The EOVERRIDE error occurs when npm's override validation detects a version specification conflict between your overrides and direct dependencies. Use the $ reference syntax or ensure exact version matches to resolve it.
This error indicates that npm's dependency resolver found an invalid override configuration in your package.json. The overrides feature (available in npm 8.3.0+) lets you substitute package versions throughout your dependency tree, but it has strict rules about how overrides interact with direct dependencies. When you have a package listed both as a direct dependency and in your overrides section, npm requires either: (1) the version specifications to match exactly, or (2) the use of the special `$package-name` reference syntax. Any mismatch triggers EOVERRIDE because npm cannot safely determine which version to install. This validation exists to prevent scenarios where your override might accidentally downgrade or conflict with a package you explicitly depend on.
For packages that are both direct dependencies and overrides, use the reference syntax:
"dependencies": {
"axios": "^1.6.0"
},
"overrides": {
"axios": "$axios"
}The $axios syntax tells npm to use the version from your dependencies, keeping them automatically synchronized.
If you prefer explicit versions, make sure both specifications are identical:
"devDependencies": {
"react-error-overlay": "^6.0.9"
},
"overrides": {
"react-error-overlay": "^6.0.9"
}The strings must match exactly—^6.0.9 is not the same as 6.0.9.
If the override isn't essential, simply remove it:
"overrides": {
// Remove entries that conflict with direct dependencies
}Overrides are typically only needed for transitive dependencies, not packages you directly control.
Clear the lockfile and node_modules to force npm to recalculate the dependency tree:
rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json
npm installThis resolves issues where the lockfile contains stale override resolutions.
Ensure consistent npm versions across environments:
npm --versionThe overrides feature requires npm 8.3.0 or later. In CI, pin your npm version to avoid surprises:
# GitHub Actions example
- uses: actions/setup-node@v4
with:
node-version: '20'The EOVERRIDE error is distinct from EOVERRIDECONFLICT—both relate to override validation but trigger under slightly different conditions. EOVERRIDE typically indicates the override itself is not permitted, while EOVERRIDECONFLICT indicates a version mismatch.
In monorepos using npm workspaces, overrides in the root package.json apply to all workspaces. If a workspace has a different version requirement, you may need workspace-specific override handling or restructure your dependencies.
When migrating from Yarn (which uses the resolutions field), note that npm's overrides has different syntax and stricter validation rules. You cannot simply rename the field.
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