See the docs for the update
command:
npm update [-g] [<pkg>...]
This command will update all the packages listed to the latest version (specified by the tag config), respecting semver.
Additionally, see the documentation on Node.js and NPM installation and Upgrading NPM.
The following original answer is from the old FAQ that no longer exists, but should work for Linux and Mac:
How do I update npm?
npm install -g npm
Please note that this command will remove your current version of npm. Make sure to use sudo npm install -g npm
if on a Mac.
You can also update all outdated local packages by doing npm update
without any arguments, or global packages by doing npm update -g
.
Occasionally, the version of npm will progress such that the current version cannot be properly installed with the version that you have installed already. (Consider, if there is ever a bug in the update command.) In those cases, you can do this:
curl https://www.npmjs.com/install.sh | sh
To update Node.js itself, I recommend you use nvm, the Node Version Manager.
EDIT: several years since this question was first answered, as noted in a newer answer, there is now a command for this:
nvm now has a command to update npm. It's nvm install-latest-npm
or nvm install --latest-npm
.
nvm install-latest-npm
: Attempt to upgrade to the latest working npm
on the current node version
nvm install --latest-npm
: After installing, attempt to upgrade to the latest working npm on the given node version
Below are previous revisions of the correct answer to this question.
Over three years after this question was first asked, it seems like the answer is much simpler now. Just update the version that nvm installed, which lives in ~/.nvm/versions/node/[your-version]/lib/node_modules/npm
.
I just installed node 4.2.2, which comes with npm 2.14.7, but I want to use npm 3. So I did:
cd ~/.nvm/versions/node/v4.2.2/lib
npm install npm
Easy!
And yes, this should work for any module, not just npm, that you want to be "global" for a specific version of node.
EDIT 1: In the newest version, npm -g
is smart and installs modules into the path above instead of the system global path.
Thanks @philraj for pointing this out in a comment.
Best Answer
This may work:
For example:
then, if you want, you can delete your previous version with:
Where, in your case, NEW_VERSION = 5.4 OLD_VERSION = 5.0
Alternatively, try: