Npm Error! Code E401: Missing or Incorrect Password

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1

Hello everyone, I’m encountering a problem when attempting to install Node.js modules with the command npm install. Despite deleting the package-lock.json file, the issue persists.

I receive the following error:

npm ERR! code E401
npm ERR! Missing or incorrect password.

The error message suggests that if I was trying to log in, change my password, create an authentication token, or use two-factor authentication, I may have entered my password incorrectly. It also advises attempting to log in again or recovering my password. Additionally, it indicates that if I’m performing a different task, my saved credentials might be outdated and need refreshing by running npm login. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

2

Hi DancingBird,

This E401 error is usually related to authentication issues with npm. Here are some steps to help resolve this:

  1. Refresh the Login:
    Run npm login in your terminal and re-enter your credentials. This will ensure that you have the latest authentication tokens.
  2. Check Your .npmrc File:
    Ensure your .npmrc file doesn’t have incorrect or outdated credentials. Open it in a text editor and check for any username, email, or auth token discrepancies.
  3. Update npm:
    Sometimes updating npm can resolve authentication issues. Try running npm install -g npm@latest to update to the latest version.
  4. Clear npm Cache:
    Use npm cache clean --force to clear the cached information, which can sometimes cause problems when outdated.

Follow these steps, and it should help resolve your issue. If you continue facing this problem, consider checking npm’s documentation or contacting npm support for further guidance.

3

Hey DancingBird,

Try this simple solution for the E401 error:

  • Run npm login again: Re-enter your credentials to refresh them.
  • Verify .npmrc: Check for incorrect credentials in this file.

Hope this helps!

4

Hi DancingBird,

The E401 error is a common issue related to authentication with npm. Here are a few additional strategies that might help you resolve this:

  1. Verify Network Proxy Settings:
    If you're using a corporate network or a proxy, ensure that your proxy settings are correctly configured in the .npmrc file. You can do this by adding or verifying the lines related to your proxy settings, e.g., proxy=http://proxy.example.com:8080 and https-proxy=http://proxy.example.com:8080.
  2. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):
    If you have 2FA enabled on your npm account, you might need to use a token generated by your authenticator app instead of a password for login. To generate an authentication token, log in to your npm account online and create one under your account settings.
  3. Token Expiration:
    Consider updating your npm authentication token if it has expired. You can regenerate a token via your npm account settings online.
  4. Environmental Variables:
    Ensure that environmental variables related to npm authentication are not interfering. Issues might arise if NPM_AUTH_TOKEN or other related variables are set incorrectly.

Implementing these steps should hopefully alleviate the error. If it persists, it might be worth checking your system’s environment setup or seeking further help from npm support.