How to Delete Node.js: Best Practices for a Clean Uninstall

Preparing for Uninstallation

Before you uninstall Node.js, follow these steps:

1. Back-Up Your Files: Save any important data or project files related to Node.js.
2. Check Versions: Make sure you know which versions of Node.js and npm are installed.
   • How to Check:
     • Open the terminal or command prompt.
     • Type node -v and press Enter to see the Node.js version.
     • Type npm -v and press Enter to see the npm version.
3. Proceed with Uninstallation: Once you have backed up your files and noted the versions, you can safely uninstall Node.js.

This ensures you don’t lose important information and remove the correct versions from your system.

Uninstallation Steps for Windows

Uninstalling Node.js on Windows involves a lot of steps to ensure that all components are completely removed. Make sure to follow each step to avoid leaving behind any residual files.

Step 1: Clear npm Cache
To begin, clear all cached data stored by npm using the command npm cache clean –force. This ensures no leftover cache files interfere with future installations or affect system performance.

Step 2: Verify Cache Clearance
Once the cache is removed, make sure to run npm cache verify to confirm. 

Step 3: Uninstall Node.js Application
To uninstall Node.js:

1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Click on “Programs and Features.”
3. Find and select “Node.js” from the list.
4. Click the “Uninstall” button.

This will remove Node.js from your computer.

Step 4: End Node.js Processes
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and check for any Node.js processes that might be running. If any are active, end them to prevent interference during uninstallation. Alternatively, restarting the system can help clear all Node.js processes.

Step 5: Remove Node.js Environment Variables

Open System Properties.

Go to the Advanced tab and click on ‘Environment Variables’.

Find and remove any Node.js paths, such as

C:\Program Files (x86)\Nodejs
C:\Program Files\Nodejs
C:\Users\{User}\AppData\Roaming\npm
C:\Users\{User}\AppData\Roaming\npm-cache
C:\Users\{User}\.npmrc
C:\Users\{User}\package.json
C:\Users\{User}\package-lock.json
C:\Users\{User}\AppData\Local\Temp\npm-*

To access the directories, type appdata in the Run dialog (Win + R), then navigate to Roaming.

Step 6: Apply Changes
After removing the environment variables, ensure all changes are saved by clicking “OK” to close each dialog box.

Step 7: Verify Uninstallation
Finally, make sure Node.js is fully removed by opening the command prompt and typing where node. If any Node.js directories still exist, manually navigate to the paths and delete them. 

Uninstallation Steps for Linux (Ubuntu)

This section outlines the steps to uninstall Node.js on Ubuntu systems. Carefully execute each step to ensure a thorough uninstallation.

Step 1: Remove Node.js
To uninstall Node.js on Ubuntu, open the terminal and enter:

sudo apt-get remove nodejs

Step 2: Remove npm
To uninstall npm and Node.js, enter this command in the terminal:

sudo apt-get remove npm

This will remove both npm and Node.js from your system.

Step 3: Clean Up Residual Files
Follow Step 7 from the Windows section. Check for residual folders and files by running whereis node. Any remaining files related to Node.js should be manually deleted to ensure a clean removal.

Uninstallation Steps for macOS

Uninstalling Node.js on macOS can be done in two ways- using Homebrew or manually deleting files. This section covers both methods to ensure a thorough removal.

Step 1: Remove Node.js and npm
To uninstall Node.js installed with Homebrew, open your terminal and run:

brew uninstall node

If you installed Node.js manually, you can remove it and npm by deleting these folders:

/usr/local/bin/node
/usr/local/lib/node_modules

Simply navigate to these directories and delete them to complete the uninstallation.

Step 2: Remove Residual Files
Type the following commands to delete any leftover Node.js folders after opening the terminal:

rm -rf /usr/local/bin/node
rm -rf /usr/local/bin/node_modules
rm -rf ~/.npm
rm -rf ~/.node-gyp

Step 3: Clean Up Environment Variables
Check your shell profile files (e.g., .bash_profile, .zshrc) for any environment variables related to Node.js. Edit the files and remove any Node.js references to ensure no environment variables remain. 

Verifying Complete Uninstallation

To ensure a complete uninstallation, use system commands such as where node (on Windows) or where is node (on Linux) to check for any remaining Node.js files or directories. Manually inspect and delete any residual folders or environment variables. These steps are important to make sure Node.js is completely removed from your computer. Now that you have deleted NodeJS maybe try switching to Python for your web app development needs. 

Troubleshooting

Issues can easily arise during the uninstallation process. For example, leftover files may prevent a clean uninstall or certain processes may remain active. If you encounter problems, use Task Manager (Windows) or Terminal (Linux/macOS) to terminate any Node.js processes and manually remove residual files. 

Conclusion

In this guide, we’ve discussed how to delete NodeJS from Windows, Linux, and macOS systems, covering all the necessary steps to ensure a clean uninstallation. Following these best practices will leave your system free from residual files and processes, keeping it in optimal condition for future development needs. And if you ever change your mind, Soft Suave app development services are always here to help you with your next big project!