nvm Set the default version of node, but the default version of node fails and can only be used in the current terminal

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Operating system and version:

How did you install `nvm`?

Download via Manjaro Linux's package manager

What steps did you perform?

What happened?

Set the default version of node, but the default version of node fails and can only be used in the current terminal

What did you expect to happen?

Switching successful

Jun 16 '25 01:06 SQDR2

If you installed via manjaro's package manager, you're using an unsupported installation mechanism. Please uninstall, and install with the only official mechanism - the install script - and if it's still failing, I'll be happy to reopen this.

Jun 16 '25 04:06 ljharb

If you installed via manjaro's package manager, you're using an unsupported installation mechanism. Please uninstall, and install with the only official mechanism - the install script - and if it's still failing, I'll be happy to reopen this.

I have now deleted the nvm I downloaded through the manjaro package manager. Then I used nvm by downloading the description of nvm-sh from github, and then I downloaded some node versions I used before, and then switched the default version as shown below

Jun 16 '25 06:06 SQDR2

great. can you also please fill out the full issue template? It's there for a reason.

Jun 16 '25 15:06 ljharb

great. can you also please fill out the full issue template? It's there for a reason.

I checked and found all the parts I know. For example, the nvm version, but I don't know the steps that lead to this result. If there are any parts that are not clear, please point them out and I will fill them in immediately.

Jun 17 '25 01:06 SQDR2

In particular, the curl command, nvm debug, the questions about your shell profile, etc. Can you please update the OP with that information? You can copy-paste it out of a "new issue" tab.

Jun 17 '25 01:06 ljharb

In particular, the curl command, nvm debug, the questions about your shell profile, etc. Can you please update the OP with that information? You can copy-paste it out of a "new issue" tab.

Ok, I will create a new issue and fill in the details

Jun 17 '25 01:06 SQDR2

Please don't actually create a new one - just update this one with the template from a pending new issue.

Jun 17 '25 02:06 ljharb

Please don't actually create a new one - just update this one with the template from a pending new issue.

Sorry, I misunderstood your meaning.

Operating system and version:

`nvm debug` output:

nvm --version: v0.40.3
$SHELL: /bin/bash
$SHLVL: 1
whoami: 'zlw'
${HOME}: /home/zlw
${NVM_DIR}: '${HOME}/.nvm'
${PATH}: ${HOME}/.local/share/pnpm::${HOME}/.pyenv/shims:${HOME}/bin:/usr/lib/jvm/default/bin:${HOME}/bin:/usr/lib/jvm/default/bin:${NVM_DIR}/versions/node/v20.12.2/bin:${HOME}/.local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/lib/jvm/default/bin:/usr/bin/site_perl:/usr/bin/vendor_perl:/usr/bin/core_perl:/var/lib/snapd/snap/bin:${HOME}/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/opt/dart-sdk/bin:/usr/lib/go/bin:${HOME}/go/bin:${HOME}/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/opt/flutter/bin:${HOME}/Android/Sdk/platform-tools:${HOME}/.pub-cache/bin:${HOME}/go/bin:${HOME}/git.kicad99.com/bfdx/:/usr/lib/go/bin:${HOME}/go/bin:${HOME}/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/opt/flutter/bin:${HOME}/Android/Sdk/platform-tools:${HOME}/.pub-cache/bin:${HOME}/go/bin:${HOME}/git.kicad99.com/bfdx/
$PREFIX: ''
${NPM_CONFIG_PREFIX}: ''
$NVM_NODEJS_ORG_MIRROR: ''
$NVM_IOJS_ORG_MIRROR: ''
shell version: 'GNU bash，版本 5.2.37(1)-release (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu)'
uname -a: 'Linux 6.12.28-1-MANJARO #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Fri, 09 May 2025 10:53:27 +0000 x86_64 GNU/Linux'
checksum binary: 'sha256sum'
OS version: {PRETTY_NAME}  ()
awk: /usr/bin/awk, GNU Awk 5.3.2, API 4.0, PMA Avon 8-g1, (GNU MPFR 4.2.2, GNU MP 6.3.0)
curl: /usr/bin/curl, curl 8.13.0 (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu) libcurl/8.13.0 OpenSSL/3.5.0 zlib/1.3.1 brotli/1.1.0 zstd/1.5.7 libidn2/2.3.7 libpsl/0.21.5 libssh2/1.11.1 nghttp2/1.65.0 nghttp3/1.9.0
wget: /usr/bin/wget, GNU Wget 1.25.0 在 linux-gnu 上编译。
git: /usr/bin/git, git version 2.49.0
grep: /usr/bin/grep, grep (GNU grep) 3.12-modified
sed: /usr/bin/sed, sed (GNU sed) 4.9
cut: /usr/bin/cut, cut (GNU coreutils) 9.7
basename: /usr/bin/basename, basename (GNU coreutils) 9.7
rm: /usr/bin/rm, rm (GNU coreutils) 9.7
mkdir: /usr/bin/mkdir, mkdir (GNU coreutils) 9.7
xargs: /usr/bin/xargs, xargs (GNU findutils) 4.10.0
nvm current: v20.12.2
which node: ${NVM_DIR}/versions/node/v20.12.2/bin/node
which iojs: iojs not found
which npm: ${NVM_DIR}/versions/node/v20.12.2/bin/npm
npm config get prefix: ${NVM_DIR}/versions/node/v20.12.2
npm root -g: ${NVM_DIR}/versions/node/v20.12.2/lib/node_modules

