How To Install NVM on macOS with Homebrew

Node Version Manager (NVM) is a widely-used tool that allows developers to manage multiple versions of Node.js on a single machine. Its importance cannot be overstated, as Node.js applications can sometimes be version-specific, and different projects may require different Node.js versions. The flexibility offered by NVM ensures a smooth development process, allowing developers to switch between Node versions seamlessly. On macOS, there are multiple methods to install NVM, but one of the most popular and efficient ways is using Homebrew, the renowned package manager for macOS.

This guide will walk you through the detailed steps of installing NVM on macOS using Homebrew, allowing you to set up a flexible Node.js development environment with ease.

Prerequisites

• You must have macOS desktop access with administrator privileges.
• If you don’t have Homebrew installed on your macOS, you can install it by pasting the following command in the terminal:

  /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)" 
  

  For more instruction visit Homebrew installation tutorial.

Step 1: Remove Existing Node Versions

If your system already has a node installed, uninstall it first. My system already has installed node via Homebrew. So uninstalling it first. Skip if not already installed.

brew uninstall --ignore-dependencies node 
brew uninstall --force node 

Step 2: Install NVM on macOS

1. Before installing any packages, it’s always a good idea to update Homebrew to the latest version and update the formulae.

   brew update 
   

2. After that, you can easily install NVM using the following command:

   brew install nvm 
   

3. Next, create a .nvm directory in the home.

   mkdir ~/.nvm 
   

4. Now, configure the required environment variables. Edit the following configuration file in your home directory

   vim ~/.bash_profile 
   

5. Add the below lines to ~/.bash_profile ( or ~/.zshrc for macOS Catalina or newer versions)

   
   export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
   [ -s "/usr/local/opt/nvm/nvm.sh" ] && \. "/usr/local/opt/nvm/nvm.sh"
   [ -s "/usr/local/opt/nvm/etc/bash_completion" ] && \. "/usr/local/opt/nvm/etc/bash_completion"
   
   

   Press ESC + :wq to save and close your file.

6. Next, load the variable to the current shell environment. From the next login, it will automatically loaded.

   source ~/.bash_profile  # or source ~/.zshrc 
   

That’s it. The NVM has been installed on your macOS system. Go to next step to install Node.js versions with the help of nvm.

Step 3: Using NVM

First of all, see what Node versions are available to install. To see available versions, type:

nvm ls-remote 

Now, you can install any version listed in above output. You can also use aliases names like node for latest version, lts for latest LTS version, etc.

nvm install node     ## Installing Latest version 
nvm install 20       ## Installing Node.js 20.X version 

After installing you can verify what is installed with:

nvm ls 

If you have installed multiple versions on your system, you can set any version as the default version any time. To set the node 20 as default version, simply use:

nvm use 20 

Similarly, you can install other versions like Node 12, 16, 18, and 21 versions and switch between them.

Conclusion

Having the capability to manage and switch between various Node.js versions is essential for modern web development, and NVM provides that flexibility. By leveraging Homebrew on macOS, the installation process becomes streamlined, making it easier than ever to get NVM up and running. Once installed, developers can enjoy a hassle-free experience, working on multiple Node.js projects regardless of their version requirements.

This guide has furnished you with all the knowledge needed to install NVM on macOS using Homebrew. Now, you’re ready to tackle any Node.js project, knowing you have the power to easily manage and switch between Node versions at your fingertips.