So you want to know how to uninstall Node on Mac? Well, we’ll get to that point. Node.js is actually a JavaScript runtime environment that is an open-source tool. It helps to execute code of the JavaScript programming language outside of a specific web browser.
As a programmer or a student, you may have installed Node.js on your computer. You know how long it takes to install the tool, as you have to go through hoops just to do it. However, if it clogs up your system and slows it down, you may want to uninstall it.
Fortunately, if you have no idea how to uninstall an application on a Mac without leftovers, you’re in the right place. We will teach you how to install and uninstall Node on Mac easily. Here are 4 ways to remove Node from your Mac: using Homebrew, using Terminal, using a professional app uninstaller.

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We will ensure that once it is uninstalled, there will be no leftover files left. In this way, you get an overhaul of your system and save more space.

Contents: Part 1. How to Uninstall Node on Mac Manually? (Node.js and NPM)Part 2. How Do I Uninstall Node on Mac Easily?Part 3. How to Install Node on Mac?Part 4. Conclusion

Part 1. How to Uninstall Node on Mac Manually? (Node.js and NPM)

So, how to remove the Node app? This will not be an easy process if you’re doing it manually. That’s why we will teach you (in the next section) how to automatically uninstall Node from Mac. For informational purposes, we will tell you how to do it manually.

The first thing you should do is to remove the older versions of the app on your computer. If you have installed the Node app on your computer using Homebrew, the installation process will be easy.

#1. Uninstall Node on Mac Using Terminal Commands

Another thing you can do to uninstall Node on Mac is to run a command within your Mac’s Terminal.

Here’s the command you can run:

sudo rm -rf ~/.npm ~/.nvm ~/node_modules ~/.node-gyp ~/.npmrc ~/.node_repl_history
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/include/node
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/include/node_modules

sudo rm -rf /usr/local/bin/npm /usr/local/bin/node-debug
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/bin/node /usr/local/bin/node-gyp
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/share/man/man1/node*
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/share/man/man1/npm*

sudo rm -rf /opt/local/include/node
sudo rm -rf /opt/local/bin/node
sudo rm -rf /opt/local/lib/node

sudo rm -rf /usr/local/share/doc/node
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/share/systemtap/tapset/node.stp
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/lib/node /usr/local/lib/node_modules /usr/local/lib/dtrace/node.d

brew uninstall node
brew cleanup --prune-prefix

In fact, these Terminal commands show the same paths as the method 2 list in "Uninstall Node on Mac without Homebrew" in this article, so you can refer to those paths to creat command lines. For example:

sudo rm -rf /usr/local/{lib/node{,/.npm,_modules},bin,share/man}/{npm*,node*,man1/node*}

After that, you have to delete every global package you have installed using your NPM. To do this, run the following command on your Terminal: “rm –rf ~/.npm”. Once you have typed the command found within the quotes, you will have completed the task of uninstalling Node on Mac uninstalling NPM.

#2. How to Uninstall Node on Mac Using Homebrew?

The easiest and the most used method to uninstall Node on Mac and delete npm is using Homebrew command (more suitable for the users that got and installed the Node.js from Homebrew):

  1. Type in “brew uninstall --force node”. Once you have executed this command, Homebrew will now uninstall all versions of Node within your computer (You need to run brew with this "--force" flag to make sure all versions of Node can be deleted).
  2. After that, you can type in: “brew cleanup” to remove folders and dependencies that are unused.

#3. How to Uninstall Node on Mac without Homebrew?

But what if you didn’t use Homebrew to install Node? How do you uninstall Node without Homebrew?

Here are the steps to uninstall Node on Mac manually if you get the Node by the binary distribution or by source.

