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Installing Node.js

A step-by-step guide for absolute beginners

⏱ Takes about 5 minutes

What is Node.js, and why do I need it?

Node.js lets your computer run JavaScript code, the same language used to build websites, outside of a web browser. Many popular tools and frameworks (like Eleventy, Astro, React, and others) require Node.js to be installed first before you can use them.

What operating system are you using?

1

Go to the official Node.js website

Open your web browser (Chrome, Edge, or any other, they all work) and visit nodejs.org. This is the official website. Always download from here to stay safe.
2

Click the big green "LTS" download button

You will see two buttons. Click the one that says "LTS", this stands for Long Term Support, meaning it's the most stable and recommended version for beginners. The other version ("Current") is for advanced users testing new features.
3

Run the installer file

Once the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the file (it will be named something like node-v22.x.x-x64.msi). A setup wizard will open.
4

Click through the setup wizard

  • • Click Next on the welcome screen
  • • Accept the license agreement and click Next
  • • Leave the install location as-is and click Next
  • • Important: On the "Custom Setup" screen, make sure "Add to PATH" is checked (it should be by default)
  • • Click Install, then Finish

✅ What is "Add to PATH"?

PATH is a list your computer uses to find programs. If Node.js is added to PATH, you can run it from anywhere in your terminal. If you skip this, Node.js won't work properly, so always make sure it's checked!

✅ Check that it worked

Now let's make sure Node.js was installed correctly. We'll do this using the terminal, don't worry, it's just two short commands!

How to open the terminal on Windows:

Press the Windows key + R, type "cmd", and press Enter. A black window will open, that's your terminal!

Type (or paste) these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:

node --version
npm --version

If it worked, you'll see version numbers printed, like v22.13.1 and 11.3.0. The exact numbers don't matter, any numbers mean success! 🎉

❌ Seeing an error instead?

If you see "command not found" or "not recognized", try closing and reopening the terminal window, then try again. On Windows, you may need to restart your computer for PATH changes to take effect.

Always download Node.js from the official site: nodejs.org