update npm

Does npm install the latest version?

Yes, by default ‘npm install’ command installs the latest version of npm.

How to update npm using the command?

To update npm, use the command ‘npm install -g npm@latest‘. This will install the latest version of npm on your device.

How do I install npm?

You can install npm by simply installing Node.js, which installs npm alongside.

How do I check my npm version?

To check your npm version, write the command ‘npm-v’.