How to install NodeJS on Ubuntu 18.04?

Updated: 28 September 2026 · Applies to: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with Node.js 24 LTS

Ubuntu 18.04 is no longer supported; this guide uses Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

Install Node.js (current LTS)

Use the NodeSource packages for the current Long-Term-Support release (24.x at the time of writing; check nodejs.org):

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_24.x | bash -    # Ubuntu / Debian
apt install nodejs

curl -fsSL https://rpm.nodesource.com/setup_24.x | bash -    # AlmaLinux / Rocky
dnf install nodejs

Check with node -v and npm -v.

Tip: For development machines, or several Node versions side by side, use nvm instead: install it from its GitHub page, then nvm install --lts.

Your first app

mkdir ~/hello && cd ~/hello
npm init -y
cat > app.js <<'EOF'
const http = require('http');
http.createServer((req, res) => res.end('Hello from Node.js\n')).listen(3000, '127.0.0.1');
EOF
node app.js

Test from the server with curl http://127.0.0.1:3000. Use PM2 to keep it running and Nginx as a reverse proxy for public access.

Update or switch the Node.js version

• Updates within the same major version arrive with apt upgrade or dnf upgrade.
• To move to a newer LTS, run the NodeSource setup script for that version (for example setup_26.x once 26 is LTS) and install nodejs again. Test your app first: native modules may need npm rebuild.
• Remove Node.js with apt remove nodejs or dnf remove nodejs.

Common problems

• EACCES errors with npm install -g: do not use sudo npm for project packages. Install them per project, or set a user prefix: npm config set prefix ~/.npm-global and add ~/.npm-global/bin to your PATH.
• node: command not found after installing nvm: open a new shell or run source ~/.bashrc.
• App stops when you close SSH: run it with PM2 or a systemd service instead of in the foreground.