I recently upgraded npm in hopes of resolving some issues related to dependencies. However, I now need to revert to the version that our development team is currently utilizing. What steps should I take to install an earlier version of npm? I initially updated npm following guidance for the latest version. How can I reverse this process?
To revert to an earlier version of npm, you can use the npm command line. Start by checking your current npm version with npm -v. Then, install the specific version you need with the command npm install -g npm@<desired-version>, replacing <desired-version> with the number of the version you want to switch back to. After installing, verify the change by running npm -v again. This approach doesn’t require uninstalling the current version, making it a seamless method to downgrade npm.
If you’re using Node Version Manager (nvm), reverting npm is incredibly straightforward. First, check which versions of Node.js you have installed using nvm list. Once you confirm which Node.js version corresponds to the npm version you need, simply switch to it using nvm use <node-version>. This will automatically switch to the npm version bundled with that Node.js version. It’s quite handy since it doesn’t just affect npm but ensures your Node.js environment is consistent overall.
sometimes, issues crop up maybe coz of a corrupted version. in that case, running npm cache clean --force before downgrading might help. once the cache is cleaned, follow the downgrading steps others mentioned. this could prevent potential hickups during installation. hope this helps! 