The ENOENT error during npm cache clean occurs when npm cannot find a file or directory it expects to access when clearing the package cache. This typically happens due to corrupted cache files, permission issues, or missing cache directories.
ENOENT stands for 'Error NO ENTry' and indicates that npm attempted to access a file or directory that doesn't exist or cannot be read. When this occurs during 'npm cache clean', it typically means the cache directory structure is malformed, corrupted, or inaccessible due to permission restrictions. The cache stores previously downloaded packages to speed up future installations, but when this cache becomes corrupted or lacks proper read/write access, npm fails when trying to clean or verify it. As of npm v5+, npm requires the --force flag for cache clean since the cache is designed to self-heal.
Before forcing a complete cache clean, use the self-healing cache verification:
npm cache verifyThis checks the integrity of your cache without deleting anything. If this resolves your issue, no further action is needed.
Race conditions and file system issues are often fixed in newer npm versions:
npm install -g npm@latestVerify the update:
npm --versionIf cache verification didn't work, force clean the cache:
npm cache clean --forceOn systems with permission issues, you may need sudo (use cautiously):
sudo npm cache clean --forceIf npm cache clean still fails, manually delete the cache:
On macOS/Linux:
rm -rf ~/.npm
rm -rf ~/.cache/npmOn Windows (PowerShell):
Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $env:APPDATA\npm-cacheIf the cache directory has permission issues, fix ownership:
# Change ownership to your user
chown -R "$(whoami)" ~/.npm
# Set proper permissions
chmod -R u+rwx ~/.npmOn Windows, if the npm directory is missing, create it:
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path $env:APPDATA\npmVerify the directory exists and is accessible to your user account.
Why --force is required: As of npm v5+, npm requires --force to run cache clean since the cache is designed to self-heal and clearing it should rarely be necessary.
Avoid sudo npm: Using sudo npm install creates root-owned files in ~/.npm that your user account cannot modify later. Use a Node version manager like nvm instead.
Docker/CI environments: Configure the cache directory to a non-root-accessible location to avoid permission issues during parallel builds.
Windows antivirus: On Windows with antivirus enabled, security software may delete cache files. Whitelist your npm cache directory if you see repeated failures.
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