I was recently going through the version of node in my ubuntu 16.04 when node -v command was used it shows me version 6.9.1 but when nodejs -v it shows 6.9.2 previously before using this commands npm update command was used.

Now what's these difference in node -v and nodejs -v? and how to update to the latest LTS version of node/nodejs?

15 Answers

To update, you can install n

sudo npm install -g n 

Then just :

sudo n latest 

or a specific version

sudo n 8.9.0 

According to official docs to install node on Debian and Ubuntu based distributions:

node v12 (Old)

curl -sL | sudo -E bash - sudo apt-get install -y nodejs 

node v14 (For new users: install this one):

curl -sL | sudo -E bash - sudo apt-get install -y nodejs 

node v15 (Current version):

curl -sL | sudo -E bash - sudo apt-get install -y nodejs 

Other older versions: Just replace the desired version number in the link above.

Optional: install build tools

To compile and install native packages

sudo apt-get install -y build-essential 

To update node to the latest version just:

sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade 

To keep npm updated

sudo npm i -g npm 

To find out other versions try npm info npm and in versions find your desired version and replace [version-tag] with that version tag in npm i -g npm@[version-tag]

And I also recommend trying yarn instead of npm

Using Node Version Manager (NVM):

Install it:

wget -qO- | bash 

Test your installation:

close your current terminal, open a new terminal, and run:

command -v nvm 

Use it to install as many versions as u like:

nvm install 8 # Install nodejs 8 nvm install --lts # Install latest LTS (Long Term Support) version 

List installed versions:

nvm ls 

Use a specific version:

nvm use 8 # Use this version on this shell 

Set defaults:

nvm alias default 8 # Default to nodejs 8 on this shell nvm alias default node # always use latest available as default nodejs for all shells 

Use n module from npm in order to upgrade node

sudo npm cache clean -f sudo npm install -g n sudo n stable 

To upgrade to latest version (and not current stable) version, you can use

sudo n latest 

Undo :

sudo apt-get install --reinstall nodejs-legacy # fix /usr/bin/node sudo n rm 6.0.0 # replace number with version of Node that was installed sudo npm uninstall -g n

Use sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade nodejs to upgrade node (and only upgrade node) using the package manager.

The package name is nodejs, see for details.

You can also use nvm to install and update node.

curl -o- | bash 

Then restart the terminal, use nvm ls-remote to get latest version list of node, and use nvm install lts/* to install latest LTS version.

nvm is more recommended way to install or update node, even if you are not going to switch versions.

Difference: When I first installed node, it installed as 'nodejs'. When I upgraded it, it created 'node'. By executing node, we are actually executing nodejs. Node is just a reference to nodejs. From my experience, when I upgraded, it affected both the versions (as it is supposed to). When I do nodejs -v or node -v, I get the new version.

Upgrading: npm update is used to update the packages in the current directory. Check

To upgrade node version, based on the OS you are using, follow the commands here

Please refer nodejs official site for installation instructions at the following link

Anyway, please find the commands to install nodejs version 10 in ubuntu below.

curl -sL | sudo -E bash - sudo apt-get install -y nodejs 

sudo npm install npm@latest -g 

Try this:

Edit or create the file :nodesource.list

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nodesource.list 

Insert this text:

deb bionic main

deb-src bionic main

Run these commands:

curl -s | apt-key add - sudo sh -c "echo deb cosmic main /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nodesource.list" sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install nodejs 

Run these commands:

sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install build-essential libssl-dev curl -o- | bash source ~/.profile nvm ls-remote nvm install v9.10.1 nvm use v9.10.1 node -v 

Update latest version Nodejs :

1. sudo npm cache clean -f

2. sudo npm install -g n

3. sudo n stable

Node.js Current:

It's work for me..

Using Ubuntu

curl -fsSL | sudo -E bash - sudo apt-get install -y nodejs 

Using Debian, as root

curl -fsSL | bash - apt-get install -y nodejs 

I am also facing problem while going to install react app, so i found the solution,

npx create-react-app shodkk 

First install the npm latest version using

sudo npm install -g npm@8.4.1 

So to install the node 16.x you need to go terminal and type

curl -fsSL | sudo -E bash - 

Doing this you install the node LTS that is 16.14.o at the time of writing this post.

Try this 2-3 times, also do the

sudo apt-get update 

Then Now install the package using

sudo apt-get install -y nodejs 

At last this helps you remove any unwanted package, that remains after updating that is depreciated and need not be there, So use autoremove command. sudo apt autoremove

So if like the post, Upvote and motivate me to write more, thanks, givingBack to the Community.

I am using Ubuntu 20.04.4 LTS and got the issue during upgrade node js. The current LTS version is 16.14.2 According to the NodeSource Node.js Binary Distributions document

Node.js v16.x:

curl -fsSL | sudo -E bash -

sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

if you still get the issue you can also try the following:

curl -fsSL | sudo -E bash - apt-get update sudo npm cache clean -f sudo apt-get install -y nodejs 

Use n module from npm in order to upgrade node sudo npm cache clean -f sudo npm install -g n sudo n stable To upgrade to latest version (and not current stable) version, you can use sudo n latest

To undo: sudo apt-get install --reinstall nodejs-legacy # fix /usr/bin/node sudo n rm 6.0.0 # replace number with version of Node that was installed sudo npm uninstall -g n