How to Clear npm Cache | Windows Mac Linux

The Easy method to Clear npm Cache on Windows, Mac OS, Linux is to use the command npm cache clean --force.

The npm cache is a local repository that stores downloaded packages and their metadata.

It helps speed up package installations and allows npm to work offline.

However, there are situations where clearing the npm cache becomes necessary.

Clear npm Cache

The process of clearing the npm cache may vary depending on your operating system.

Let’s explore the steps for Windows, mac OS, and Ubuntu/Linux:

• npm cache clean: This command removes the entire npm cache. It prompts you for confirmation before clearing the cache. You need to respond with “yes” or “y” to proceed with the cache clearance.
• npm cache clean --force: This command forcefully clears the entire npm cache without any prompts for confirmation. It skips the confirmation step and immediately starts clearing the cache.

1. Windows

1. Open a command prompt: Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter to open a command prompt.
2. Run the cache clean command: In the command prompt, enter the following command and press Enter:

npm cache clean --force

Wait for the cache to be cleared: npm will display progress messages as it clears the cache.

Once the process is complete, you will see a success message.

2. Mac OS

1. Open the Terminal: Launch the Terminal by going to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
2. Run the cache clean command: In the Terminal, enter the following command and press Enter:

npm cache clean --force

Wait for the cache to be cleared: npm will display progress messages as it clears the cache. Once the process is complete, you will see a success message.

3. Ubuntu/Linux

1. Open a terminal: Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open a terminal.
2. Run the cache clean command: In the terminal, enter the following command and press Enter:

npm cache clean --force

Wait for the cache to be cleared: npm will display progress messages as it clears the cache. Once the process is complete, you will see a success message.

Clear npm Cache in Frameworks

Let’s explore how to clear the npm cache in React.js and Angular Javascript Frameworks.

1. React.js

To clear the npm cache in a React.js project, follow these steps:

1. Open a command prompt or terminal in the root directory of your React.js project.
2. Run the cache clean command: Enter the following command and press Enter:

npm cache clean --force

Wait for the cache to be cleared: npm will display progress messages as it clears the cache. Once the process is complete, you will see a success message.

2. Angular

To clear the npm cache in an Angular project, follow these steps:

1. Open a command prompt or terminal in the root directory of your Angular project.
2. Run the cache clean command: Enter the following command and press Enter:

npm cache clean --force

Wait for the cache to be cleared: npm will display progress messages as it clears the cache. Once the process is complete, you will see a success message.

Manually Deleting the Cache Folder

Locate the cache folder: The npm cache folder is typically stored in a specific location based on your operating system:

macOS/Linux: ~/.npm

rm -rf ~/.npm

Windows: %AppData%\npm-cache

rmdir /q /s %AppData%\npm-cache

Delete the cache folder: Navigate to the appropriate cache folder for your operating system and delete its contents.

You can either use the file explorer or run the following command in the command prompt or terminal:

Verify clear npm Cache

Once you have cleared the npm cache, it’s a good practice to verify that the clearance was successful.

Run the following command in the command prompt or terminal:

npm cache verify

This command checks the integrity of the cache and ensures that it has been successfully cleared.

If the cache clearance was successful, you will see a success message indicating that the cache is verified.

Clear npm cache Use Case Examples

Let’s explore some common use cases where clearing the npm cache can be beneficial:

1. Resolving Package Version Conflicts

When working on a project with multiple dependencies, you may encounter package version conflicts. Clearing the npm cache and reinstalling the packages can help resolve these conflicts by ensuring that you have the latest compatible versions.

2. Updating Packages

If you want to update all the packages in your project to the latest available versions, clearing the npm cache can be useful. After clearing the cache, when you reinstall the packages, npm will fetch the latest versions from the package registry.

Note: Before clearing the npm cache, Make sure you have Node.js and npm installed on your system. You can download them from the official Node.js website (https://nodejs.org).

Conclusion

Clearing the npm cache is a helpful step when you encounter issues related to cached dependencies or want to ensure that you have the latest package versions.

In this article, we discussed how to clear the npm cache on different operating systems and within popular frameworks like React.js and Angular.

We also explored some use case examples where clearing the cache can be beneficial.

By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily clear the npm cache and maintain a clean and up-to-date development environment.

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