Does nvm work in WSL?

Yes. Open your Ubuntu terminal in WSL and follow the same steps as on Linux. Keep your projects inside the Linux file system, such as ~/projects, and not in /mnt/c, so npm runs faster.

Run the same install script again with the new version number in the URL. It updates nvm in ~/.nvm and keeps the Node.js versions you installed.

How do I set the default Node.js version on Linux?

Run nvm alias default 26. nvm use only changes the current terminal, while nvm alias default sets the version every new terminal starts with.

Why does it say nvm: command not found after installing?

The terminal you had open has not loaded nvm yet. Run source ~/.bashrc, or ~/.zshrc if you use zsh, or open a new terminal. Check it with command -v nvm, not which nvm: nvm is a shell function, so which prints nothing.

Should I install nvm with sudo?

No. nvm lives in your user folder (~/.nvm) and installs each Node.js version there, so neither the script nor npm install -g needs sudo. The only step that may need sudo is installing curl.

How do I install NVM on Ubuntu?

Run curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.41.0/install.sh | bash, then source ~/.bashrc or open a new terminal. Check it with command -v nvm and install Node.js with nvm install --lts. If you do not have curl, install it first with sudo apt install curl.

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How to Install NVM on Linux (Ubuntu and CentOS)

Install nvm with one script and no sudo, add Node.js 26 LTS and choose the version every terminal starts with.

6 min readLast updated Nov 9, 2026

How do I install NVM on Linux?

Short answer: Run the official script with curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.41.0/install.sh | bash, then run source ~/.bashrc or open a new terminal. Check it with command -v nvm, install Node.js with nvm install --lts and switch versions with nvm use. It works the same on Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch and WSL, and you never need sudo.

nvm is a script that lives in your user folder (~/.nvm). It installs each Node.js version there too, so it does not touch the Node.js of your distribution and you can install global npm packages without sudo. The latest version is 0.41.0, from November 4, 2026.

On Ubuntu: install nvm with the script, load it, install Node.js 26 LTS and 24, and set the default version.

nvm on Linux at a glance

What you want	Command
Install nvm	The official script (step 2)
Load it in the current terminal	`source ~/.bashrc`
Check that it is installed	`command -v nvm`
Install the latest LTS	`nvm install --lts`
Install a specific version	`nvm install 24`
Switch version	`nvm use 24`
Set the default version	`nvm alias default 26`
List installed and available versions	`nvm ls` and `nvm ls-remote --lts`
Update npm to its latest version	`nvm install-latest-npm`

Step 1: install curl

The script downloads with curl or wget. If you do not have either:

bash

sudo apt update && sudo apt install curl    # Ubuntu and Debian
sudo dnf install curl                       # Fedora

This is the only step that uses sudo.

Step 2: run the install script

bash

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.41.0/install.sh | bash

Or with wget:

bash

wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.41.0/install.sh | bash

The script clones nvm into ~/.nvm and adds these lines to your profile file, usually ~/.bashrc:

bash

export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"  # This loads nvm

The same command updates nvm later: run it again with the new version number.

Step 3: load nvm and check it

The terminal you have open does not know nvm yet. Load it, or open a new terminal:

bash

source ~/.bashrc
command -v nvm

If it prints nvm, it is ready. Use command -v and not which: nvm is a shell function, so which nvm prints nothing even when it works. If you use zsh, load ~/.zshrc instead.

Step 4: install Node.js and switch versions

bash

nvm install --lts
nvm install 24
nvm ls

nvm install --lts installs Node.js 26, the current LTS. To switch, and to choose the version every new terminal starts with:

bash

nvm use 24
node -v
nvm alias default 26

nvm use only changes the current terminal. nvm alias default is what makes the choice stick.

Install nvm on WSL

In WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux), open your Ubuntu terminal and follow the same steps. Install nvm inside WSL, not NVM for Windows, and keep your projects inside the Linux file system (~/projects), not in /mnt/c, so npm runs faster.

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Install NVM on Linux with AI

An AI assistant such as ChatGPT, Claude or GitHub Copilot can check your shell configuration and read errors for you. These three prompts are ready to copy.

1. Adapt the steps to your distribution

I use [Ubuntu 24.04 / Debian 13 / Fedora 43 / WSL with Ubuntu] and my shell is [bash / zsh].
I want to install nvm 0.41.0 and Node.js 26 LTS, and keep Node 24 for an old project.
[I already have / I don't have] Node.js installed with apt.
Give me the commands one by one and how to check that each one worked.

2. Fix "nvm: command not found"

I ran the nvm install script, but a new terminal says "nvm: command not found".
My shell is [bash / zsh]. This is the end of my [~/.bashrc / ~/.zshrc]:
[paste the last 15 lines]
Tell me what is missing and how to fix it.

3. Clean up an old Node.js

Before nvm, I installed Node.js with [apt / snap / the NodeSource repository].
node -v shows [v18.19.1] and which -a node shows: [paste it]
Tell me whether to remove it and how, so the nvm versions come first.

Read every command before you run it, especially the ones that use sudo or remove packages.

Use .nvmrc to fix the Node.js version of a project

Save the version a project needs in an .nvmrc file and commit it to the repository:

bash

cd ~/projects/my-app
node -v > .nvmrc
nvm use

nvm use with no version reads .nvmrc, and nvm install installs that version if it is missing. To install a new version and bring your global packages with you:

bash

nvm install 26 --reinstall-packages-from=24

When you no longer need a version, remove it with nvm uninstall 22.

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Common errors with NVM on Linux

What you see	Why it happens	Fix
`nvm: command not found`	The terminal has not loaded nvm, or the lines went to another profile file	Run `source ~/.bashrc` or open a new terminal. If the lines are missing, add them to the file your shell reads and reload it
`which nvm` prints nothing	nvm is a shell function, not a program	Use `command -v nvm` to check it
`curl: command not found`	curl is not installed	`sudo apt install curl` on Ubuntu and Debian, `sudo dnf install curl` on Fedora
`node -v` shows the distribution's version	A Node.js installed with apt or snap comes first	Run `nvm use` or `nvm alias default 26`, and remove the old Node.js if you do not need it
Each new terminal goes back to another version	No default version is set	Run `nvm alias default 26`
`EACCES: permission denied` with `npm install -g`	You are using a Node.js installed with sudo	Use a Node.js installed with nvm and never run npm with sudo

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Every NVM command in a 2-page cheat sheet

How to install NVM on Windows, macOS and Linux, the everyday commands side by side, which Node.js version to pick, the most common errors and prompts for ChatGPT, Claude or Copilot. Free, in PDF.

NVM cheat sheet: Windows, macOS and Linux

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The install commands for Windows, macOS, Linux and WSL
nvm and NVM for Windows commands side by side
The 5 most common errors and prompts to fix them with AI

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Frequently asked questions about NVM on Linux

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How to Install NVM on Linux (Ubuntu and CentOS)

How do I install NVM on Linux?

nvm on Linux at a glance

Step 1: install curl

Step 2: run the install script

Step 3: load nvm and check it

Step 4: install Node.js and switch versions

Install nvm on WSL

Node.js is ready, now build AI apps with it

Install NVM on Linux with AI

Use .nvmrc to fix the Node.js version of a project

From managing versions to shipping AI features

Common errors with NVM on Linux

Related guides

Every NVM command in a 2-page cheat sheet

Frequently asked questions about NVM on Linux

Does nvm work in WSL?

How do I update nvm?

How do I set the default Node.js version on Linux?

Why does it say nvm: command not found after installing?

Should I install nvm with sudo?

How do I install NVM on Ubuntu?