How to fix "npm.ps1 cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system"

You installed Node.js with the Windows installer, and sucessufully ran node -v in your Terminal. However, when you try to run npm -v, you get the error:

npm : File C:\Program Files\nodejs\npm.ps1 cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system. For more information, see about_Execution_Policies at https:/go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=135170.

It doesn’t mean that installation failed. You can try these approaches to check your installation:

1. Run npm.cmd -v instad of npm -v in your Terminal.

2. Press Windows key + R, type cmd and press Enter to run a CMD terminal instead of Powershell, and run npm -v in it.

If you successfully get the version number, you have successfully installed Node.js. What you need to do is to enable running scripts in your Powershell.

The fix is simple: open your Terminal (in Powershell environment by default), and run Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser RemoteSigned.

This command doesn’t need the Administrator privilege, and it will only affect your current user.

Once it is done, you can run npm -v again in your Terminal, and you should see the version number.

• Tags:
• Node.js
• NPM
• PowerShell