`nvm ls` output:

       v14.20.0
       v16.20.2
       v18.18.2
->     v20.12.2
         system
default -> v20.12.2
iojs -> N/A (default)
unstable -> N/A (default)
node -> stable (-> v20.12.2) (default)
stable -> 20.12 (-> v20.12.2) (default)
lts/* -> lts/jod (-> N/A)
lts/argon -> v4.9.1 (-> N/A)
lts/boron -> v6.17.1 (-> N/A)
lts/carbon -> v8.17.0 (-> N/A)
lts/dubnium -> v10.24.1 (-> N/A)
lts/erbium -> v12.22.12 (-> N/A)
lts/fermium -> v14.21.3 (-> N/A)
lts/gallium -> v16.20.2
lts/hydrogen -> v18.20.8 (-> N/A)
lts/iron -> v20.19.2 (-> N/A)
lts/jod -> v22.16.0 (-> N/A)

How did you install `nvm`?

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.3/install.sh | bash

What steps did you perform?

nvm alias default v18.18.2 nvm use default

What happened?

The current terminal successfully switches the node version, but when a new terminal is created, the node version is still the original version

What did you expect to happen?

The default version of the system node uses the version just switched, and each terminal also uses the node version just switched

Is there anything in any of your profile files that modifies the `PATH`?

I created a .profile in ~, and set my environment configuration in it. After I downloaded nvm through curl, I set it in .profile:

export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm" [ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && . "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"

Then I source ~/.profile in .zshrc

Jun 17 '25 02:06 SQDR2

Please don't actually create a new one - just update this one with the template from a pending new issue.

nvm alias default v18.18.2 nvm use default

After executing these two lines, you can view the first two pictures by running nvm ls

Jun 17 '25 02:06 SQDR2

ok, so it sounds like the issue is that when you open a new terminal, it's not using the default value? but nvm is actually available?

What exactly happens when you open a new terminal, and type nvm ls?

Jun 17 '25 02:06 ljharb

ok, so it sounds like the issue is that when you open a new terminal, it's not using the default value? but nvm is actually available?

What exactly happens when you open a new terminal, and type nvm ls?

