Install Node.js and Npm on Raspberry Pi

You can build many apps using node.js and npm on your raspberry pi and it's very easy to interact with GPIO or other components connected to your raspberry pi. So if you are like me and like to do it on node.js here a few simple steps to install node and npm.

Step 1: Detect What Version of Node.js You Need

The processor on Raspberry Pi is ARM, but depends on the model there can be ARMv6, ARMv7 or ARMv8. This 3 versions of ARM is supported by Node.js.

So first of all type this in your terminal on raspberry pi to detect the version that you need:

uname -m

If the response starts with armv6 than that's the version that you will need. For example for raspberry pi zero W you will need ARMv6

Step 2: Download Node.JS Linux Binaries for ARM

Go to node.js download page and check right click on the version of ARM that you need and choose Copy Link address.

After that in the terminal using wget download the tar.gz file for that version. Just type wget, paste the link copied before and make sure the extension is .tar.gz. If it's something else change it to this and it should be ok. For example I will need ARMv6 and I will type this in my terminal:

wget https://nodejs.org/dist/v8.9.0/node-v8.9.0-linux-armv6l.tar.gz

Step 3: Extract the Archive

Using tar that is already installed with the system on your raspberry pi just type this (make sure you change the filename with the file that you have)

tar -xzf node-v8.9.0-linux-armv6l.tar.gz

Step 4: Copy Node to /usr/local

cd node-v6.11.1-linux-armv6l/
sudo cp -R * /usr/local/

Step 5: Check If Everything Is Installed Ok

Check if node and npm are installed correctly. This lines should print the version of node and npm installed.

node -v

npm -v

Now you have node.js installed on your Raspberry Pi and working so you can build something using node

Comments

[hlesta]

Thanks so much, it was helpful.

[ChristopherG214]

Thank you, this was helpful

[bb_matt]

Or you can just run:
sudo apt-get install nodejs -y

[andytilia]

or type tar -xzf <TAB> to autocomplete the awkward file name.

[satscape]

It's also in the raspbian repo.
sudo apt install nodejs npm -y
It may put it in /usr/bin/ and not /usr/sbin
So if it says it can't find it, type: /usr/bin/node -v

[MohitP13]

after follow all this step , at last when i run node -v to check , it's working or not .
it show me
-bash: /usr/local/bin/node: No such file or directory
plz solve help

[scout208]

If you just use `tar xf <name of the archive>` it will work with any format (xz or gz).

[storkweb.test]

If the archive file is in .tar.xz format (i.e. arm v7) then the command to unzip it is :
tar -xJf <name of the archive.tar.xz>

[ShashiK3]

Worked on first try. Thanks. ( Although I had to first copy from the Node.js site to my local workstation, and then scp to my Rpi )

[bestcs2017]

i m using raspbian pi3 b+ model nd processor is ARMv8.M doing a project of Magic Mirror.M facing a problem when installing npm. Error is shown that npm is not supported node js version.it suggested me to install node js version 4,6,7,8,9 where in my system node js 10.15.2 has already been installed.Could u plz suggest me the command line code for installation of nodejs version 8 with arm8 processor

[SergioL34]

Thanks,
It worked at the first try.

[JihyeongL]

I've followed this except version of node since the latest version of it is 8.11.3 and my architecture is ARMv7. After copying things to /usr/loacl, I checked node -v. It worked. But when I typed npm -v, the output was bash: /usr/bin/npm: there's no such file or directory. What should I do to fix this? Please help.

[JihyeongL]

solved. npm was in /usr/local/bin so I made link to /usr/bin.

[Martinkirkby]

Hello
how did you make a link?
i have the same prob

[JihyeongL]

Just do ln -s (original file) (target file). It will make a symbolic link of a file. If you are trying to make a link to a root-permission-required directory, you should do it as a root. Change your user account by su (target account) or just su for root. Or you can do with sudo if possible.

[Nickdebesten]

It does not worm for me node and npm :-(

[Nickdebesten]

Never mind i read the comments thx guys

[BenR206]

The later versions of node are using tarballs that have the .xz format

If you download one of these change the command to:

tar -xJf node-blah-blah.tar.xz

[jacekg1993]

Thank you <3
And if anyone is having problems with npm -v or node -v after this, see https://stackoverflow.com/questions/8935341/npm-wont-run-after-upgrade/8935401#8935401

[nurf38]

what if my extension is tar.xz.1. Do i have to change to other extension?