Node.js / npm

npx: command not found

Covers: npx command not found after Node.js install, nvm issues, and missing PATH — May 2026

🐧 Linux 🍎 macOS 🪟 Windows 📦 nvm

$ npx create-react-app my-app
bash: npx: command not found

# or:
zsh: command not found: npx

Why Does This Happen?

npx ships bundled with npm 5.2.0 and later (Node.js 8.2.0+). If you're getting this error, one of the following is true:

Your Node.js version is too old (pre-8.2)
You installed Node via apt on Ubuntu/Debian and got an outdated version
npm's bin directory isn't in your PATH
You're using nvm but haven't selected a Node version in the current session

⚡ Quick Fix — Update Node.js (recommended)

# Install nvm (Node Version Manager):
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.7/install.sh | bash

# Reload shell:
source ~/.bashrc   # or ~/.zshrc

# Install latest LTS Node (includes npx):
nvm install --lts
nvm use --lts

# Verify:
node --version && npm --version && npx --version

Fix on Ubuntu/Debian (apt installs outdated Node)

The Node.js version in Ubuntu's default apt repos is often very old. Use the NodeSource PPA for a current version:

# Add NodeSource repo (Node 20 LTS):
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

# npx is now included:
npx --version

nvm: npx Works in One Session But Not Another

With nvm, you need to call nvm use in each new terminal session unless you set a default:

# Set default Node version for all new sessions:
nvm alias default lts/*

# Or set a specific version:
nvm alias default 20

npm Installed But npx Missing

# Update npm (includes npx):
npm install -g npm@latest

# If npx still missing, install it explicitly:
npm install -g npx