How do I update Node.js?

Answer 1

To control your version of Node.js, you can try n. I found it very straightforward and useful.

n is a Node.js binary management, no subshells, no profile setup, no convoluted API, just simple.

npm install -g n

n 0.6.19 will install Node.js v0.6.19.

Answer 2

All you need to version update of Node.js:

$ brew install node

If you don't have Homebrew; please go http://brew.sh/.

Answer 3

If you want to update Node.js, just try

npm update

from your Windows cmd prompt.

Else if you want to update any specific package try

npm update <package_name>

Example:

npm update phonegap

Answer 4

This is a simple solution that works for all supported operating systems* including Windows:

After a lot of surfing and not finding a straight solution, I just tried going to Node.js site, clicked the DOWNLOADS button on homepage and executed the installer program (MSI).

Thankfully it took care of everything and with a few clicks of 'Next' button I got the latest Node.js version running on my Windows machine.

^{(here is the original answer)}

For Docker users, here's the official Node.js image.

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PS: To check your Node version use npm version or node --version.
PPS: Keep an eye on NodeJS blog - Vulnerabilities so you don't miss important security releases.
PPPS: NodeJS installation includes npm (Node package manager).

^{* Operating systems supported by Node.js: Windows, Linux, MacOS, SunOS, IBM AIX}

Answer 5

I used the following instructions to upgrade from Node.js version 0.10.6 to 0.10.21 on a Mac.

1. Clear NPM's cache:

   sudo npm cache clean -f
   

2. Install a little helper called 'n'

   sudo npm install -g n
   

3. Install latest stable Node.js version

   sudo n stable
   

Alternatively pick a specific version and install like this:

sudo n 0.8.20

For production environments you might want to pay attention to version numbering and be picky about odd/even numbers.

Credits

• General procedure: D.Walsh
• Stable/unstable versions: P.Teixeira

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Update (June 2017):

This four years old post still receives up-votes so I'm guessing it still works for many people. However, Mr. Walsh himself recommended to update Node.js just using nvm instead.

So here's what you might want to do today:

Find out which version of Node.js you are using:

node --version

Find out which versions of Node.js you may have installed and which one of those you're currently using:

nvm ls

List all versions of Node.js available for installation:

nvm ls-remote

Apparently for Windows the command would be rather like this:

nvm ls available

Assuming you would pick Node.js v8.1.0 for installation you'd type the following to install that version:

nvm install 8.1.0

You are then free to choose between installed versions of Node.js. So if you would need to use an older version like v4.2.0 you would set it as the active version like this:

nvm use 4.2

Answer 6

For OS X, I had v5.4.1 and needed the latest version 6 so I went to the Node.js homepage and clicked on one of the links below:

I then followed the installer and then I magically had the latest version of Node.js and npm.