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How to Fix npm command not found

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Error message

'npm' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. (or `npm: command not found` on macOS/Linux.)

npm ships with Node.js. If you've never installed Node, install it first; everything else is PATH troubleshooting.

What this error means

Your shell can't find npm on your PATH. Either Node.js isn't installed, or it's installed but the directory containing npm isn't on PATH for the current shell session.

Why this happens

Node not installed, partial install, PATH not refreshed since install, or you're in an Administrator shell that has a different PATH than your user shell.

Quick fix (for end users)

  • Confirm Node is installed.
  • Close and reopen your terminal — installers don't always refresh existing shell sessions.

Admin / engineer fix

  • Check Node and npm are on PATH.

    command
    node -v
npm -v

  • On Windows, install Node from https://nodejs.org or with winget.

    command
    winget install OpenJS.NodeJS

  • On macOS/Linux, prefer a version manager like nvm.

    command
    curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/master/install.sh | bash
nvm install --lts

Step-by-step fix

  1. Run `node -v` to check whether Node itself is installed.

  2. If not, install Node from nodejs.org or via your package manager.

  3. Close and reopen the terminal so PATH refreshes.

Affected products

Node.js

Common variations of this error

People also see these phrasings of the same problem:

  • bash: npm: command not found
  • zsh: command not found: npm

Still broken? Try these

  • On Windows, check both User PATH and System PATH (System Properties → Environment Variables).
  • If installed via Chocolatey/winget, run `refreshenv` in PowerShell or restart the shell.
  • Make sure your IDE's integrated terminal isn't pinned to a stale shell.

Related searches

  • install node.js windows
  • fix npm not recognized

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to install npm separately?

No. npm ships with Node.js. If you have Node, you have npm.

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