How to Install npm on Ubuntu: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Install npm on Ubuntu: A Step-by-Step Guide

Learn to install npm on Ubuntu using apt, apt-get, and the command line. Troubleshoot common issues and
explore helpful tools like npm-check-updates. Enhance your JavaScript development workflow on Ubuntu with
the power of npm.

Tutorials - Jul 24, 23 - by Susith Nonis - 19 min Read

List of content you will read in this article:

1. Install Node.js and npm from the Ubuntu

2. Install npm on Ubuntu 22.04 and 20.04

3. Troubleshooting: Can't Install npm on Ubuntu

4. Install npm on Ubuntu via Command Line

5. Install Node.js on Ubuntu Using apt

6. Apt-get Install npm on Ubuntu 16.04

7. Troubleshooting: npm Install bcrypt Error on Ubuntu

8. Troubleshooting: npm Install Command Not Found on Ubuntu

9. Install npm-check-updates on Ubuntu

10. Conclusion
If you're a developer or someone who frequently works with JavaScript (JS), chances are you've encountered npm
(Node Package Manager). npm is a powerful tool that allows you to easily manage and install JavaScript packages
and dependencies for your projects. In this article, we'll walk you through installing npm on Ubuntu, one of the
most popular Linux distributions. You can also learn How to Install Python on Ubuntu.

Install Node.js and npm from the Ubuntu

Before we begin, ensure you have a working Ubuntu system and a user account with
sudo privileges. This will enable you to install packages and make system-wide changes.

Step 1: Update Package Lists

The first step is to update the package lists on your Ubuntu system. Open a terminal and
enter the following command:
sudo apt update

This command will fetch the latest information about available packages and their
versions from the Ubuntu repositories.
Step 2: Install Node.js
npm is bundled with Node.js, so you'll need to install Node.js first. Fortunately, Node.js
is available in the default Ubuntu repositories. To install it, run the following command:
sudo apt install nodejs

This command will install Node.js and its dependencies on your system. During
installation, you may be prompted to confirm your action by typing 'Y' and pressing
Enter.
Step 3: Verify the Installation
Once the installation is complete, you can verify that Node.js and npm are installed
correctly. To check the version of Node.js, run the following command:
node --version

This command will display the installed version of Node.js. Similarly, to check the version
of npm, enter the following command:
npm --version

If both commands return the version numbers without errors, you have successfully
installed Node.js and npm on your Ubuntu system.
Step 4: Manage npm Versions (Optional)
Sometimes, you may need to manage multiple versions of npm on your system.
Fortunately, tools are available to help you switch between different npm versions. One
such tool is `nvm` (Node Version Manager). To install `nvm`, you can use the following
commands:
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.38.0/install.sh |
bash

This command will download and execute the `install.sh` script, which will install `nvm`
on your system. After the installation is complete, close and reopen your terminal, or
run the following command to start using `nvm`:
source ~/.bashrc

Now, you can install and manage different versions of npm using the `nvm` command.
For example, to install the latest stable version of npm, run:
nvm install stable

To switch between different npm versions, use the following command:

nvm use <version>

Replace `<version>` with the desired version of npm.

Step 5: Install Global Packages (Optional)
Once you have npm installed, you can start installing global packages that can be used
across different projects. To install a global package, use the following command:
sudo npm install -g <package-name>

Replace `<package-name>` with the package name you want to install. For example, to
install the popular `webpack` package, run:
sudo npm install -g webpack

Step 6: Update the npm

Regularly updating npm is important to get the latest features, bug fixes, and security
patches. To update npm to the latest version, use the following command:
sudo npm install -g npm@latest

This command will update npm to the latest stable version available.
Install npm on Ubuntu 22.04 and 20.04
Installing npm on Ubuntu 22.04 (Focal Fossa) and 20.04 (Bionic Beaver) is similar to the
general installation steps outlined in the previous sections. However, there are slight
differences in the package availability and versioning. Let's explore how to install npm
on these specific Ubuntu versions.
Step 1: Update Package Lists
Begin by updating the package lists on your Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04 system. Launch the
terminal and execute the following command:
sudo apt update

