How to set your default Node.js version using NVM [4 Ways]

# Table of Contents

1. How to set your default Node.js version using NVM
2. Setting the latest Node.js version as the default using NVM
3. Setting the long-term supported Node.js version as the default using NVM
4. Seeing the old Node.js version in VS Code

# How to set your default Node.js version using NVM

You can use the nvm alias default 18.16.0 command to set your default Node.js version using NVM.

The command sets your default Node version that is used in any new shell.

First, install the version that you want to set as default.

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nvm install 18.16.0

Then set the version as your default Node.js version.

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nvm alias default 18.16.0

nvm use 18.16.0

The nvm alias default command is used to set a default Node.js version to be used in any new shell.

If you need to check which Node.js versions are installed, use the nvm ls command.

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nvm ls

Notice that the currently active Node.js version has an arrow pointing to it.

You can also use the node -v or node --version command to check your current Node.js version.

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node -v

node --version

If you need to list what Node.js versions are available to install, use the nvm ls-remote command.

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nvm ls-remote

The output of the command is quite long as it shows each Node.js version that can be installed using NVM.

If you try to set a version that you haven't installed as your default, you would get an error.

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# ⛔️ ! WARNING: Version '19.5.0' does not exist.
# default -> 19.5.0 (-> N/A)

nvm alias default 19.5.0

I don't have version 19.5.0 installed on my machine, so trying to set it as the default Node.js version raises an error.

You first have to install the version.

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nvm install 19.5.0

nvm use 19.5.0

And then set it as your default Node.js version.

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nvm alias default 19.5.0

If the node -v command doesn't show the expected version, try to restart your shell.

After you set a certain Node.js version as your default, all new shells will start with the specified version.

You can also use the nvm use default command to switch to the default version once it has been set.

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nvm use default

# Setting the latest Node.js version as the default using NVM

If you need to set the latest Node.js version that is installed on your PC as the default using NVM, issue the following command.

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nvm alias default node

nvm use node

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node -v

The command sets your default Node.js version to the latest Node version that is installed on your computer.

The latest Node.js version that is installed on my PC is 20.0.0.

If you need to set your default Node.js version to the latest Node.js remote version:

1. Run the following command to install the latest version.

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nvm install node

2. Make the latest version the default and switch to it.

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nvm alias default node

nvm use node

# Setting the long-term supported Node.js version as the default using NVM

If you need to set the long-term supported Node.js version as the default, use the following commands.

1. Install the long-term supported Node.js version using NVM.

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nvm install --lts

nvm use --lts

2. Set the LTS Node.js version as your default.

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nvm alias default 'lts/*'

If the command doesn't work for you, try to wrap lts/* in double quotes.

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nvm alias default "lts/*"

# Seeing the old Node.js version in VS Code

If you still see the old version after setting a default Node.js version in VS Code.

1. Try to restart VS Code.

2. Try to completely close the IDE and reopen it.

3. Try to clear the cache in VS Code.

4. Try to rerun the node -v or node --version command in a new terminal window.

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node -v

node --version

# Additional Resources

You can learn more about the related topics by checking out the following tutorials:

• 'nvm' is not recognized as an internal or external command
• nvm: command not found error [Solved]
• How to change the version of NPM using NVM
• NVM exit status 145: The directory is not empty [Solved]