The engine "node" is incompatible with this module [Solved]

# Table of Contents

1. The engine "node" is incompatible with this module
2. Ignoring the engines check with YARN
3. Ignoring the engines check with NPM
4. Delete node_modules, yarn.lock and package-lock.json
5. Updating your version of Node.js
6. npm WARN EBADENGINE Unsupported engine

# The engine "node" is incompatible with this module

The error 'The engine "node" is incompatible with this module' occurs when the package you are trying to install is not compatible with your Node.js engine (version).

To solve the error, run the yarn install command with the --ignore-engines flag.

Copied!
error package@version: The engine "node" is incompatible with this module. Expected version "^14 || >=16.0.0 || ^18". Got "X.Y.Z".
error Found incompatible module.

The "engine" Node refers to your version of Node.js.

You can use the node -v command if you need to check your version.

# Ignoring the engines check with YARN

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

Copied!
yarn install --ignore-engines

If you were trying to install a specific package, use the yarn global add <package> --ignore-engines syntax instead.

Copied!
yarn global add react --ignore-engines

The --ignore-engines flag is used to ignore the engines check.

If you want to ignore the --ignore-engines check globally (for all commands), issue the following command.

Copied!
yarn config set ignore-engines true

# Ignoring the engines check with NPM

The equivalent npm flag is --force.

Copied!
npm install --force

Use the following syntax if you need to install a specific package.

Copied!
npm install react --force

Make sure to replace react with the name of the package you're trying to install.

The --force flag:

• allows installing packages that have an engines declaration requiring a different version of npm.
• allows installing packages that have an engines declaration requiring a different version of Node.js.

# Delete node_modules, yarn.lock and package-lock.json

If the error persists, try to delete the node_modules folder, the yarn.lock file and the package-lock.json file.

If you are on Windows, issue the following commands.

Copied!
# 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, issue the following commands.

Copied!
# 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

# Updating your version of Node.js

An alternative approach to solving the error is to update your version of Node.js.

The error basically means that the required by the package Node.js version is not compatible with your Node.js version.

Copied!
Expected version "^14 || >=16.0.0 || ^18". Got "X.Y.Z".
error Found incompatible module.

Notice that the error message specifies the expected by the package versions.

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

Copied!
node -v

If your version of Node is not one of the supported versions, you have to update it to one of the versions in the specified range.

For example, 14 || 16 || 18 means that the supported versions are 14.X.X, 16.X.X and 18.X.X.

Similarly, if the error message expects a version ">=18", then you have to install Node.js version 18 or greater.

One way to update your version of Node.js is to download the installer from the official nodejs.org website.

# Using brew on macOS

If you are on macOS and use Homebrew, issue the following commands.

Copied!
# for macOS
brew update

brew upgrade node

brew link --overwrite node

# Using NVM to update your Node.js version

If you use NVM for macOS and Linux to manage your Node.js version, use the following commands.

Copied!
# NVM for macOS and Linux
nvm install --lts

nvm use --lts

I have written a step-by-step guide on how to install NVM on macOS and Linux.

The command installs the long-term supported Node.js version.

You can also install a specific version.

Copied!
# NVM for macOS and Linux
nvm install 18

nvm use 18

If you use NVM for Windows, use the following commands.

Copied!
# NVM for Windows
nvm install lts

nvm use lts

I have written a step-by-step guide on how to install NVM on Windows.

The same approach can be used to install a specific Node.js version.

Copied!
nvm install 18

nvm use 18

# Updating your Node.js version in GitHub actions

If you use GitHub actions, use the following approach to set your Node.js version.

Copied!
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v3
- uses: actions/setup-node@v3
  with:
    node-version: 16

The example sets the Node.js version to 16.

# Using n to update your version of Node.js

You can also use the n package to update your version of Node.js.

Copied!
npm install -g n

n lts

The same approach can be used to install a specific Node.js version.

Copied!
n 18

# npm WARN EBADENGINE Unsupported engine

If you get the warning "npm WARN EBADENGINE Unsupported engine", then you either have set the engines property incorrectly in your package.json file or the package you are trying to install does not support your Node.js version.

Here is the complete stack trace.

Copied!
npm WARN EBADENGINE Unsupported engine {
npm WARN EBADENGINE   package: 'my-package@1.0.0',
npm WARN EBADENGINE   required: { node: '16.0.0' },
npm WARN EBADENGINE   current: { node: 'v18.15.0', npm: '9.5.0' }
npm WARN EBADENGINE }

For example, my package.json file has the following engines object set.

Copied!
"engines": {
  "node": "16.0.0"
},

The only version that the package supports is Node.js version 16.0.0. Trying to install it with any other version raises the warning.

If the engines property is set in your package.json file, you can update it to resolve the issue.

Copied!
"engines": {
  "node": ">=16.0.0"
},

Now the warning isn't shown when you try to run npm install with a Node.js version greater than 16.

If the engines property is not set in your package.json file, you have to update your version of Node.js based on the error message.

Copied!
npm WARN EBADENGINE   required: { node: '16.0.0' },
npm WARN EBADENGINE   current: { node: 'v18.15.0', npm: '9.5.0' }

The error message above means that the package requires Node.js version 16.0.0, however, version 18.15.0 is installed.

In this case, you have to install Node.js version 16.0.0 as shown in the previous subheading.

# Additional Resources

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

• Unable to verify the first certificate in Node.js & Postman
• ts-node: command not found error [Solved]
• npm WARN npm does not support Node.js v16 error [Solved]
• Refused to apply style because its MIME type ('text/html') is not a supported
• Could not get any response Postman Error [Solved]