This command will fetch the latest information about available packages and their
versions from the Ubuntu repositories.
Step 2: Install Node.js
To install Node.js on Ubuntu 22.04 and 20.04, use the following command:
sudo apt install nodejs

This command will install the Node.js runtime environment and its dependencies on
your system.
Step 3: Verify the Installation
Once the installation is complete, you can verify that Node.js and npm are installed
correctly. Open the terminal and check the version of Node.js by running:
node --version

To verify the npm version, execute the following command:

npm --version

If both commands display the version numbers without errors, you have successfully
installed Node.js and npm on your Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04 system.
Step 4: Optional Steps
If you want to manage multiple npm versions or install global packages, you can follow
the optional steps mentioned in the previous sections of this article. The process
remains the same regardless of the Ubuntu version you are using.
Troubleshooting: Can't Install npm on Ubuntu
While installing npm on Ubuntu is usually a smooth process, there may be instances
where you encounter issues or errors during the installation. Here, we will address some
common problems and provide solutions to help you overcome them.
1. Missing Dependencies
If you encounter errors related to missing dependencies during the installation process,
you can try running the following command to install the required dependencies:
sudo apt install build-essential

This command installs essential build tools and libraries often needed for compiling and
installing certain npm packages.
2. Permission Errors
Sometimes, you may encounter permission errors when installing npm packages globally
or using sudo with npm. To resolve this, avoiding using sudo with npm commands is
recommended. Instead, you can configure npm to install global packages in your user
directory by executing the following command:
npm config set prefix ~/.npm-global

After running this command, make sure to add the following line to your ~/.bashrc or
~/.profile file:
export PATH="$HOME/.npm-global/bin:$PATH"

Save the file and then run the command `source ~/.bashrc` or `source ~/.profile` to
apply the changes. This ensures that npm can be used globally without requiring sudo
privileges.
3. Proxy Configuration
If you are behind a proxy server, you may encounter connection issues while installing
npm packages. To configure npm to work with your proxy, you can use the following
commands, replacing `<proxy-url>` with the URL of your proxy server:
npm config set proxy <proxy-url>

npm config set https-proxy <proxy-url>

After setting the proxy configuration, npm should be able to connect to the internet
through the specified proxy.
4. Clearing Cache
In some cases, issues can arise due to a corrupted npm cache. To clear the npm cache,
run the following command:
npm cache clean --force

This command clears the npm cache and helps resolve any caching-related issues that
may be affecting the installation process.
Install npm on Ubuntu via Command Line
If you prefer a command-line approach to installing npm on Ubuntu, you can follow
these steps to set it up quickly and efficiently.
Step 1: Update Package Lists
Begin by updating the package lists on your Ubuntu system. Open the terminal and
execute the following command:
sudo apt update

This command fetches the latest information about available packages and their
versions from the Ubuntu repositories.
Step 2: Install Node.js and npm
To install Node.js and npm in one go, you can use the following command:
sudo apt install nodejs npm

This command installs Node.js and npm and their respective dependencies on your
system.
Step 3: Verify the Installation
Once the installation is complete, verify that Node.js and npm are installed correctly.
Open the terminal and check the version of Node.js by running:
node --version

To verify the npm version, execute the following command:

npm --version

If both commands display the version numbers without errors, you have successfully
installed Node.js and npm on your Ubuntu system via the command line.
Step 4: Optional Steps
If you wish to manage multiple npm versions or install global packages, follow the
optional steps mentioned in this article. The process remains the same, regardless of
whether you installed npm via the command line or other methods.
Install Node.js on Ubuntu Using apt
Installing Node.js on Ubuntu using the apt package manager is a convenient method
that ensures you have the latest stable version available in the official Ubuntu
repositories. Here's how you can install Node.js using apt.
Step 1: Update Package Lists
Before installing Node.js, updating the package lists on your Ubuntu system is essential.
Open a terminal and execute the following command:
sudo apt update