When I use nvm alias default v18.18.2 and then use default, the nvm ls of the new terminal is as follows:

       v14.20.0
       v16.20.2
       v18.18.2
->     v20.12.2
         system
default -> v18.18.2
iojs -> N/A (default)
unstable -> N/A (default)
node -> stable (-> v20.12.2) (default)
stable -> 20.12 (-> v20.12.2) (default)
lts/* -> lts/jod (-> N/A)
lts/argon -> v4.9.1 (-> N/A)
lts/boron -> v6.17.1 (-> N/A)
lts/carbon -> v8.17.0 (-> N/A)
lts/dubnium -> v10.24.1 (-> N/A)
lts/erbium -> v12.22.12 (-> N/A)
lts/fermium -> v14.21.3 (-> N/A)
lts/gallium -> v16.20.2
lts/hydrogen -> v18.20.8 (-> N/A)
lts/iron -> v20.19.2 (-> N/A)
lts/jod -> v22.16.0 (-> N/A)

Jun 17 '25 02:06 SQDR2

ok, that suggests there's something in your profile files that's setting node 20 explicitly. Can you share the contents of your profile files?

Jun 17 '25 06:06 ljharb

ok, that suggests there's something in your profile files that's setting node 20 explicitly. Can you share the contents of your profile files?

I checked and there is no setting. You can check if there is any that will affect it.

# set go environment
export GOROOT=/usr/lib/go
export PATH=$PATH:$GOROOT/bin
export GOPATH=$HOME/go
export PATH=$PATH:$GOPATH/bin
# set proxy
export GOPROXY=https://goproxy.cn,direct
export GOSUMDB=off
export GO111MODULE=on
___MY_VMOPTIONS_SHELL_FILE="${HOME}/.jetbrains.vmoptions.sh"; if [ -f "${___MY_VMOPTIONS_SHELL_FILE}" ]; then . "${___MY_VMOPTIONS_SHELL_FILE}"; fi

# Added by Toolbox App
export PATH="$PATH:/home/zlw/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts"

export PUB_HOSTED_URL="https://pub.flutter-io.cn"
export FLUTTER_STORAGE_BASE_URL="https://storage.flutter-io.cn"


# flutter
export FLUTTER_HOME=/opt/flutter
export PATH=$PATH:$FLUTTER_HOME/bin

export PUB_HOSTED_URL="https://pub.flutter-io.cn"
export FLUTTER_STORAGE_BASE_URL="https://storage.flutter-io.cn"

export ANDROID_HOME=/home/zlw/Android/Sdk
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/platform-tools

export JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/default
export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH

alias google-chrome='google-chrome-stable'

export PATH=$HOME/bin:$PATH

export PATH="$PATH:$HOME/.pub-cache/bin"

export PATH="$PATH:$HOME/go/bin"

export PYENV_ROOT="$HOME/.pyenv"
[[ -d $PYENV_ROOT/bin ]] && export PATH="$PYENV_ROOT/bin:$PATH"
eval "$(pyenv init -)"

export PATH="$PATH:$HOME/git.kicad99.com/bfdx/"

[[ -s "/home/zlw/.gvm/scripts/gvm" ]] && source "/home/zlw/.gvm/scripts/gvm"
export PNPM_HOME=/home/zlw/.local/share/pnpm
export PATH=:/home/zlw/.pyenv/shims:/home/zlw/bin:/usr/lib/jvm/default/bin:/home/zlw/bin:/usr/lib/jvm/default/bin:/home/zlw/.nvm/versions/node/v20.12.2/bin:/home/zlw/.local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/lib/jvm/default/bin:/usr/bin/site_perl:/usr/bin/vendor_perl:/usr/bin/core_perl:/var/lib/snapd/snap/bin:/home/zlw/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/opt/dart-sdk/bin:/usr/lib/go/bin:/home/zlw/go/bin:/home/zlw/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/opt/flutter/bin:/home/zlw/Android/Sdk/platform-tools:/home/zlw/.pub-cache/bin:/home/zlw/go/bin:/home/zlw/git.kicad99.com/bfdx/:/usr/lib/go/bin:/home/zlw/go/bin:/home/zlw/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/opt/flutter/bin:/home/zlw/Android/Sdk/platform-tools:/home/zlw/.pub-cache/bin:/home/zlw/go/bin:/home/zlw/git.kicad99.com/bfdx/
export PNPM_HOME=/home/zlw/.local/share/pnpm
export PATH=/home/zlw/.local/share/pnpm::/home/zlw/.pyenv/shims:/home/zlw/bin:/usr/lib/jvm/default/bin:/home/zlw/bin:/usr/lib/jvm/default/bin:/home/zlw/.nvm/versions/node/v20.12.2/bin:/home/zlw/.local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/lib/jvm/default/bin:/usr/bin/site_perl:/usr/bin/vendor_perl:/usr/bin/core_perl:/var/lib/snapd/snap/bin:/home/zlw/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/opt/dart-sdk/bin:/usr/lib/go/bin:/home/zlw/go/bin:/home/zlw/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/opt/flutter/bin:/home/zlw/Android/Sdk/platform-tools:/home/zlw/.pub-cache/bin:/home/zlw/go/bin:/home/zlw/git.kicad99.com/bfdx/:/usr/lib/go/bin:/home/zlw/go/bin:/home/zlw/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/opt/flutter/bin:/home/zlw/Android/Sdk/platform-tools:/home/zlw/.pub-cache/bin:/home/zlw/go/bin:/home/zlw/git.kicad99.com/bfdx/

