nvm README

The project's README from github.com/nvm-windows/nvm. As one markdown file: README.md.

nvm-windows | Trendshift

[!IMPORTANT]

NVM for Windows Version 2 is now available!

NVM for Windows has been fully rewritten for modern workflows. There are significant changes from v1, as listed below and in the docs.

NVM for Windows

The Microsoft/Google recommended Node.js version manager for millions of Windows developers.

NVM for Windows is not the same thing as nvm! (expand for details)

The original nvm is a completely separate project for Mac/Linux only. This project uses an entirely different philosophy and is not just a clone of nvm.

Install Stable Version Prerelease Downloads Twitter URL

Resources

Features

Feature Description
Compatibility


• No mandatory administrator privileges.
• Shim mode - no symlinks, fast (written in Zig).
• Link mode - Zero-latency, junctions with symlink fallback.
Automation


• Per-directory version switching (pinning).
• Auto-install missing versions.
• Auto-install default global modules.
Speed



• Parallel (multiple) simultaneous installations.
• Smaller downloads (7z).
• Native extraction.
• Caching.
Native Integrations



• Windows Apps
• Logging (Windows Event Viewer)
• Windows Registry
• Desktop Notification Center
Customization


• User-defined aliases.
• User-defined default global modules.
• Configure local (air-gapped) downloads.

Certified Builds

Commercial Certified Builds are coming in September 2026 for controlled environments. Get notified

Feature Description
Code Signing

• Installers
• Executables
Installers

• MSI/MST
• Microsoft Intune
Advanced Logging ⭐



• Fully auditable
• Structured
• Dedicated Event Source
• Native SIEM integration
Policy Enforcement ⭐




• Active Directory/Entra integration
• Restrict Node.js versions/ranges (e.g. no EOL versions, LTS only, etc.)
• Control nvm-windows, Node/npm/npx settings
• Advanced proxy (IWA, WPAD/PAC) support
• Private Node.js download mirror
Trust Artifacts ⭐


• SBOM
• SLSA Provenance
• VEX Reports

⭐ = Add-on package

:pray: Thanks

Thanks to everyone who has submitted issues on and off GitHub, made suggestions, and generally helped make this a better project. Special thanks and the full contributor list is available here.

nvm (nvm-windows/nvm)

install
Searching Database…

48K ·GitHub
What is this?NVM for Windows is a Node.js version manager built specifically for Windows, letting you install and switch between multiple Node.js versions on your machine.
Is this the same as the Mac/Linux nvm tool?No, despite the similar name it is a completely separate project built with a different philosophy, not a clone of the original nvm.
Do I need administrator privileges to use it?No, administrator privileges are not mandatory for normal use.
Will my existing v1 setup work the same after upgrading?No, version 2 is a full rewrite with significant changes from v1, so expect differences in behavior documented in the official docs.
Does it support anything other than Windows?No, it is Windows-only; Mac/Linux users should use the separate original nvm project instead.
How does version switching work day-to-day?It supports per-directory version pinning, auto-installing missing Node versions, and auto-installing default global modules so your environment is ready without manual steps.
Why is it faster than older version managers?It uses a shim mode written in Zig with no symlinks for speed, a zero-latency link mode using junctions with symlink fallback, parallel installations, smaller 7z downloads, and caching.
What Windows-native features does it integrate with?It integrates with Windows Apps, logs to the Windows Event Viewer, reads/writes the Windows Registry, and can show notifications via the Desktop Notification Center.
Is there a paid version with extra features?Yes, Commercial Certified Builds are planned for September 2026, adding code signing, MSI/Intune installers, advanced SIEM logging, Active Directory policy enforcement, and SBOM/SLSA trust artifacts for enterprise environments.
What are similar projects?nvm, Inquirer.js, cz-cli, volta, fnm, npm, Scoop, pnpm
Size
32.6 MB
Stars
48K
Age
12y
Commits · 90 Days