General

How to Install Node.js and npm on Ubuntu 26.04

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Node.js is an open-source JavaScript runtime built on Chrome’s V8 engine. It lets you run JavaScript outside the browser and is commonly used for APIs, command-line tools, and server-side applications. npm is the default package manager for Node.js.

This guide covers three ways to install Node.js and npm on Ubuntu 26.04:

  • NodeSource repository – Install a specific Node.js version. NodeSource supports Node.js v25.x, v24.x, and v22.x.
  • nvm (Node Version Manager) – Manage multiple Node.js versions on the same machine. This is the preferred method for developers.
  • Ubuntu repository – The easiest way. Ubuntu 26.04 includes Node.js v22.x, which is suitable for many applications.

Choose the method that fits your needs. If you are not sure which version to install, check the documentation of the application you are deploying.

Quick Reference

Task Command
Install via NodeSource sudo apt install nodejs (after adding repo)
Install via nvm nvm install --lts
Install via Ubuntu repo sudo apt install nodejs npm
Check Node.js version node -v
Check npm version npm -v
List installed versions (nvm) nvm ls
Switch Node.js version (nvm) nvm use <version>
Set default version (nvm) nvm alias default <version>
Uninstall Node.js sudo apt remove nodejs or nvm uninstall <version>

Installing Node.js and npm from NodeSource

NodeSource maintains an APT repository with multiple Node.js versions. Use this method when you need a specific version.

Install the required dependencies:


Terminal
sudo apt update
sudo apt install ca-certificates curl gnupg

Import the NodeSource GPG key:


Terminal
sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/gpgkey/nodesource-repo.gpg.key | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/nodesource.gpg

NodeSource provides the following versions:

  • v25.x – The current release.
  • v24.x – The latest LTS version (Krypton).
  • v22.x – Maintenance LTS version (Jod).

We will install Node.js version 24.x. Change NODE_MAJOR=24 to your preferred version if needed:


Terminal
NODE_MAJOR=24
echo "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/nodesource.gpg] https://deb.nodesource.com/node_$NODE_MAJOR.x nodistro main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nodesource.list

Install Node.js and npm:


Terminal
sudo apt update
sudo apt install nodejs

The nodejs package includes both node and npm binaries.

Verify the installation:


Terminal
node --version

You should see output similar to this:

output
v24.x


Terminal
npm --version

The output will show the npm version bundled with the installed Node.js release:

output
11.x

To compile native addons from npm, install the development tools:


Terminal
sudo apt install build-essential

Installing Node.js and npm using NVM

NVM (Node Version Manager) is a bash script that lets you manage multiple Node.js versions per user. This is the preferred method for developers who need to switch between versions.

Download and install nvm:


Terminal
wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.3/install.sh | bash

Do not use sudo
, as it will enable nvm for the root user only.

The script clones the repository to ~/.nvm and adds the required lines to your shell profile:

output
=> Close and reopen your terminal to start using nvm or run the following to use it now:
export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && . "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" # This loads nvm
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && . "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" # This loads nvm bash_completion

Either close and reopen your terminal or run the commands above to load nvm in the current session.

Verify the installation:


Terminal
nvm -v

output
0.40.3

List all available Node.js versions:


Terminal
nvm list-remote

output
...
v22.x (LTS: Jod)
...
v24.x (LTS: Krypton)
...
v25.x

Install the latest Node.js version:


Terminal
nvm install node

output
...
Now using node v25.x (npm v11.x)
Creating default alias: default -> node (-> v25.x)

Verify the installation:


Terminal
node -v

output
v25.x

Install additional versions:


Terminal
nvm install --lts
nvm install 22

List installed versions:


Terminal
nvm ls

output
-> v22.x
v24.x
v25.x
default -> node (-> v25.x)
iojs -> N/A (default)
unstable -> N/A (default)
node -> stable (-> v25.x) (default)
stable -> 25 (-> v25.x) (default)
lts/* -> lts/krypton (-> v24.x)
lts/jod -> v22.x
lts/krypton -> v24.x

The arrow (-> v22.x) indicates the active version. The default version activates when opening new shells.

Switch to a different version:


Terminal
nvm use 24

output
Now using node v24.x (npm v11.x)

Change the default version:


Terminal
nvm alias default 24

Installing Node.js and npm from the Ubuntu repository

Ubuntu 26.04 includes Node.js v22.x in its default repositories. This version works well for many applications and receives security updates through Ubuntu.

Install Node.js and npm:


Terminal
sudo apt update
sudo apt install nodejs npm

This installs Node.js along with the tools needed to compile native addons from npm.

Verify the installation:


Terminal
node -v

output
v22.x


Terminal
npm -v

output
10.x
Info
If you need a newer Node.js version, use NodeSource or nvm instead.

Uninstalling Node.js

The uninstall method depends on how you installed Node.js.

NodeSource or Ubuntu repository:


Terminal
sudo apt remove nodejs
sudo apt autoremove

nvm:


Terminal
nvm uninstall 24

To completely remove nvm, delete the ~/.nvm directory and remove the nvm lines from your ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc file.

Conclusion

We covered three ways to install Node.js and npm on Ubuntu 26.04. NodeSource provides specific versions, nvm offers flexibility for managing multiple versions, and the Ubuntu repository includes a stable LTS version out of the box.

For more information, see the official Node.js documentation
.

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