[npm] On npm install: Unhandled rejection Error: EACCES: permission denied

I have managed to corrupt my npm install, and whenever I try to install packages using npm install, I receive error messages along these lines:

Unhandled rejection Error: EACCES: permission denied, open '/Users/marknorgate/.npm/_cacache/tmp/a449402d'

I have tried reinstalling node & npm, and I have also tried to relocate my npm cache elsewhere using these instructions but nothing works.

How can I get it working?

This question is related to npm permissions

The answer is


Try using this: On the command line, in your home directory, create a directory for global installations:

mkdir ~/.npm-global

Configure npm to use the new directory path:

npm config set prefix '~/.npm-global'

In your preferred text editor, open or create a ~/.profile file and add this line:

export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH

On the command line, update your system variables:

source ~/.profile

Now use npm install it should work.


Above answer didn't work for me. Just try to run your command with --unsafe-perm.

e.g

npm install -g node@latest --unsafe-perm

This seems to solve the problem.


If none of suggestions in answers worked out, try the following command: npm cache clear --force. It worked for me.

I found it at https://github.com/vuejs/vue-cli/issues/1809.


This happens if the first time you run NPM it's with sudo, for example when trying to do an npm install -g.

The cache folders need to be owned by the current user, not root.

sudo chown -R $USER:$GROUP ~/.npm
sudo chown -R $USER:$GROUP ~/.config

This will give ownership to the above folders when running with normal user permissions (not as sudo).

It's also worth noting that you shouldn't be installing global packages using SUDO. If you do run into issues with permissions, it's worth changing your global directory. The docs recommend:

mkdir ~/.npm-global

npm config set prefix '~/.npm-global'

Then updating your PATH in wherever you define that (~/.profile etc.)

export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH

You'll then need to make sure the PATH env variable is set (restarting terminal or using the source command)

https://docs.npmjs.com/resolving-eacces-permissions-errors-when-installing-packages-globally


sudo npm cache clean --force --unsafe-perm

and then npm i goes normally


sudo chown -R $(whoami) ~/.npm

sudo chown -R $(whoami) ~/.config


Simply do sudo npm cache clean --force --unsafe-perm and npm i will go normally.



just create folders _cache/tmp under .npm manually at location /Users/marknorgate/.npm/_cacache/tmp and run your command with administrator access


as per npm community

sudo npm cache clean --force --unsafe-perm

and then npm install goes normally.

source: npm community-unhandled-rejection-error-eacces-permission-denied


you can try following command for expo :

sudo chown -R $USER:$GROUP ~/.expo

sudo npm install -g @angular/cli

use this. it worked for me


This one works for me:

sudo chown -R $(whoami) ~/.npm

I did not use the -g because I am the only user. I used a MacBook Air.


sudo npm install --unsafe-perm=true --allow-root

This was the one that worked for me


Simply run on terminal : sudo chown -R $(whoami) ~/.npm

This worked for me !!


change ownership

sudo chown -R $USER:$GROUP ~/.npm
sudo chown -R $USER:$GROUP ~/.config 

worked for as i installed package using sudo