How do I switch NPM versions?

[typemismatch]

Downgrade NPM version

I need NPM < 5.x for support with React Native, I can switch node just fine but I can't seem to downgrade NPM.

[shadowspawn]

n installs the version of npm bundled with node as part of the Node.js install. If you need a different version of npm, then downgrading (or upgrading) npm from the bundled npm version is a separate command. e.g.

npm install -g [email protected]

When you switch Nodes.js versions using n, you need to reinstall the desired npm version again.

2020 update: --preserve added in n v6.3.0 to preserve the version of npm when installing node.

[omgaz]

remove n's version of npm, install latest npm globally using npm, symlink so everything plays nice (assuming global npm installs end up in ~/.npm-global)

rm -rf ~/n/bin/npm && npm i -g npm && ln -s ~/.npm-global/bin/npm ~/n/bin/npm && echo "You are now using NodeJS $(node -v) with NPM $(npm -v)"

[shadowspawn]

--preserve added in n v6.3.0 to preserve the version of npm when installing node.