Installing and Using NVM (Node Version Manager)

The Node Version Manager (NVM) is an open source version manager for Node.js (Node). NVM is easy to understand and works on any POSIX-compliant shell (for example, sh or bash). NVM allows you to easily install and manage different versions of Node and switch between them on a per-shell basis. This guide describes how to install NVM, and how to use it to install and run different versions of Node.

Node changes quickly and testing applications with different versions is often difficult. Since NVM enables quick and effortless switching between Node versions, it is much easier to test version compatibility and upgrades with multiple libraries. NVM stores the Node versions and associated modules inside your user directory, so sudo does not have to be used. NVM also simplifies the installation and compilation process because Node versions no longer have to be obtained directly from the distribution channel.

A complete NVM installation consists of the following high-level steps. Each step is described below.

1. Installing and Configuring NVM
2. Using NVM to Install Node
3. Using NVM to Run Node
4. Creating NVM Aliases

These instructions show you how to install NVM and are generally valid for most Linux distributions, although some of the .bashrc directives might vary slightly on different shells. You can install and use NVM regardless of whether you have installed Node already. NVM alters path variables to select different versions of Node, so it works with pre-existing installations.

1. Install NVM using either curl or wget.

   To install NVM using curl, run the following command:

   curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.37.2/install.sh | bash
   

   To install NVM using wget, run the following command:

   wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.37.2/install.sh | bash
   

   Note

   You can also install NVM using GIT or with a manual download and installation. Consult the GIT section of the NVM Documentation Guide for detailed instructions.

2. Source the new instructions NVM added to .bashrc during the installation process. You can either exit and re-enter the shell console, or manually source your .bashrc file. This file is almost always located at the root of your home directory.

   source ~/.bashrc
   

   As an alternate method, you can execute the new instructions in the same console to apply them immediately.

   export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
   [ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"  # This loads nvm
   [ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion"  # This loads nvm bash_completion
   

   Note

   NVM uses the following environmental variables. We recommend leaving them at the default settings. Use caution if you decide to change them for any reason.

   • NVM_DIR: NVM’s installation directory.
   • NVM_BIN: The location where Node, the Node Package Manager (NPM), and global packages for the active version of Node are installed.
   • NVM_INC: The directory for Node’s include files (for building C/C++ add-ons).
   • NVM_CD_FLAGS: The flags used to maintain compatibility with zsh.
   • NVM_RC_VERSION: The version from the .nvmrc file (if used).

3. Confirm you have successfully installed NVM.

   command -v nvm
   

   If the installation was successful, NVM returns nvm. If you see the message nvm: command not found, confirm the original installation completed successfully and repeat step #2 of this section to source the .bashrc file.

           nvm
       

4. You can confirm the version of NVM that is running with the following command:

   nvm --version
   

NVM’s install command downloads, compiles, and installs the specified version of Node. You can install as many versions of Node as you want.

1. To install the latest version of Node, run the following:

   nvm install node
   

   After a successful install, NVM displays information about the installation.

   Now using node v15.5.1 (npm v7.3.0)
   Creating default alias: default -> node (-> v15.5.1)
       

   Note

   When used in a NVM command, node is an alias for the latest version of Node. The first version of Node you installed automatically becomes the default version. A new shell instantiates with the current version of Node set to default. The alias system refers to the system-installed version of Node (if any).

2. To install a specific version of Node, specify the major or minor release number. You can preview a list of all available Node versions with the ls-remote command.

   nvm ls-remote
   

   NVM displays a long list of available versions in the following format:

   v5.12.0
   v6.0.0
       

3. Install any additional versions of Node you want to use. You can specify either a major or minor release of Node to install. When you install a new version of Node, NVM immediately begins using it and designates it as the current version.

   nvm install 13.10.1 # Specific minor release
   nvm install 14 # Specify major release only
   

   Note

   If you only specify the major release number for a Node version, NVM installs the latest version of that release. You can determine the latest version of each release from the output of nvm ls-remote. Node also displays the exact version it selected after installation (for example, Now using node v14.15.4). If you specify a version of Node that is not available, NVM responds with the error message Version '15.0.2' not found - try 'nvm ls-remote' to browse available versions.

1. Review all installed versions of Node with the ls command.

   nvm ls
   

   NVM returns a list of all Node versions and aliases, along with an arrow indicating the current version. Here is a sample output:

   v13.10.1
   v14.15.4
   ->      v15.5.1
   default -> node (-> v15.5.1)
   iojs -> N/A (default)
   node -> stable (-> v15.5.1) (default)
   stable -> 15.5 (-> v15.5.1) (default)
       

To select a different version of Node, use the nvm use command. Specify either the version number of Node (major or minor release) or an alias such as node.

nvm use node

or

nvm use 14

NVM confirms it is now using the new version.