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

Jun 17 '25 06:06 SQDR2

Which file is that from? Do you have any other relevant profile files?

Jun 17 '25 14:06 ljharb

Which file is that from? Do you have any other relevant profile files?

This profile is used to configure some information of the terminal. I added some configuration to the profile and then executed source ~/.profile in .zshrc. There is no other configuration about nvm or node in the system.

Jun 18 '25 02:06 SQDR2

Why zshrc? Everything you’ve provided indicates you’re using bash.

Jun 18 '25 03:06 ljharb

Why zshrc? Everything you’ve provided indicates you’re using bash.

The same is true for bash, but my system terminal uses zsh by default, and .bashrc is also processed in the same way

Jun 18 '25 03:06 SQDR2

zsh shouldn't load bashrc, though - are you saying that your zshrc and bashrc are identical? or that both source the .profile file?

What happens if you nvm unalias default, and then open up a new terminal, and nvm debug?

Jun 18 '25 04:06 ljharb

i meet the same question. 'set default' works when 'nvm ls' show the list, however when i open a new terminal tab 'node -v' show the wrong version. i tried brew and git to install it, both behave the same problem.

Jun 23 '25 02:06 flwzz

zsh shouldn't load bashrc, though - are you saying that your zshrc and bashrc are identical? or that both source the .profile file?但是，zsh 不应该加载 bashrc - 你是说你的 zshrc 和 bashrc 相同吗？还是两者都来源于 .profile 文件？

What happens if you nvm unalias default, and then open up a new terminal, and nvm debug?如果您使用 nvm unalias default ，然后打开一个新终端并执行 nvm debug ，会发生什么情况？

Sorry! I was very busy last week and forgot to continue discussing this issue with you.

Regarding the two terminals, zsh and bash, I just applied some common configurations. Some different configurations are still in .zshrc or .bashrc.

nvm unalias default:

Deleted alias default - restore it with `nvm alias "default" "v20.12.2"`

nvm debug:

