Node.js Installation Guide for Windows Using fnm

by Joseph Then  /  in Tech Guide

4 min

This guide will walk you through installing Node.js on Windows using fnm (Fast Node Manager), a fast and simple Node.js version manager. We'll also cover how to set up either npm or pnpm as your package manager.

Why Use fnm?

  • 🚀 Faster than nvm (Node Version Manager)
  • ✨ Simple installation and usage
  • 🔄 Easy switching between Node.js versions
  • 🏷️ Supports .nvmrc and .node-version files

Prerequisites

  • Windows 10/11
  • PowerShell (comes pre-installed)
  • Winget (Windows Package Manager, included in modern Windows versions)

Installation Steps

1. Install fnm (Fast Node Manager)

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

winget install Schniz.fnm

After installation, close and reopen your PowerShell window to ensure fnm is in your PATH.

2. Install Node.js

To install the latest LTS version (recommended for most users):

fnm install --lts

For a specific version (replace [version] with the desired version number, e.g., 22):

fnm install [version]

3. Set Default Node.js Version

To make your installed version the default:

fnm default [version]

4. Verify Installation

Check that Node.js (and npm) is properly installed:

node -v   # should output something like v22.15.0
npm -v    # should output the npm version that comes with your Node.js installation

Package Manager Options

Using npm (default)

npm comes bundled with Node.js. You can start using it immediately:

npm init -y   # initialise a new project in the working directory
npm install [package-name]  # install packages

Using pnpm (recommended for disk space efficiency)

To enable pnpm (a faster, disk-space efficient alternative):

corepack enable pnpm

Verify pnpm installation:

pnpm -v   # should output the pnpm version

Switching Node.js Versions

With fnm, you can easily switch between Node.js versions:

  1. List available versions:

    fnm list

  2. Use a specific version:

    fnm use [version]

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues:

  1. Ensure you've restarted PowerShell after fnm installation
  2. Verify fnm is in your PATH: Get-Command fnm
  3. Check for Windows updates
  4. Verify node directory has been added to PATH

Additional Resources

Conclusion

You now have Node.js installed with fnm on your Windows machine, giving you flexibility to switch between versions easily. Whether you choose npm or pnpm, you're ready to start building JavaScript applications!

Happy coding!