  1. Delete Node Manually. First, you have to delete Node manually and move it to Trash.
  2. Launch Finder and Terminal.
    (You can try the which command to find Node files, like $ which node
    /Users/your name/.nvm/versions/node/your version of node/bin/node)
  3. Delete folders of NPM and Node.js. Now, you have to delete the executable and other npm resources which can usually be found on the following paths:
  • NODE_MODULES or NODE located in /usr/local/library or /usr/local/lib
  • NODE-GYP located within /usr/local/bin
  • NODE located within /usr/local/bin
  • NODE-DEBUG located within /usr/local/bin
  • NODE located in /usr/local/include
  • NODE_MODULES located in /usr/local/include
  • NPM located in your home directory
  • NODE-GYP located within your main home directory
  • NODE located in /opt/local/include
  • NODE from /opt/local/bin/
  • NODE in /usr/local/share/doc
  • NODE_MODULES located in /opt/local/lib/
  • NODE_REPL_HISTORY in your main home directory
  • Node.stp located within /usr/local/share/systemtap/tapset/
  • Node.d located in /usr/local/lib/dtrace/
  • NPM* located in /usr/local/share/man/man1
  • NODE* located in/usr/local/share/man/man1
  • .NPMRC from your main directory. This should not be deleted if you want to reinstall Node.js immediately after an uninstallation.
  1. Empty Trash. The last thing you should do is to empty the Trash in your macOS.

Uninstall Node on Mac

Part 2. How Do I Uninstall Node on Mac Easily?

So, what’s the easy way to uninstall Node from Mac? Of course, it’s the automatic way of doing so with PowerMyMac and its App Uninstaller module.

PowerMyMac is a cleanup and optimization tool used within macOS computers. It helps to remove unnecessary files within your system, making it clog-free. Plus, it has an app uninstaller module to help you remove apps without leaving trace files.

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Here are the steps to use PowerMyMac:

  1. Download, install, and open the tool.
  2. Press App Uninstaller and then click SCAN.
  3. Locate Node app in the results that are shown.
  4. Now, click the Node.js app if you want to uninstall Node.
  5. Press the CLEAN button.
  6. Wait for the process to be complete.

Uninstall Node on Mac Automatically

Part 3. How to Install Node on Mac?

After knowing how we can uninstall Node on Mac, we will teach you how to install it so you can re-install the app easily.

So, Node.js will enable you to execute JavaScript code within your Terminal. In this way, you don’t have to execute it in a browser. This enables you to have a streamlined web development process. It is best if you have installed Node.js within a package manager such as Node Package Manager (NPM). The NPM will enable you to manage different packages that will work with your Node.js runtime environment.

One such example that’s great for a streamlined web development process is Gulp.js. Another thing you can use so you can install Node properly (without having the need to uninstall Node.js due to a faulty installation process) is Homebrew. You can also use this in order to install Node.js.

So, here are the steps to follow in order to install Node.js within macOS Catalina, Big Sure (and former versions of the Mac OS X):

  1. Download Binary Package. The first thing you have to do is to grab a binary package that has been pre-compiled. In this way, the installation process will not be messy. Go to the official website of Node.js (http://nodejs.org) and then download its latest package by pressing the button labeled Install. There are different versions of the runtime environment. However, if you’re just starting out, it is suggested that you go for the LTS version.
  2. Install Downloaded Package. The next step is to install the package that has been downloaded. To do this, you should open the .DMG file and follow the prompts on the screen (as shown by the installation wizard). What happens is, the NPM and the Node are both installed. The Node Package Manager will enable you to install different packages for the runtime environment Node.js.
  3. Check Path. When the installation process is done, the wizard will ask you if there’s a path known as “/usr/local/bin” within your computer. Make sure you have this path by making a check on your Terminal. So, within the Terminal, you can type in “echo $PATH”.
  4. Add Path To Directory. If the path is not present on your computer, you can add it to your home directory in.ZSHRC.
  5. Check For Correct Installation. The next step is to check if the installation is done properly by typing the code below within your command line node. This code will launch a session of node JavaScript. The code is as follows:

node
> console.log(‘hello node’);
hello node
undefined
>

  1. Exit The Session. In order to exit the session within Node.js, you have to press CTRL + C about two times.

So, how do you check the version of Node within your Mac computer? To do this, type in “node -v”. How about updating it? You can simply download and then install the newer version of the Node from the official website of Nodejs.org. This will enable you to override the lower version. Plus, it will still keep packages that have been previously installed.

Part 4. Conclusion

We have given you the top ways to uninstall Node on Mac. We also gave you ways on how to install it if you want to. The best way to uninstall Node from Mac is not through the manual way.

Uninstall Node on Mac Easily!

The best method is through PowerMyMac’s App Uninstaller because it ensures that no leftover files will be kept within your system. Thus, you’re doing a complete cleanup and uninstall Node process to help you remove the clog within your system. Finally, this will also help you save more space within your Mac for more important files.