npm ERR! Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, unlink

Question

• OS : Windows 10.
• npm version : 6.9.0
• node version : 12.4.0

I'm working on an expo application. I would like to install all the packages on my expo application (npm install). But, an error occured :

17254 error [OperationalError: EPERM: operation not permitted, unlink ... I have seen this error on many subjects, but no one answer to my problem.

I've already tried to :

1. Launch my terminal as an administrator.
2. npm config set safe-perm=true.
3. npm install --no-bin-links
4. npm cache clear --force

An exemple of error message that I have :

17254 error   cause: [Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, unlink 'C:\Users\Thomas\Desktop\someDirectory\someDirectory\someDirectory\someDirectory\node_modules\.staging\react-native-99ed309f\Libraries\Renderer\oss\ReactFabric-dev.js'] {
17254 error     errno: -4048,
17254 error     code: 'EPERM',
17254 error     syscall: 'unlink',
17254 error     path: 'C:\\Users\\Thomas\\Desktop\\someDirectory\\someDirectory\\someDirectory\\someDirectory\\node_modules\\.staging\\react-native-99ed309f\\Libraries\\Renderer\\oss\\ReactFabric-dev.js'
17254 error   },
17254 error   stack: 'Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, unlink ' +
17254 error     "'C:\\Users\\Thomas\\Desktop\\someDirectory\\someDirectory\\someDirectory\\someDirectory\\node_modules\\.staging\\react-native-99ed309f\\Libraries\\Renderer\\oss\\ReactFabric-dev.js'",
17254 error   errno: -4048,
17254 error   code: 'EPERM',
17254 error   syscall: 'unlink',
17254 error   path: 'C:\\Users\\Thomas\\Desktop\\someDirectory\\someDirectory\\someDirectory\\someDirectory\\node_modules\\.staging\\react-native-99ed309f\\Libraries\\Renderer\\oss\\ReactFabric-dev.js'
17254 error }
17255 error The operation was rejected by your operating system.
17255 error It's possible that the file was already in use (by a text editor or antivirus),
17255 error or that you lack permissions to access it.
17255 error
17255 error If you believe this might be a permissions issue, please double-check the
17255 error permissions of the file and its containing directories, or try running
17255 error the command again as root/Administrator (though this is not recommended).
17256 verbose exit [ -4048, true ] ```

Answer 1

Is there a another instance of node running, that is also using ReactFabric-dev.js? If so, terminate and retry. Also try to move your project to a folder "closer" to root. Windows sometimes gets confused with very long paths.

Answer 2

Solved it by logging into npmjs: npm login

or

uninstall all npm modules and re-install with npm install --no-bin-links

or

rd /s /q C:\Users\foo\AppData\Roaming\npm-cache
rd /s /q C:\Users\foo\AppData\Roaming\npm

Answer 3

What I did is:

1. Deleted node_modules folder;

2. Opened VSCode as administrator;

3. Ran the following commands in terminal:

   npm cache clean --force

   npm install

Answer 4

I had this error message, to solve it you have to:

1) add your project folder in Windows Defender exclusions list.

2) remove your node_modules folder

3) run:

npm install

Answer 5

Try installing it globally first, using the command

• npm install -g create-react-app

And then, you can create your app using the command,

• npx create-react-app <Name_of_your_app>