This command fetches the latest information about available packages and their
versions from the Ubuntu repositories.
Step 2: Install Node.js
To install Node.js using apt, use the following command:
sudo apt install nodejs

This command installs the Node.js runtime environment and its dependencies on your
system. During installation, you may be prompted to confirm your action by typing 'Y'
and pressing Enter.
Step 3: Verify the Installation
Once the installation is complete, you can verify that Node.js is installed correctly. Open
a terminal and run the following command to check the version of Node.js:
node --version

If the command displays the installed version of Node.js without any errors, you have
successfully installed Node.js using apt on your Ubuntu system.
Step 4: Install npm (Optional)
By default, the Node.js installation from the Ubuntu repositories includes npm (Node
Package Manager). However, if you find that npm is not installed, you can install it
separately using the following command:
sudo apt install npm

This command installs npm and its dependencies on your system.

Step 5: Verify the npm Installation (Optional)
To verify that npm is installed correctly, open a terminal and run the following
command:
npm --version

If the command displays the installed version of npm without errors, you have
successfully installed npm on your Ubuntu system.
Apt-get Install npm on Ubuntu 16.04
For Ubuntu 16.04 (Xenial Xerus), the apt-get package manager is commonly used to
install npm. While the process is similar to the apt installation method, there are a few
differences. Let's walk through the steps to install npm on Ubuntu 16.04 using apt-get.
Step 1: Update Package Lists
Before installing, update the package lists on your Ubuntu 16.04 system. Open a
terminal and execute the following command:
sudo apt-get update

This command fetches the latest information about available packages and their
versions from the Ubuntu repositories.
Step 2: Install Node.js and npm
To install Node.js and npm using apt-get on Ubuntu 16.04, use the following command:
sudo apt-get install nodejs npm

This command installs both Node.js and npm, along with their respective dependencies,
on your system.
Step 3: Verify the Installation
Once the installation is complete, verify that Node.js and npm are installed correctly.
Open a terminal and check the version of Node.js by running:
node --version

To verify the npm version, execute the following command:

npm --version

If both commands display the version numbers without errors, you have successfully
installed Node.js and npm on your Ubuntu 16.04 system using apt-get.
Step 4: Optional Step
If you wish to manage multiple npm versions or install global packages, follow the
optional steps mentioned in this article. The process remains the same, regardless of the
Ubuntu version or the package manager.
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Troubleshooting: npm Install bcrypt Error on Ubuntu
If you encounter an error while installing the bcrypt package through npm on Ubuntu, it
is likely due to missing system dependencies required by bcrypt. The bcrypt package
relies on native C++ code and needs some prerequisites to compile successfully. Here's
how you can troubleshoot and resolve this issue.
Step 1: Install Required Dependencies
To resolve the bcrypt installation error, you must install the necessary system
dependencies on your Ubuntu system. Open a terminal and execute the following
command:
sudo apt-get install build-essential python

This command installs the build-essential package, which includes the essential build
tools and libraries required for compiling native code, and Python, which is needed by
bcrypt during the installation process.
Step 2: Retry the Installation
After installing the dependencies, you can retry installing bcrypt through npm. In the
terminal, run the following command:
npm install bcrypt

This command will attempt to install the bcrypt package again.

Step 3: Clear npm Cache (Optional)
If you continue to encounter issues, it may be helpful to clear the npm cache. Run the
following command in the terminal:
npm cache clean --force

This command clears the npm cache, sometimes resolving caching-related problems
affecting package installations.
Step 4: Additional Troubleshooting
If the error persists, there may be other factors causing the issue. Here are a few
additional troubleshooting steps you can try:
- Ensure that you have the latest version of npm installed by running `npm install -g
npm@latest`.
- Update your Node.js version to the latest stable release.
- Verify that your system meets the minimum requirements for bcrypt and Node.js.
- Check for any conflicting packages or global installations that may interfere with
the installation process.
If none of the above steps resolves the issue, consider searching for specific solutions
related to your Ubuntu version or posting a question on relevant forums or community
platforms where experts can provide further assistance.
Troubleshooting: npm Install Command Not Found on Ubuntu
If you receive a "npm install command not found" error on Ubuntu, it indicates that the
npm executable is not recognized or not available in your system's PATH. This can
happen due to various reasons. Here's how you can troubleshoot and resolve this issue.
Step 1: Check Node.js Installation
Before proceeding, verify that Node.js is installed correctly on your Ubuntu system.
Open a terminal and run the following command:
node --version

