Install Node.js on Linux, macOS and Windows

Which option to pick

Node.js releases a new major version every six months and projects often pin different ones, so most developers install it through a version manager that can switch per project: nvm is the long-standing choice on Linux and macOS, fnm is a faster alternative that also works natively on Windows. If you only ever need one version, the official installer or your OS package manager is simpler. Avoid the Node.js packages in Debian and Ubuntu’s default repositories: they are usually several majors old. Always pick an LTS (long-term support) release unless a project tells you otherwise.

Step: Linux

With nvm, which installs into your home directory and needs no root:

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.8/install.sh | bash
source ~/.bashrc
nvm install --lts
nvm use --lts

The installer appends a few lines to your shell startup file (.bashrc, .zshrc or .profile); open a new terminal or source the file so nvm is found. Replace v0.40.8 with the version shown in the nvm README if it is newer.

With fnm:

curl -fsSL https://fnm.vercel.app/install | bash
source ~/.bashrc
fnm install --lts
fnm use lts-latest

Without a version manager, the official binary tarball from nodejs.org/en/download works on any distribution; unpack it and add its bin directory to your PATH. For apt-based systems that need a system-wide install, the download page also lists NodeSource repositories.

Step: macOS

brew install fnm
echo 'eval "$(fnm env --use-on-cd --shell zsh)"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc
fnm install --lts
fnm use lts-latest

The nvm script from the Linux step also works on macOS. For a single fixed version, brew install node installs the current release and brew install node@22 a specific LTS line, or download the .pkg installer from nodejs.org.

Step: Windows

In PowerShell, the official installer via winget:

winget install OpenJS.NodeJS.LTS

Or with fnm as a version manager:

winget install Schniz.fnm
notepad $PROFILE

Add this line to the profile file that opened, save it, then start a new PowerShell window:

fnm env --use-on-cd --shell powershell | Out-String | Invoke-Expression

fnm install --lts
fnm use lts-latest

If PowerShell refuses to load the profile, allow local scripts once with Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser RemoteSigned. nvm itself does not run on Windows; the separate project nvm-windows exists but is unrelated to nvm.

Check it works

node --version
npm --version
node -e "console.log('hello from node')"

You should see a version such as v22.x.x for Node and 10.x.x for npm. To pin a version for a project, create a .nvmrc or .node-version file containing the version; both nvm and fnm read it.

Common problems

• nvm: command not found right after installing: the shell has not reloaded its startup file. Open a new terminal.
• node works but npm install -g asks for sudo: you are using a system-wide Node. With nvm or fnm, global packages go into your home directory and no sudo is needed.
• Old version from apt install nodejs: remove it with sudo apt remove nodejs and use one of the methods above.
• On Windows, node is not recognised after the installer: close and reopen the terminal so the updated PATH is picked up.

Official documentation

• Node.js downloads and package manager instructions
• nvm: installing and updating
• fnm: installation