Local package.json exists, but node_modules missing [Fixed]

# Local package.json exists, but node_modules missing [Fixed]

The npm error "Local package.json exists, but node_modules missing, did you mean to install?" occurs when the node_modules directory in your project is missing.

To solve the error, run the npm install command.

Copied!
npm WARN Local package.json exists, but node_modules missing, did you mean to install?

Open your terminal in your project's root directory (where your package.json file is) and issue the following command.

Copied!
npm install

Make sure your terminal is located in the same directory as your package.json file because that's where it reads your dependencies from.

If you use yarn to manage your dependencies, you can also use the yarn install command.

Copied!
yarn install

After you run the npm install command, the node_modules folder will be generated in the root directory of your project.

The npm install command installs the modules that are specified in the dependencies object of your package.json file.

Try to start your development server after installing your dependencies.

Copied!
npm start

Or by running npm run dev, depending on the scripts section of your package.json file.

Copied!
npm run dev

If the error persists, try to clear your cache before installing your modules.

Copied!
# clear your cache
npm cache clean --force

# install your dependencies
npm install

# Delete your node_modules and package-lock.json files

If the error persists, try to delete your node_modules directory manually and recreate it by running npm install.

If you are on Windows, navigate to the root directory of your project (where your package.json file is) and issue the following commands.

Copied!
# on Windows
rd /s /q "node_modules"
del package-lock.json
del -f yarn.lock

# 👇️ clean your npm cache
npm cache clean --force

npm install

If you are on macOS or Linux, navigate to the root directory of your project and issue the following commands.

Copied!
# on macOS and Linux
rm -rf node_modules
rm -f package-lock.json
rm -f yarn.lock

# 👇️ clean your npm cache
npm cache clean --force

npm install

Open the project in your IDE and make sure the node_modules folder exists in the root of your project.

Try to start your development server after installing the dependencies.

Copied!
npm start

Or by running npm run dev, depending on the scripts section of your package.json file.

Copied!
npm run dev

The node_modules directory gets automatically generated when you run the npm install or yarn install commands.

However, you have to make sure to run the npm install command from the root directory of your project (where your package.json file is), so it can read the dependencies it has to install.

After running the command, you should be able to start your development server without any issues.