If this command displays the installed version of Node.js without any errors, it means
Node.js is installed properly. Otherwise, you'll need to install Node.js first.
Step 2: Reinstall npm
If npm is missing or unrecognized, you can reinstall it using the Node Version Manager
(nvm) or the official npm installation script.
To reinstall npm using nvm, follow these steps:
Install nvm by running the following command in your terminal:
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh |
bash

Close and reopen your terminal, or run the following command to load nvm:
source ~/.bashrc

Install the latest LTS version of Node.js and npm by executing the following
command:
nvm install --lts

Verify that npm is installed by running the following:

npm --version

If npm is still not recognized, proceed to the next step.

Step 3: Update Environment Variables
Sometimes, the PATH variable may not be properly set to include the directory where
npm is installed. To update the environment variables, follow these steps:
Open your terminal and run the following command to open the `.bashrc` file:
nano ~/.bashrc

Add the following line at the end of the file:

export PATH="$HOME/.npm-global/bin:$PATH"

Save the file by pressing `Ctrl + O`, then exit nano by pressing `Ctrl + X`.
Run the following command to apply the changes:
source ~/.bashrc
 Verify that npm is now recognized by running:
npm --version

If npm is still not found, try restarting your terminal and repeating the steps.
Step 4: Verify Node.js and npm Installation
To ensure that Node.js and npm are installed correctly and accessible, you can execute
the following commands in your terminal:
node --version

npm --version

If both commands display the respective version numbers without errors, you have
resolved your Ubuntu system's "npm install command not found" issue.
Install npm-check-updates on Ubuntu
npm-check-updates is a useful tool that allows you to check for and update outdated
npm packages in your project. Here's how you can install and use npm-check-updates on
Ubuntu.
Step 1: Install npm-check-updates
To install npm-check-updates, open a terminal and run the following command:
sudo npm install -g npm-check-updates

This command installs npm-check-updates globally on your Ubuntu system, making it

available as a command-line tool.
Step 2: Run npm-check-updates
Once npm-check-updates is installed, navigate to your project directory in the terminal.
To check for outdated packages in your project, execute the following command:
ncu

This command scans your project's package.json file and displays a list of outdated
packages along with their available updates.
Step 3: Update Packages
To update your project's packages to their latest versions, use the following command:
ncu -u

This command updates the package.json file with the latest versions of the packages.
After running this command, you can run `npm install` to install the updated packages.
Step 4: Additional Options
npm-check-updates provide additional options to customize its behavior. For example:
- You can pass their names as arguments to check for updates of only specific packages.
For instance: `ncu package1 package2`.
- To update only devDependencies, use the `-D` flag: `ncu -u -D`.
- To update packages interactively, use the `-i` flag: `ncu -i`.
To explore more options, refer to the npm-check-updates documentation or run `ncu --
help` in the terminal.
Conclusion
This article explored various methods to install and troubleshoot npm on Ubuntu.
Whether you prefer using the apt or apt-get package managers, or the command line for
installation, the steps provided will help you set up npm successfully on your Ubuntu
system. We covered the installation process for different Ubuntu versions, including
Ubuntu 22.04, 20.04, 16.04, and addressed common issues such as the "bcrypt" and
"npm install command not found" errors. If you need Ubuntu VPS Hosting services, you
can find them here.
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Following the installation instructions, updating package lists, and verifying the
installation, you can ensure that Node.js and npm are properly installed on your Ubuntu
system. We also discussed additional tools like npm-check-updates, which can be used
to manage and update outdated packages in your projects.

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