How to update Node.js?
Tags: node, javascript
Published: 2021-05-16 15:49:33

---
title: How to update Node.js?
published: true
date: 2021-02-27 00:00:00 UTC
tags: node, javascript
canonical_url: https://www.mariokandut.com/how-to-update-node-js/
---

There is a new major Node.js release version every 6 month (on average), so it keeps getting better and easier to use. 😎 A result of a continuous release cycle of Node.js is that existing applications are written aiming at a moving target, and applications have to be updated on a regular basis to ensure a working state in the future and no big version and feature jumps occur causing a big amount of adaption.

The Node.js community provides Long Term Support (LTS) releases to guarantee that the environment won't change for a fixed period. With LTS you get:

- Critical bug fixes
- Stable interfaces and APIs
- Security updates
- New features
- Guarantee that the Node.js environment won't change for a fixed period (30 months), and gives time to update

Major Node.js versions enter Current release status for six months. After six months, odd-numbered releases (9, 11, etc.) become unsupported, and even-numbered releases (10, 12, etc.) move to Active LTS status and are ready for general use. Use only **Active LTS** or **Maintenance LTS** releases in production.

![Node.js Releases](https://www.mariokandut.com/880856eb2e3e5b702664fe175a69e664/node-release-lifecycle.svg)image credit: [Node.js Relases](https://nodejs.org/en/about/releases/)

## [<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="16" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg>](#updating-nodejs)Updating Node.js

For updating Node.js there are several options available depending on the way you first installed it.

### [<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="16" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg>](#official-package)Official Package

If you installed Node.js via downloading the [official package](https://nodejs.org/en/), the package will already contain an installer which detects an existing version of Node.js. Hence, you just download the LTS version that fits your use case and run the installer.

### [<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="16" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg>](#nvm-preferred-way)NVM (preferred way)

The recommended way to install Node is via NVM (Node Version Manager), because you can manage multiple versions of Node.js. If you have used `nvm` to install Node.js, upgrading to a new version is one line. You can install a new Node.js version or basically any Node.js version using `nvm install <VERSION>`, like `nvm install 10.16.3` or just install the latest LTS version with `nvm install node`. After installing the node version you want to use, you have to switch to it with `nvm us <VERSION>`, like `nvm use 10.16.3` or `nvm use --lts`.

### [<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="16" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg>](#homebrew-macos)Homebrew (MacOs)

Homebrew is a very popular way to install software on Mac and upgrading Node.js is simple.

```
# update homebrew
brew update
# upgrade Node.js
brew upgrade node
```

## [<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="16" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg>](#tldr)TL;DR

- Use only Active LTS or Maintenance LTS releases in production.
- Depending on how you installed Node.js you have to update it.
- Preferred way of installing and updating is via `nvm` (node version manager).

Thanks for reading and if you have any **questions** , use the **comment** function or **send me a message** **[@mariokandut](https://www.twitter.com/mariokandut)**.

If you want to know more about **[Node](https://www.mariokandut.com/tags/node)**, have a look at these [Node Tutorials](https://www.mariokandut.com/tags/node).

### [<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="16" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg>](#references-and-big-thanks)References (and Big thanks):

[Node.js Relases](https://nodejs.org/en/about/releases/), [HeyNode](https://heynode.com/), [flavio](https://flaviocopes.com/how-to-update-node/)