The _cacache directory, which npm uses to store downloaded packages and metadata, is missing or inaccessible. This error occurs when npm cannot find or write to its internal cache directory.
The _cacache directory, which npm uses to store downloaded packages and metadata, is missing or inaccessible. This error occurs when npm cannot find or write to its internal cache directory. The _cacache folder is a content-addressable cache (using the cacache library) that stores all HTTP request data and package information. When npm cannot locate this directory or lacks permissions to access it, package installation fails with an ENOENT (Error NO ENTry) error. ENOENT specifically indicates npm can't access expected files within _cacache, typically due to: 1. The directory missing entirely 2. Permission restrictions preventing access 3. Incomplete cleanup from a previous npm operation
First, verify where npm expects the cache to be:
npm config get cacheOn Windows, this typically shows %LocalAppData%\npm-cache.
On macOS/Linux, this shows ~/.npm.
Run the cache clean command with the force flag:
npm cache clean --forceThis deletes the entire cache directory and removes corrupted files. npm will automatically recreate the _cacache directory on the next install.
If you previously used sudo npm install, the ~/.npm directory may be owned by root:
sudo chown -R $(whoami) ~/.npmThis ensures your user account owns the cache directory.
Verify the cache is functioning properly:
npm cache verifyThis garbage collects unneeded data and verifies the integrity of the cache index. It will confirm that _cacache and related directories are present and accessible.
If the issue persists, perform a complete clean install:
rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json
npm cache clean --force
npm installThis removes all cached packages and local dependencies, forcing npm to rebuild everything from scratch.
If you continue experiencing permission issues, configure npm to use a different cache directory:
npm config set cache ~/.npm-globalVerify the configuration:
npm config get cacheThis avoids permission conflicts with system directories.
Cache locations by OS:
- macOS/Linux: ~/.npm/_cacache
- Windows: %LocalAppData%\npm-cache\_cacache
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 to install Node.js without requiring sudo.
Self-healing cache: npm v5+ cache is designed to recover automatically from minor corruption. Use npm cache verify instead of npm cache clean when possible.
Antivirus interference: On some systems (particularly Windows), security software may delete cache files. Whitelist your npm cache directory if you see repeated failures.
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