How do I update npm and Node.js to the latest versions?

General Discussions
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1

I recently installed Node.js and npm, but I realized both are outdated.

I’d like to know the correct way to update npm and Node.js to their latest stable versions without breaking my existing setup.

Should I uninstall and reinstall them, or is there a cleaner upgrade path?

Also, what’s the recommended way to upgrade all globally installed Node.js modules after updating?

Appreciate any tips or commands that simplify the update process!

2

The safest and cleanest way I’ve found is to use Node Version Manager (nvm).

It lets you install and switch between Node versions easily.

First, install nvm if you haven’t:

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curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.7/install.sh | bash

Then run:

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nvm install node   # installs latest stable
nvm use node       # switches to it
nvm alias default node

This keeps things isolated and avoids permission issues or messing with system binaries.

You can still update npm after that with:

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npm install -g npm
3

If you installed Node.js via a package manager like Homebrew (on macOS), updating is pretty seamless:

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brew update
brew upgrade node

That’ll upgrade both Node and npm together.

After that, I usually run this to update all my global npm packages:

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npm outdated -g --depth=0
npm update -g

This ensures nothing breaks and keeps your tools synced.

4

For Windows users, I’ve had good results using the Node.js installer from the official site (https://nodejs.org).

Just download the latest LTS version and run the installer, it updates both Node and npm automatically while keeping global packages intact.

To upgrade global modules afterward:

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npm install -g npm-check-updates
ncu -g

ncu helps scan and update outdated global packages interactively, great for managing versions without surprises.