How to Switch Node.js Version in WSL Ubuntu

Different projects often need different Node.js versions. One project runs on Node 18, another needs Node 22. nvm (Node Version Manager) lets you switch Node.js versions in WSL Ubuntu with a single command — no reinstalling, no conflicts.

The examples in this guide are run on WSL2 Ubuntu in Windows, but they work the same on any Ubuntu system.

Prerequisites

WSL 2 with Ubuntu installed — see How to Install Ubuntu in WSL 2 on Windows if you need to set this up

Install nvm

Step 1: Download and Install nvm

Run the install script from the official nvm repository:

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.1/install.sh | bash

This adds nvm to your shell profile (~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc). Load it into your current session:

source ~/.bashrc

Verify nvm is working:

nvm --version

Step 2: Install a Node.js Version

Install the latest LTS (Long Term Support) version:

nvm install --lts

Or install a specific version:

nvm install 22

You can install as many versions as you need. They don’t conflict with each other.

nvm install 20
nvm install 18

Switch Between Node.js Versions

Step 3: Switch Versions with nvm use

Switch to any installed version:

nvm use 22

Check which version is active:

node -v

List all versions you have installed:

nvm ls

The active version is shown with an arrow (->) next to it.

Step 4: Set a Default Version

When you open a new terminal, nvm uses the default version. Set it with:

nvm alias default 22

Every new terminal session will now start with Node 22.

Use .nvmrc for Per-Project Versions

Instead of remembering which Node version each project needs, add a .nvmrc file to the project root:

echo "22" > .nvmrc

Then when you cd into the project, run:

nvm use

nvm reads the version from .nvmrc and switches automatically. This is useful when you work on multiple projects — you don’t have to remember which version each one needs.

Commit the .nvmrc file to your repo so the whole team uses the same Node version.

Useful nvm Commands

Command	What it does
`nvm install --lts`	Installs the latest LTS version
`nvm install 22`	Installs the latest Node 22.x release
`nvm use 20`	Switches to Node 20 for the current session
`nvm alias default 22`	Sets Node 22 as the default for new terminals
`nvm ls`	Lists all installed versions
`nvm ls-remote --lts`	Lists all available LTS versions
`nvm current`	Shows the currently active version
`nvm uninstall 18`	Removes Node 18 from your system

Uninstall a Node.js Version

If you no longer need a version, remove it to free up space:

nvm uninstall 18

You can’t uninstall the version that’s currently active. Switch to a different version first with nvm use.

Conclusion

With nvm installed, you can switch between any Node.js version in seconds. Use nvm alias default to set your go-to version and .nvmrc files to keep projects on the right version automatically.

If you also work with Python, check out How to Install and manage Python Versions on WSL Ubuntu — it covers pyenv, which works the same way as nvm but for Python. You might also want to connect VS Code to your WSL 2 instance for a better dev workflow.