Change default global installation directory for node.js modules in Windows?

Question

In my windows installation PATH includes C:\\Program Files\\nodejs, where executable node.exe is. I\'m able to launch node

Answer 1

Delete node folder completely from program file folder. Uninstall node.js and then reinstall it. change Path of environment variable PATH. delete .npmrc file from C:\users\yourusername

Answer 2

The default global folder is C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\npm. You can create (if it doesn't exist) a .npmrc file in C:\Users\{username}\ and add prefix = "path\\to\\yourglobalfolder". Note that, in windows, the path should be separated by double back-slash.

Answer 3

it does not require much configurations just go to advanced system settings copy the path where you have installed your node and just create an environment variable and check with node -v command in your prompt!

Answer 4

In Windows, if you want to move the npm or nodejs folder in disk C to another location, but it still makes sure node and npm works well, you can create symlink like this: Open Command Prompt:

mklink /D "your_location_want_to_create_symlink" "location_of_node_npm_file"

Example:

mklink /D "C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Roaming\npm" "D:\Nodejs Data\npm"

Now you've created a symlink for npm folder, this symlink will refer to D:\Nodejs Data\npmEverything will work well.

Answer 5

trying to install global packages into C:\Program Files (x86)\nodejs\ gave me Run as Administrator issues, because npm was trying to install into
C:\Program Files (x86)\nodejs\node_modules\

to resolve this, change global install directory to C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\npm:

in C:\Users\{username}\, create .npmrc file with contents:

prefix = "C:\\Users\\{username}\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm"

reference

• npm install -g package installs global packages into prefix location
• npmrc userconfig takes priority and overrides
• npm config ls -l was showing prefix = "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\nodejs"

environment
nodejs x86 installer into C:\Program Files (x86)\nodejs\ on Windows 7 Ultimate N 64-bit SP1
node --version : v0.10.28
npm --version : 1.4.10

Answer 6

You can see my answer to this in my answer to another question.

---

In Windows, the global install path is actually in your user's profile directory

• %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\npm
• %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\npm-cache
• WARNING: If you're doing timed events or other automation as a different user, make sure you run npm install as that user. Some modules/utilities should be installed globally.
• INSTALLER BUGS: You may have to create these directories or add the ...\npm directory to your users path yourself.

---

To change the "global" location for all users to a more appropriate shared global location %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\(npm|npm-cache) (do this as an administrator):

• create an [NODE_INSTALL_PATH]\etc\ directory
  • this is needed before you try npm config --global ... actions
• create the global (admin) location(s) for npm modules
  • C:\ProgramData\npm-cache - npm modules will go here
  • C:\ProgramData\npm - binary scripts for globally installed modules will go here
  • C:\ProgramData\npm\node_modules - globally installed modules will go here
  • set the permissions appropriately
    • administrators: modify
    • authenticated users: read/execute
• Set global configuration settings (Administrator Command Prompt)
  • npm config --global set prefix "C:\ProgramData\npm"
  • npm config --global set cache "C:\ProgramData\npm-cache"
• Add C:\ProgramData\npm to your System's Path environment variable

---

If you want to change your user's "global" location to %LOCALAPPDATA%\(npm|npm-cache) path instead:

• Create the necessary directories
  • C:\Users\YOURNAME\AppData\Local\npm-cache - npm modules will go here
  • C:\Users\YOURNAME\AppData\Local\npm - binary scripts for installed modules will go here
  • C:\Users\YOURNAME\AppData\Local\npm\node_modules - globally installed modules will go here
• Configure npm
  • npm config set prefix "C:\Users\YOURNAME\AppData\Local\npm"
  • npm config set cache "C:\Users\YOURNAME\AppData\Local\npm-cache"
• Add the new npm path to your environment's PATH.
  • setx PATH "%PATH%;C:\Users\YOURNAME\AppData\Local\npm"