nvm --version: v0.40.3
$SHELL: /bin/bash
$SHLVL: 1
whoami: 'zlw'
${HOME}: /home/zlw
${NVM_DIR}: '${HOME}/.nvm'
${PATH}: ${HOME}/.local/share/pnpm::${HOME}/.pyenv/shims:${HOME}/bin:/usr/lib/jvm/default/bin:${HOME}/bin:/usr/lib/jvm/default/bin:${NVM_DIR}/versions/node/v20.12.2/bin:${HOME}/.local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/lib/jvm/default/bin:/usr/bin/site_perl:/usr/bin/vendor_perl:/usr/bin/core_perl:/var/lib/snapd/snap/bin:${HOME}/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/opt/dart-sdk/bin:/usr/lib/go/bin:${HOME}/go/bin:${HOME}/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/opt/flutter/bin:${HOME}/Android/Sdk/platform-tools:${HOME}/.pub-cache/bin:${HOME}/go/bin:${HOME}/git.kicad99.com/bfdx/:/usr/lib/go/bin:${HOME}/go/bin:${HOME}/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/opt/flutter/bin:${HOME}/Android/Sdk/platform-tools:${HOME}/.pub-cache/bin:${HOME}/go/bin:${HOME}/git.kicad99.com/bfdx/
$PREFIX: ''
${NPM_CONFIG_PREFIX}: ''
$NVM_NODEJS_ORG_MIRROR: ''
$NVM_IOJS_ORG_MIRROR: ''
shell version: 'GNU bash，版本 5.2.37(1)-release (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu)'
uname -a: 'Linux 6.12.28-1-MANJARO #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Fri, 09 May 2025 10:53:27 +0000 x86_64 GNU/Linux'
checksum binary: 'sha256sum'
OS version: {PRETTY_NAME}  ()
awk: /usr/bin/awk, GNU Awk 5.3.2, API 4.0, PMA Avon 8-g1, (GNU MPFR 4.2.2, GNU MP 6.3.0)
curl: /usr/bin/curl, curl 8.13.0 (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu) libcurl/8.13.0 OpenSSL/3.5.0 zlib/1.3.1 brotli/1.1.0 zstd/1.5.7 libidn2/2.3.7 libpsl/0.21.5 libssh2/1.11.1 nghttp2/1.65.0 nghttp3/1.9.0
wget: /usr/bin/wget, GNU Wget 1.25.0 在 linux-gnu 上编译。
git: /usr/bin/git, git version 2.49.0
grep: /usr/bin/grep, grep (GNU grep) 3.12-modified
sed: /usr/bin/sed, sed (GNU sed) 4.9
cut: /usr/bin/cut, cut (GNU coreutils) 9.7
basename: /usr/bin/basename, basename (GNU coreutils) 9.7
rm: /usr/bin/rm, rm (GNU coreutils) 9.7
mkdir: /usr/bin/mkdir, mkdir (GNU coreutils) 9.7
xargs: /usr/bin/xargs, xargs (GNU findutils) 4.10.0
nvm current: v20.12.2
which node: ${NVM_DIR}/versions/node/v20.12.2/bin/node
which iojs: iojs not found
which npm: ${NVM_DIR}/versions/node/v20.12.2/bin/npm
npm config get prefix: ${NVM_DIR}/versions/node/v20.12.2
npm root -g: ${NVM_DIR}/versions/node/v20.12.2/lib/node_modules

In addition, I set the default node version and switched it before (about 1-3 months?) and everything was normal. I don’t know when it failed after the update or something else. However, I have also updated the related operations of nvm, so I will not modify its code.

Jun 23 '25 03:06 SQDR2

hmm, based on that last comment, the default was set to node 20, not node 18, and node 20 was the version being used.

Jun 23 '25 04:06 ljharb

any solution ? meet the same issue

Jul 10 '25 03:07 chenershisi

Both are zsh, the same issue of switching node versions only exists in the current terminal, and it will become invalid the next time the terminal is opened

Jul 10 '25 03:07 AprildreamMI

any solution ? meet the same issue

According to the previous communication process with the author, the author always thinks that my configuration is wrong. But I think my configuration is fine, so I didn't use nvm, and now I'm using other management tools

Jul 10 '25 04:07 SQDR2

That was only the first time - the last interaction was https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm/issues/3596#issuecomment-2994844237, which seems to imply the issue is resolved, but you never replied to it.

Since you're not using nvm, I'll close this; if someone else has a similar issue, please file a new one and fill out the issue template.

Jul 10 '25 05:07 ljharb

nvm nvm copied to clipboard

Set the default version of node, but the default version of node fails and can only be used in the current terminal

Operating system and version:

How did you install nvm?

What steps did you perform?

What happened?

What did you expect to happen?

Operating system and version:

nvm debug output:

nvm ls output:

How did you install nvm?

What steps did you perform?

What happened?

What did you expect to happen?

Is there anything in any of your profile files that modifies the PATH?

nvm
nvm copied to clipboard

How did you install `nvm`?

`nvm debug` output:

`nvm ls` output:

How did you install `nvm`?

Is there anything in any of your profile files that modifies the `PATH`?