Now using node v14.15.4

You can also confirm the current version of Node with nvm current.

nvm current

NVM again returns the current version number.

v14.15.4

Note

You can also confirm the version of Node currently in use with node -v. To go back to using the system’s version of Node, run the command nvm use system.

To switch to a different version of Node and immediately open a Node console, use nvm run. The run command is very similar to nvm use in all other respects.

nvm run node

NVM confirms it is now running the selected version of Node and returns a Node prompt.

Running node v15.5.1 (npm v7.3.0)
Welcome to Node.js v15.5.1.
Type ".help" for more information.
>

You might find it convenient to refer to a Node version by a different or easier to remember name. NVM already provides some pre-made defaults such as default and node, which refers to the latest version. But you can use the alias command to change the value of an existing alias or create a brand-new alias.

1. Use the nvm alias command to change the default Node version. Follow the alias keyword with the default alias and the new version of Node it should reference.

   nvm alias default 14
   

   NVM confirms the new value for the alias.

   default -> 14 (-> v14.15.4)
       

2. Use the nvm alias command to create a new alias. The following example defines a new maintenance alias as Node version 13.10.1.

   nvm alias maintenance 13.10.1
   

   NVM confirms the new alias.

   maintenance -> 13.10.1 (-> v13.10.1)
       

3. You can display all of the new and old aliases with the nvm ls command.

   nvm ls
   

Any Node.js version can be in one of the following three release phases: “Current”, “Active Long Term Support (LTS)”, and “Maintenance”. The LTS release version of Node.js includes new features, bug fixes, and updates that have been approved to be a part of the release line. This section shows you how to install the latest LTS version of Node.js using NVM.

Use the following command to install the latest LTS version of Node.js on your system:

nvm install --lts

You should see the following output:

Installing latest LTS version.
Downloading and installing node v16.15.1...
Downloading https://nodejs.org/dist/v16.15.1/node-v16.15.1-darwin-x64.tar.xz...
############################################################################################################ 100.0%
Computing checksum with shasum -a 256
Checksums matched!
Now using node v16.15.1 (npm v8.11.0)

After the installation is complete NVM automatically switches to the latest LTS version of Node.js that you just installed.

To install a specific LTS release line (a version other than the latest version), use the --lts argument along with the release line name that you want to install.

nvm install --lts=argon

The example command installs the “argon” LTS line of Node.js. Refer to the Node.js Releases page for LTS release names.

To switch to the latest LTS version of Node.js that is already installed on your system, use the following command:

nvm use --lts

Now using node v16.15.1 (npm v8.11.0)

To switch to a specific LTS version of Node.js, use the following command:

nvm use lts/argon

The example command switches to the “argon” LTS line of Node.js.

Now using node v4.9.1 (npm v2.15.11)

Although NVM is very straightforward to use, it also provides some advanced capabilities. See the NVM GitHub page for a full list of all advanced topics.

1. NVM allows you to migrate packages from an earlier version of Node. The nvm install command can be used with the optional -reinstall-packages-from= flag to install a new version of Node with the packages from an earlier release. The following command installs the latest version of Node, but it also performs a reinstall of the packages from the default version of Node and links them.

   nvm install node --reinstall-packages-from=default
   

   Note

   Reinstalling packages does not update the NPM version.

2. NVM enables you to define custom colors to display the various Node versions and aliases. These colors are defined on the NVM GitHub page. Use the command nvm set-colors <color-key>. If you add the --no-colors flag to a command, the information is displayed in black-and-white.

   nvm set-colors rgBcm
   

3. You can also specify a default Node version number within the .nvmrc file. This file can be located in the root directory or in any parent directory. The version indicated in .nvmrc is used if no version is specified on the command line.

NVM allows you to uninstall Node versions that are no longer required.

1. Run the command nvm uninstall with the version of Node you’d like to remove. You cannot remove a version you are currently using, so you must switch to a different version first.

   nvm uninstall 13.10.1
   

   NVM confirms the Node version has been removed.

   Uninstalled node v13.10.1
   

If you no longer intend to use NVM, you can uninstall it with the unload command.

1. Deactivate NVM with the nvm deactivate command. This clears any path variables.

   nvm deactivate
   

2. Uninstall NVM.

   nvm unload
   

3. Clean up your .bashrc file by removing the following lines:

   export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
   [ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"  # This loads nvm
   [ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion"  # This loads nvm
   

Note

If you only want to go back to using the system’s version of Node, you do not have to uninstall NVM. In this case, run the command nvm use system.

More Information

You may wish to consult the following resources for additional information on this topic. While these are provided in the hope that they will be useful, please note that we cannot vouch for the accuracy or timeliness of externally hosted materials.

• NVM GitHub Page