Node.js – How to manage Node.js versions on Linux

Watch the video on how to add, change, or remove Node.js versions.

Instructions on how to manage Node.js versions

Install Node.js

node -version

Output

Command 'node' not found, but can be installed with:
apt install nodejs
Please ask your administrator.

Install

sudo apt install nodejs

Check the installation

node -v

Output

v12.22.9

Install npm

npm -v

Output

Command 'npm' not found, but can be installed with:
apt install npm
Please ask your administrator.

Installation

sudo apt install npm

Check the installation

npm -v

Output

8.5.1

Install Node.js manager

sudo npm install -g n

Check the installation

sudo n

Install stable Node.js version

sudo n stable

Output

  installing : node-v20.8.0
       mkdir : /usr/local/n/versions/node/20.8.0
       fetch : https://nodejs.org/dist/v20.8.0/node-v20.8.0-linux-x64.tar.xz
     copying : node/20.8.0
   installed : v20.8.0 (with npm 10.1.0)

Note: the node command changed location and the old location may be remembered in your current shell.
         old : /usr/bin/node
         new : /usr/local/bin/node
If "node --version" shows the old version then start a new shell, or reset the location hash with:
hash -r  (for bash, zsh, ash, dash, and ksh)
rehash   (for csh and tcsh)

Install the latest Node.js version

sudo n latest

Output

     copying : node/20.8.0
   installed : v20.8.0 (with npm 10.1.0)

Install custom version

sudo n 16

Output

  installing : node-v16.20.2
       mkdir : /usr/local/n/versions/node/16.20.2
       fetch : https://nodejs.org/dist/v16.20.2/node-v16.20.2-linux-x64.tar.xz
     copying : node/16.20.2
   installed : v16.20.2 (with npm 8.19.4)

Change Node.js version

sudo n

Output

  ο node/16.20.2
    node/20.8.0

Use up/down arrow keys to select a version, return key to install, d to delete, q to quit

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