Uninstalling Node.js from your Mac OS X system might sound like a daunting task, but fear not! This guide will walk you through the process step by step, so you can perform a clean uninstall and start fresh with a new installation of Node.js.
Uninstalling Node.js:
To completely uninstall Node.js from your Mac system, you’ll need to follow these steps:
1. Remove Node.js files: Begin by deleting all Node.js-related files and folders on your system. This includes the Node.js executable, npm, and any global npm packages you may have installed.
2. Delete Node.js binaries: Check and remove any Node.js binaries that might be present on your Mac. These binaries are usually located in the /usr/local/bin directory. You can delete them by running the command `sudo rm -rf /usr/local/bin/node` in your terminal.
3. Remove Node.js modules: Next, uninstall any globally installed Node.js modules. You can do this by running `npm list -g --depth=0` to see a list of installed modules and then uninstall them with `npm uninstall -g `.
4. Delete Node.js cache: Remove the Node.js cache directory to ensure a clean uninstall. You can find the cache directory by running `npm config get cache`.
5. Clean up npm: Lastly, remove the npm and npm configuration files from your system. You can remove them by running the command `rm -rf ~/.npm`.
Reinstalling Node.js:
Now that you’ve successfully uninstalled Node.js from your Mac, it’s time to reinstall it from scratch. Follow these steps:
1. Download Node.js: Head to the Node.js official website and download the latest version of Node.js for Mac OS X.
2. Install Node.js: Once the download is complete, open the downloaded file and follow the installation instructions provided. This will install Node.js along with npm on your system.
3. Verify installation: After installation, open your terminal and run the commands `node -v` and `npm -v` to verify that Node.js and npm are installed correctly and are up to date.
4. Update npm (optional): If npm is not up to date, you can update it by running the command `npm install -g npm`.
5. Install global npm packages (optional): If you had any globally installed npm packages before, you can reinstall them by running `npm install -g `.
By following these steps, you can easily uninstall Node.js from your Mac OS X system and reinstall it from the beginning. This will ensure a clean and fresh installation of Node.js, allowing you to continue coding and developing without any issues.