This error occurs when npm is denied access to the registry. Common causes include authentication issues, incorrect registry configuration, VPN/proxy interference, or publishing without proper permissions.
The E403 Forbidden error indicates that the npm registry server understood your request but is refusing to fulfill it. Unlike a 401 Unauthorized error (which means you need to authenticate), a 403 means the server knows who you are but won't grant access. This error appears in several scenarios: when installing packages through a misconfigured proxy or VPN, when publishing a package without proper authentication, when trying to publish a package name that already exists, or when corporate security policies block certain packages. The error message typically shows the specific URL that was denied, which can help diagnose whether the issue is with authentication, the registry configuration, or network restrictions. Pay attention to whether the error occurs during `npm install` or `npm publish` as the fixes differ significantly.
First, verify your registry configuration is correct:
npm config get registryIf it doesn't show https://registry.npmjs.org/, reset it:
npm config set registry https://registry.npmjs.org/Also check for any project-level .npmrc file that might override settings:
cat .npmrcA corrupted cache can sometimes cause authentication issues:
npm cache clean --forceAfter clearing the cache, try your command again.
If you're on a corporate network or VPN, this is often the cause:
Test by temporarily disconnecting from VPN
If that works, you may need to configure npm proxy settings:
npm config set proxy http://your-proxy.company.com:8080
npm config set https-proxy http://your-proxy.company.com:8080Or if proxy is causing issues, remove the settings:
npm config delete proxy
npm config delete https-proxyFor some corporate proxies, using HTTP instead of HTTPS for the registry works:
npm config set registry http://registry.npmjs.org/If you're publishing or accessing private packages, your token may be expired:
# Check if you're logged in
npm whoami
# If not logged in or getting errors, login again
npm loginAfter logging in, verify your authentication:
npm whoamiThis should display your npm username without errors.
If you're trying to publish, verify the package name isn't taken:
npm view <package-name>If the package exists, you have two options:
1. Use a scoped package name (recommended):
{
"name": "@your-username/package-name"
}2. Choose a different package name
npm requires email verification before you can publish packages:
1. Log in to https://www.npmjs.com
2. Go to your account settings
3. Check if your email is verified
4. If not, click "Resend verification email"
Once verified, try publishing again.
If using automation tokens (CI/CD), ensure the token has publish permissions:
1. Go to https://www.npmjs.com/settings/~/tokens
2. Check if your token is "Read-only" or "Automation"
3. For publishing, you need a token with publish permissions
Create a new token with the correct scope:
npm token createThen update your .npmrc:
//registry.npmjs.org/:_authToken=YOUR_TOKEN_HEREIf nothing else works, reset npm configuration completely:
# Backup current config
cp ~/.npmrc ~/.npmrc.backup
# View current config to diagnose
npm config list
# Remove potentially problematic settings
npm config delete registry
npm config delete proxy
npm config delete https-proxy
npm cache clean --force
# Set registry to default
npm config set registry https://registry.npmjs.org/Then log in again:
npm login### GitHub Codespaces and Cloud Environments
GitHub Codespaces and some cloud development environments may have security policies that block certain npm packages. A workaround is to use the Yarn registry temporarily:
npm config set registry https://registry.yarnpkg.com
npm install <package>
npm config set registry https://registry.npmjs.org/ # restore after### Private Registry Issues
If using a private registry (Nexus, Artifactory, Verdaccio):
1. Ensure credentials are correct in .npmrc
2. Check if _auth property is interfering (try removing it)
3. Verify the registry URL ends with a trailing slash
### Multiple .npmrc Files
npm reads configuration from multiple sources in this order:
1. Command line flags
2. Project-level .npmrc
3. User-level ~/.npmrc
4. Global /etc/npmrc
Check all locations for conflicting settings:
npm config list -l### Security Software Interference
ZScaler, Cisco AnyConnect, and similar security software can intercept HTTPS traffic and cause 403 errors. Try:
- Temporarily disable the security software
- Add npm registry to the allowlist
- Configure the software to not inspect npm traffic
### Updating npm
An outdated npm version can sometimes cause authentication issues:
npm install -g npm@latestnpm ERR! code ENOAUDIT npm ERR! Audit endpoint not supported
How to fix "npm ERR! code ENOAUDIT - Audit endpoint not supported"
npm ERR! code EBADDEVENGINES npm ERR! devEngines.runtime incompatible with current node version
How to fix "npm ERR! code EBADDEVENGINES - devEngines.runtime incompatible with current node version"
npm ERR! code ETOOMANYARGS npm ERR! Too many arguments
How to fix "npm ERR! code ETOOMANYARGS - Too many arguments"
npm ERR! code EINVALIDTAGNAME npm ERR! Invalid tag name: tag names cannot contain spaces
How to fix "npm ERR! code EINVALIDTAGNAME - tag names cannot contain spaces"
npm ERR! code E400 npm ERR! 400 Bad Request
How to fix "npm ERR! code E400 - 400 Bad Request" error