Method 1 — Direct Installer (Simplest, Good for Beginners)

The direct installer from nodejs.org is the fastest path if you need Node for a single project or are just getting started.

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Step 1: Download the LTS Installer

• • Open your browser and go to nodejs.org
  • You will see two download options: LTS (Long Term Support) and Current
  • Click LTS — this is the stable version recommended for most users. As of 2026, the LTS version is Node 22.x
  • The download is a .msi file (Windows Installer package) — approximately 25–30MB
  • Save it to your Downloads folder

LTS vs Current: LTS versions are stable and receive security updates for 30 months. Current versions have the latest features but may have stability issues. Unless you specifically need a feature from the latest version, always choose LTS.

Step 2: Run the Installer

• • Open your Downloads folder and double-click the .msi file
  • If Windows shows a User Account Control prompt asking “Do you want to allow this app to make changes?” — click Yes
  • The Node.js Setup Wizard opens — click Next
  • Accept the End User License Agreement and click Next
  • Choose installation location (default C:\Program Files\nodejs\ is fine) — click Next
  • On the Custom Setup screen, leave all options at their defaults — click Next
  • On the “Tools for Native Modules” screen, you can check the box to automatically install Chocolatey and build tools. For most users, leave this unchecked — it installs a large number of additional components you likely do not need
  • Click Install
  • When the installation completes, click Finish

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Step 3: Verify the Installation

• • Press Windows + X and select Windows PowerShell or Terminal
  • Type the following and press Enter:

“

node –version

`

You should see output like v22.14.0 (the exact version number will vary).

• • Now check npm (Node Package Manager, installed automatically with Node):

`

npm –version

`

You should see something like 10.9.2.

If both commands return version numbers, Node.js is installed correctly.

If you see “node is not recognized as an internal or external command” — close all terminal windows completely and reopen them. The PATH update from the installer requires a fresh terminal session. If it still does not work after reopening, restart your computer.

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Method 2 — NVM for Windows (Recommended for Developers)

NVM (Node Version Manager) lets you install multiple versions of Node.js and switch between them instantly. This is essential if you work on multiple projects that require different Node versions — which happens constantly in real-world development.

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Why Use NVM Instead of the Direct Installer?

• • Switch Node versions with a single command: nvm use 18 or nvm use 22

• Install any Node version without uninstalling the current one
• Different projects can use different Node versions simultaneously
• Cleaner uninstall — remove NVM and all Node versions disappear cleanly
• Avoids permission issues that the direct installer sometimes creates with global npm packages

How to Install Node.js on Windows 11

Step 1: Remove Any Existing Node Installation

If you already installed Node via the direct installer, uninstall it first:

• • Press Windows + I to open Settings
  • Go to Apps → Installed Apps
  • Search for Node.js
  • Click the three dots → Uninstall and follow the prompts

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Also delete these folders if they exist:

• • C:\Program Files\nodejs

• • C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\npm

• • C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\npm-cache

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Step 2: Download NVM for Windows

• Go to github.com/coreybutler/nvm-windows/releases
• Under the latest release, click nvm-setup.exe to download it
• Run the downloaded installer
• Accept the license agreement and click Next through all prompts

• • Leave the default installation path (C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\nvm) unless you have a specific reason to change it

• Click Install then Finish

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Step 3: Install Node via NVM

• • Open a new PowerShell or Terminal window (must be new — existing windows do not see NVM yet)
  • Verify NVM installed:

`

nvm –version

`

Should return a version number like 1.1.12.

• • Install the latest LTS version of Node:

`

nvm install lts

`

• • Tell NVM to use it:

`

nvm use lts

`

• • Verify Node is working:

`

node –version

npm –version

`

Useful NVM Commands

`

nvm list # Show all installed Node versions

nvm install 18.20.0 # Install a specific version

nvm use 18 # Switch to Node 18

nvm use 22 # Switch to Node 22

nvm uninstall 18.20.0 # Remove a specific version

nvm current # Show which version is active

`

Method 3 — Winget (Windows Package Manager)

Windows 11 includes Winget, Microsoft’s built-in package manager. Installing Node via Winget is fast and integrates with Windows Update for version management.

