How to fix npm ERR! code ELIFECYCLE npm ERR! errno 1 npm ERR! [script] exited with code 1 in Node.js

The ELIFECYCLE error is always preceded by the actual error that caused the script to fail. Scroll up in your terminal to find the real error message.

Look for messages that appear before the ELIFECYCLE error:
- Module not found errors
- Syntax errors in your code
- Command not found messages
- Runtime exceptions from your application

The ELIFECYCLE error is just npm's way of saying "your script failed"—the details above it tell you why.

Corrupted cache or incomplete installations often cause script failures. Clean everything and start fresh:

# Clear npm cache
npm cache clean --force

# Remove node_modules and lock file
rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json

# Reinstall all dependencies
npm install

On Windows, use:

rmdir /s /q node_modules
del package-lock.json
npm install

This ensures all dependencies are correctly installed with fresh metadata.

Version mismatches between your environment and project requirements often cause script failures:

# Check current versions
node --version
npm --version

# Check required versions in package.json
cat package.json | grep -A 2 "engines"

If your package.json specifies engine requirements:

{
  "engines": {
    "node": ">=18.0.0",
    "npm": ">=9.0.0"
  }
}

Update Node.js using nvm (Node Version Manager):

# Install nvm if needed, then:
nvm install 18
nvm use 18

Or download the appropriate version from nodejs.org.

Review the script definition in package.json for typos, incorrect paths, or missing commands:

{
  "scripts": {
    "start": "node server.js",
    "build": "webpack --config webpack.config.js",
    "test": "jest"
  }
}

Common issues to look for:
- Typos in command names (e.g., "ndoe" instead of "node")
- References to files that don't exist
- Commands from dev dependencies when running in production
- Incorrect flag syntax

Test the command manually to verify it works:

# If your script is: "start": "node server.js"
# Run it directly:
node server.js

Enable detailed output to see exactly where and why the script fails:

# Run with verbose logging
npm run build --verbose

# Or with even more detail
npm run build --loglevel silly

The verbose output shows:
- Exact commands being executed
- Environment variables in use
- Module resolution paths
- Timing information for each step

This additional context often reveals the specific point of failure that the standard error output doesn't show.

If your script uses a specific tool or library, ensure it's installed:

# List all top-level dependencies
npm ls --depth=0

# Check for a specific package
npm ls webpack

# Verify dev dependencies are installed (needed for build scripts)
npm install --include=dev

For exit code 127 (command not found), install the missing command:

# If the script uses a tool like webpack or typescript:
npm install --save-dev webpack webpack-cli
# or
npm install --save-dev typescript ts-node

Make sure the command is accessible in node_modules/.bin or installed globally if needed.

Peer dependency conflicts can cause scripts to fail, especially after updates:

# Check for peer dependency warnings
npm install

# If you see peer dependency errors, try legacy mode
npm install --legacy-peer-deps

# Or force resolution (use with caution)
npm install --force

The --legacy-peer-deps flag tells npm to use the legacy (npm 6 and below) peer dependency resolution behavior, which can resolve conflicts in some cases.

Note: Using --force can lead to broken dependencies. Only use it if you understand the implications and plan to test thoroughly.