This article will show how you can fix the issue “sudo: npm: command not found” in Node.js.
If you encounter the error “sudo: npm: command not found” while trying to upgrade Node.js or install npm packages with sudo privileges, you may need to adjust your system configuration.
Solution 1: Install npm
In some cases, npm may not be installed globally. You can resolve this by installing npm separately. Open a terminal and run:
sudo apt-get install npm
This command installs npm globally and should resolve the “npm: command not found” error.
Solution 2: Verify npm Path
Check the location of your npm binary using the following command:
which npm
If the output shows a path like /usr/local/bin/npm, it means npm is installed locally. In this case, you might need to create a symbolic link to make it accessible globally.
Solution 3: Create Symbolic Links (Linux)
For Linux users, you can create symbolic links for node and npm. Run the following commands:
sudo ln -s /usr/local/bin/node /usr/bin/node sudo ln -s /usr/local/lib/node /usr/lib/node sudo ln -s /usr/local/bin/npm /usr/bin/npm sudo ln -s /usr/local/bin/node-waf /usr/bin/node-waf
These commands create symbolic links, allowing sudo to find the necessary binaries.
Solution 4: Adjust Permissions
In some cases, permission issues may cause the problem. Try adjusting the permissions on npm-related directories. Use the following commands:
sudo chmod -R 777 /usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm sudo chmod -R 777 /usr/local/lib/node_modules sudo chmod g+w /usr/local/lib sudo chmod g+rwx /usr/local/lib
Be cautious with the chmod command, as it changes permissions extensively. Use these commands one at a time and stop when the issue is resolved.
Solution 5: For macOS Users
For macOS users, the following steps may help:
- Install Homebrew if not already installed:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install.sh)"
- Update Homebrew and reinstall Node.js:
brew update brew uninstall node brew install node brew postinstall
Solution 6: For nvm Users
If you’re using nvm (Node Version Manager), make sure to run the nvm environment configuration file. Add the following line to your .bash_profile:
source ~/.nvm/nvm.sh
If using sudo with that user, include the -i parameter:
sudo -iu <username> npm install <package>
By following one or a combination of the above solutions, you should be able to resolve the “sudo: npm: command not found” issue in Node.js. Ensure you choose the solution that best fits your system configuration.