# Setup: Install Node.js

Install the long-term support version of Node.js and npm, which you will use for JavaScript and front-end frameworks.

Novice · Operating System · Node.js · Updated October 29, 2026

## After this lesson you can

- Install Node.js on Windows and check the versions of node and npm

## Key takeaways

- Node.js runs JavaScript outside a web browser, and npm, which comes with it, downloads JavaScript libraries for your projects.
- Install the long-term support (LTS) version, Node.js 26, with winget install -e --id OpenJS.NodeJS.LTS.
- node --version should print a version starting with v26. npm --version prints npm's own version number.
- node -e runs one line of JavaScript straight from the terminal.

**Windows only.** **Node.js** runs JavaScript outside a web browser. You will need it later in the course, when you build web front ends with a JavaScript framework. It comes with **npm**, which downloads JavaScript libraries for your projects.

We install the **LTS** (long-term support) version: Node.js 26.

## Install Node.js

In Git Bash, run:

```bash
winget install -e --id OpenJS.NodeJS.LTS
```

Click **Yes** if Windows asks whether the app may make changes.

## Check your work

Close Windows Terminal completely and open it again. Then run:

```bash
node --version
npm --version
```

You should see a version that starts with `v26.` for Node.js, and a version number for npm.

Run one line of JavaScript to see Node.js work:

```bash
node -e "console.log('Node.js is ready')"
```

You should see `Node.js is ready`.

## Common problems

| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| `bash: node: command not found` | Close every Windows Terminal window and open a new one. If it still fails, sign out of Windows and back in. |
| `node --version` shows an older version, such as `v24.` or `v20.` | Another Node.js was installed earlier. Open **Settings**, go to **Apps > Installed apps**, uninstall every **Node.js**, then run the install command again. |

## Check yourself

2 questions to try on the lesson page.

## So what

Every JavaScript tool you use later, from test runners to front-end frameworks, runs on Node.js and arrives through npm. A `v26.` version now means those installs will just work.

## Key terms

- Node.js
- npm

Source: https://www.ask-codey.com/lessons/os-and-terminal-tools-windows-setup-nodejs