This error indicates npm encountered a temporary failure communicating with the npm registry or during network operations. Usually resolved by retrying, clearing cache, or checking network/proxy settings.
This error indicates that npm encountered a temporary failure while attempting to communicate with the npm registry or perform a network-dependent operation. The error occurs when npm's connection is interrupted, the registry is temporarily unavailable, or network connectivity issues prevent the package manager from completing its request. The 'please try again' message indicates that npm recommends a retry, as these failures are often transient and may resolve on subsequent attempts.
Start with the simplest solution—npm recommends retrying as these are often transient failures:
npm installMany temporary failures resolve on the next attempt without any configuration changes.
npm's cache may contain corrupted or stale data. Clear it and verify its integrity:
# Force clean the cache
npm cache clean --force
# Or verify cache integrity
npm cache verifyAfter clearing the cache, retry your npm command.
A corrupted node_modules directory or package-lock.json can cause npm to fail:
# Remove node_modules and lock file
rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json
# Reinstall dependencies
npm installCorporate proxies or misconfigured proxy settings are a frequent cause. Check your current proxy settings:
# View current proxy settings
npm config get proxy
npm config get https-proxyIf you see proxy URLs configured and you're not behind a corporate proxy, remove them:
npm config rm proxy
npm config rm https-proxyIf you ARE behind a corporate proxy, configure npm to use it:
npm config set proxy http://proxy.company.com:8080
npm config set https-proxy http://proxy.company.com:8080Test your connectivity and try an alternative network:
# Test DNS resolution
ping registry.npmjs.org
nslookup registry.npmjs.org
# Or from Node
node -e "require('dns').lookup('registry.npmjs.org', console.log)"If DNS resolution fails, configure a different DNS server (like Google's 8.8.8.8). Try tethering to a mobile hotspot to test if the registry is reachable on other networks.
Outdated npm versions have known networking issues. Ensure you're running recent versions:
# Check your current versions
node --version
npm --version
# Update npm to the latest version
npm install -g npm@latestAfter updating, clear your cache and try again:
npm cache clean --force
npm installFor CI/CD environments and Docker builds, use the --no-audit flag if npm hangs during the audit phase: npm install --no-audit. Additionally, set higher timeout values if you're on slow connections: npm config set fetch-timeout 60000 (60 seconds). If issues persist, check your package-lock.json for outdated or unreachable registry URLs. On restricted networks, consider using npm's offline mode by pre-downloading packages or using a private npm registry proxy like Verdaccio.
npm ERR! code ENOAUDIT npm ERR! Audit endpoint not supported
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npm ERR! code EBADDEVENGINES npm ERR! devEngines.runtime incompatible with current node version
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npm ERR! code ETOOMANYARGS npm ERR! Too many arguments
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npm ERR! code EINVALIDTAGNAME npm ERR! Invalid tag name: tag names cannot contain spaces
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npm ERR! code E400 npm ERR! 400 Bad Request
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