Open PowerShell or Terminal and run:

`

winget install OpenJS.NodeJS.LTS

`

Type Y to accept the source agreement if prompted. Node installs automatically. Verify with node –version.

Limitation: Winget installs a single Node version — no easy version switching. Use NVM if you need multiple versions.

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Common Installation Errors and Fixes

“node is not recognized as an internal or external command”

Close all terminal windows and open a new one. The PATH variable updates require a fresh session. If still not working, restart Windows.

npm install fails with EACCES or permission errors

This happens when Node was installed with the direct installer and npm's global directory has permission issues. The fix: either use NVM (which avoids this problem entirely), or change the npm default directory. Run: npm config set prefix “$env:APPDATA\npm” in PowerShell.

“Cannot find module” after installing a package globally

Run npm config get prefix — the output should be inside your user directory, not C:\Program Files. If it shows C:\Program Files\nodejs, you have a permission issue. Switch to NVM to resolve cleanly.

NVM use command not found after NVM install

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run the NVM use command. Some NVM commands require elevated permissions on first run.

Node version shows wrong version after nvm use

Open a completely new terminal window. NVM changes apply to new sessions, not existing ones.

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Verify Your Full Setup Works

Once Node and npm are installed, confirm the full setup by creating a simple test:

• • Open Terminal and navigate to your Desktop: cd $env:USERPROFILE\Desktop

• • Create a test folder: mkdir node-test && cd node-test

• • Initialise a package: npm init -y

• • Install a package: npm install chalk

• • Create a test file: echo “const chalk = require(‘chalk’); console.log(chalk.green(‘Node works!’));” > test.js

• • Run it: node test.js

If you see “Node works!” in green text, your full Node and npm setup is working correctly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I install Node LTS or Current on Windows 11?

Install LTS (Long Term Support) unless you have a specific reason to need a feature only in the Current release. LTS versions are stable, receive security updates for 30 months, and are what 95% of npm packages are tested against. The Current release gets the latest features but may have rough edges.

Do I need to install npm separately?

No. npm (Node Package Manager) is installed automatically with Node.js — it is bundled with every Node installer. When you install Node, you get npm at no extra step.

What is the difference between NVM and the Node installer?

The Node installer installs a single, fixed version of Node. NVM lets you install and switch between multiple Node versions. For development work, NVM is the better choice because real-world projects frequently require different Node versions. For beginners who just want to run a single project, the direct installer is fine.

How do I update Node.js on Windows 11?

With the direct installer: download the new installer from nodejs.org and run it — it overwrites the existing installation. With NVM: run nvm install lts to install the latest LTS, then nvm use lts to switch to it. The old version remains installed and accessible.

Can I install Node.js without administrator rights on Windows 11?

The standard installer requires admin rights. NVM for Windows also requires admin rights during installation. If you cannot get admin rights, use a portable Node.js build (available on nodejs.org under “Other Downloads”) extracted to a folder in your user directory.

The Bottom Line

How to install Node.js on Windows 11: for beginners and single-project use, the direct installer from nodejs.org is the fastest path — download, run, verify with node –version. For developers working across multiple projects, install NVM for Windows first, then use nvm install lts and nvm use lts`. NVM avoids every permission problem the direct installer creates and takes five extra minutes that will save you hours later.

An Jay

Greetings! I’m An Jay, and I’ve been running SmashingApps.com since 2007. Over the years, I’ve poured my passion into web design, graphic design, and SEO—helping readers discover the best tools, tips, and techniques to make their online projects shine. I believe in keeping things simple, practical, and results‑driven, and I’m excited to share everything I’ve learned with you.