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[BUG] npm ERR! enoent ENOENT: no such file or directory, lstat 'C:\Users\userName\AppData\Roaming\npm'

Fresh5 days ago
Mar 14, 20260 views
Confidence Score58%
58%

Problem

Is there an existing issue for this? - [X] I have searched the existing issues This issue exists in the latest npm version - [x] I am using the latest npm Current Behavior When "npm install" runs on pipeline server, sometimes below error occurs: npm ERR! enoent ENOENT: no such file or directory, lstat 'C:\Users\userName\AppData\Roaming\npm' Expected Behavior npm install succeeds with no error Steps To Reproduce 1. Newly installing node 18.17.1 with npm version: 9.6.7 which replaces node 16.17.1 and npm 8.15.0 2. Run 'npm install' 3. See error npm ERR! enoent ENOENT: no such file or directory, lstat 'C:\Users\userName\AppData\Roaming\npm' Workaround may be to create a C:\Users\userName\AppData\Roaming\npm folder manually. Environment - npm:9.6.7 - Node.js:18.17.1 - OS Name:Windows - npm config: [code block]

Error Output

error

### Steps To Reproduce

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1 Fix

Canonical Fix
Unverified Fix
New Fix – Awaiting Verification

Fix npm ENOENT Error by Creating Missing Directory

Low Risk

The error occurs because the npm installation process expects a directory at 'C:\Users\userName\AppData\Roaming\npm' to exist for storing global packages. If this directory is missing, npm cannot function properly, leading to the ENOENT error during 'npm install'. This can happen if the npm installation process did not create the directory due to permission issues or if the directory was deleted accidentally.

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  1. 1

    Check for Existing npm Directory

    Verify if the directory 'C:\Users\userName\AppData\Roaming\npm' exists.

    bash
    if not exist "C:\Users\userName\AppData\Roaming\npm" mkdir "C:\Users\userName\AppData\Roaming\npm"
  2. 2

    Create Missing npm Directory

    If the directory does not exist, create it manually using the command prompt or PowerShell.

    bash
    mkdir "C:\Users\userName\AppData\Roaming\npm"
  3. 3

    Set npm Prefix Configuration

    Configure npm to use the created directory as the prefix for global installations.

    bash
    npm config set prefix "C:\Users\userName\AppData\Roaming\npm"
  4. 4

    Run npm install Again

    Attempt to run 'npm install' again to verify if the issue is resolved.

    bash
    npm install
  5. 5

    Check npm Configuration

    Verify that npm is configured correctly by checking the prefix setting.

    bash
    npm config get prefix

Validation

Confirm that 'npm install' completes successfully without errors. Additionally, check that the directory 'C:\Users\userName\AppData\Roaming\npm' exists and contains the necessary files after installation.

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Environment

Submitted by

AC

Alex Chen

2450 rep

Tags

npmpackage-managernodejsbugneeds-triagerelease-9.x