Change default global installation directory for node.js modules in Windows?

Question

Everything you need is in the npm-folders documentation. I don't want to start my Win notebook now so I cannot verify it, but you should only change prefix to C:\Program Files\nodejs in your config file. If you want to change it globally for all users, edit the C:\Program Files\nodejs\npmrc file, otherwise create/edit C:\Users\{username}\.npmrc.

But this change will probably have some side effects, so read this discussion first. I don't think it's a good idea.

trying to install global packages into C:\Program Files (x86)\nodejs\ gave me Run as Administrator issues, because npm was trying to install into
C:\Program Files (x86)\nodejs\node_modules\

to resolve this, change global install directory to C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\npm:

in C:\Users\{username}\, create .npmrc file with contents:

prefix = "C:\\Users\\{username}\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm"

reference

• npm install -g package installs global packages into prefix location
• npmrc userconfig takes priority and overrides
• npm config ls -l was showing prefix = "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\nodejs"

environment
nodejs x86 installer into C:\Program Files (x86)\nodejs\ on Windows 7 Ultimate N 64-bit SP1
node --version : v0.10.28
npm --version : 1.4.10

You can see my answer to this in my answer to another question.

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In Windows, the global install path is actually in your user's profile directory

• %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\npm
• %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\npm-cache
• WARNING: If you're doing timed events or other automation as a different user, make sure you run npm install as that user. Some modules/utilities should be installed globally.
• INSTALLER BUGS: You may have to create these directories or add the ...\npm directory to your users path yourself.

---

To change the "global" location for all users to a more appropriate shared global location %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\(npm|npm-cache) (do this as an administrator):

• create an [NODE_INSTALL_PATH]\etc\ directory
  • this is needed before you try npm config --global ... actions
• create the global (admin) location(s) for npm modules
  • C:\ProgramData\npm-cache - npm modules will go here
  • C:\ProgramData\npm - binary scripts for globally installed modules will go here
  • C:\ProgramData\npm\node_modules - globally installed modules will go here
  • set the permissions appropriately
    • administrators: modify
    • authenticated users: read/execute
• Set global configuration settings (Administrator Command Prompt)
  • npm config --global set prefix "C:\ProgramData\npm"
  • npm config --global set cache "C:\ProgramData\npm-cache"
• Add C:\ProgramData\npm to your System's Path environment variable

---

If you want to change your user's "global" location to %LOCALAPPDATA%\(npm|npm-cache) path instead:

• Create the necessary directories
  • C:\Users\YOURNAME\AppData\Local\npm-cache - npm modules will go here
  • C:\Users\YOURNAME\AppData\Local\npm - binary scripts for installed modules will go here
  • C:\Users\YOURNAME\AppData\Local\npm\node_modules - globally installed modules will go here
• Configure npm
  • npm config set prefix "C:\Users\YOURNAME\AppData\Local\npm"
  • npm config set cache "C:\Users\YOURNAME\AppData\Local\npm-cache"
• Add the new npm path to your environment's PATH.
  • setx PATH "%PATH%;C:\Users\YOURNAME\AppData\Local\npm"

Building on the installation concept of chocolatey and the idea suggested by @Tracker, what worked for me was to do the following and all users on windows were then happy working with nodejs and npm.

Choose C:\ProgramData\nodejs as installation directory for nodejs and install nodejs with any user that is a member of the administrator group.

This can be done with chocolatey as: choco install nodejs.install -ia "'INSTALLDIR=C:\ProgramData\nodejs'"

Then create a folder called npm-cache at the root of the installation directory, which after following above would be C:\ProgramData\nodejs\npm-cache.

Create a folder called etc at the root of the installation directory, which after following above would be C:\ProgramData\nodejs\etc.

Set NODE environment variable as C:\ProgramData\nodejs.

Set NODE_PATH environment variable as C:\ProgramData\nodejs\node_modules.

Ensure %NODE% environment variable previously created above is added (or its path) is added to %PATH% environment variable.

Edit %NODE_PATH%\npm\npmrc with the following content prefix=C:\ProgramData\nodejs

From command prompt, set the global config like so...

npm config --global set prefix "C:\ProgramData\nodejs"

npm config --global set cache "C:\ProgramData\nodejs\npm-cache"

It is important the steps above are carried out preferably in sequence and before updating npm (npm -g install npm@latest) or attempting to install any npm module.

Performing the above steps helped us running nodejs as system wide installation, easily available to all users with proper permissions. Each user can then run node and npm as required.

You should use this command to set the global installation flocation of npm packages

(git bash) npm config --global set prefix </path/you/want/to/use>/npm

(cmd/git-cmd) npm config --global set prefix <drive:\path\you\want\to\use>\npm

You may also consider the npm-cache location right next to it. (as would be in a normal nodejs installation on windows)

(git bash) npm config --global set cache </path/you/want/to/use>/npm-cache

(cmd/git-cmd) npm config --global set cache <drive:\path\you\want\to\use>\npm-cache

• Step 1:

  npm config get prefix

  • Default Path is : %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\npm

• Step 2:

  npm config get cache

  • Default Path is : %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\npm-cache

• Step 3:

  npm config set prefix \npm

  • example npm config set prefix C:\\dev\\node\\npm

• Step 4:

  npm config set cache \npm-cache

  • example npm config set cache C:\\dev\\node\\npm-cache

Run steps 1 & 2 again to check whether the paths are updated as required

That's it. Whenever you install global packages you should see them installed inside \npm\node_modules

The default global folder is C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\npm. You can create (if it doesn't exist) a .npmrc file in C:\Users\{username}\ and add prefix = "path\\to\\yourglobalfolder". Note that, in windows, the path should be separated by double back-slash.