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Node.js development environment on Windows

Install Node.js via a version manager (nvm-windows) rather than a single fixed installer -- lets you switch Node versions per project, matching what most real-world Node projects expect.

Target: Windows 10 2004+ or Windows 11DevelopmentProgrammingOfficial homepage ↗Official docs ↗
This guide is synthesized from Node.js development environment on Windows's own official documentation, linked above — always cross-check exact package/version names there before running these commands on a production server, since distro and project versions move over time.

  1. 1Install nvm-windows

    winget install --id CoreyButler.NVMforWindows -e

    This is a separate, Windows-specific project from the original Unix nvm -- Node's own official nvm doesn't support Windows directly.

  2. 2Install a Node version

    Open a new terminal (so PATH changes apply), then install and switch to an LTS release.

    nvm install lts
    nvm use lts

  3. 3Verify it

    node --version
    npm --version

  4. 4Switch versions per project as needed

    Handy when one project needs an older Node version than another -- no need to uninstall/reinstall.

    nvm list
    nvm use 18.20.4