Expo-cli installed but when running any expo command I get "zsh: command not found: expo"

Question

I have installed expo-cli globally but when I try to run any expo code like expo start from anywhere, I get:

zsh: command not found: expo

echo $PATH returns:

/Users/amitg/.rbenv/shims:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/Users/amitg/.npm-global/bin

I am using macOS, catalina.

Did you put sudo before the install command, ie: `sudo npm install -g expo-cli`? — 5eb, Jul 18 '20 at 18:20

Someone Special · Answer 1 · 2021-04-02T12:05:45.593

14

The correct command to run expo in macOS these days is npx expo.

e.g.

npx expo init my_app

If expo-cli is not installed, it will provide you with instructions to install

edited Apr 02 '21 at 12:05

answered Dec 18 '20 at 19:03

Someone Special

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This results in an endless loop of `This command requires Expo CLI.` `Do you want to install it globally [y/n]` – jsonp Jun 24 '21 at 03:41
you enter `y` and it will install expo, if it's not already installed. That's what stated in **bold** in my answer. – Someone Special Jun 24 '21 at 08:08
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Yes I know. And like I said it kept looping. Installing and then prompting to install. – jsonp Jun 25 '21 at 05:23
probably try removing the package globally `npm uninstall -g expo-cli` – Someone Special Jun 25 '21 at 05:39

score 8 · Answer 2 · edited Jan 11 '21 at 08:27

8

The answer is pretty simple.

just add npm binaries to your path

echo $PATH
export PATH=$PATH:~/.npm-global/bin
source ~/.profile or source ~/.bash_profile

That's It, It will work now, Just go check it expo init myproject

edited Jan 11 '21 at 08:27

Abilogos

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answered Jan 11 '21 at 02:55

Savio Martin

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After the first 2 steps, it worked for me. Thanks. – anas.p Jun 04 '21 at 11:38
I have a mac and this also did the trick for me. Thank you for this! – Andrew Colin Oct 27 '21 at 02:48
This was super helpful thanks! A note for other people - run command 1, then command 2, then run command 1 again and you should see the .npm-global/bin on the end, if you do run command three and check again - it should work – Frankinstyyn Aug 29 '22 at 08:58

Chanrithisak Phok · Answer 3 · 2022-01-20T03:31:45.650

FOR MACOS

So I recommend your echo $PATH command should be /usr/local/bin. Probably you have install Node on the website via .pkg you have downloaded. I have tried to remove and reinstall multiple times but it wasn't work on MacOS Catalina. I highly recommend to install via NVM. Okay I got you at first it sounds like you don't want any third party dependency to install more than Official website of NodeJS, alright I understand your concern, but I have tried for 2 hours straight and it is not worked. NVM is not really that bad, it is helpful and handy and you don't have to reinvent the wheel. I will show you very simple way, no mess up.

So I recommend you to remove and uninstall it first:

brew uninstall node
which node //if this not found or return empty it means you have removed it
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/bin/node
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/
brew doctor
brew cleanup --prune-prefix

Then:

brew uninstall --ignore-dependencies node
brew uninstall --force node

MAKE SURE YOU ARE DEACTIVATE ANY VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT ***:

brew update
brew install nvm

Then create folder for NVM (no need to care which directory you are in now)

mkdir ~/.nvm

Now add these lines to ~/.bash_profile ( or ~/.zshrc for macOS Catalina or later) by nano ~/.bash_profile: (Marks my word, ADD belows line to bash_profile or zsh, not running those two commands below, ADD THEM!!!)

export NVM_DIR=~/.nvm
source $(brew --prefix nvm)/nvm.sh

Add the NVM Directory Paths to Your Shell Profile (When Needed)

nano .zshrc
export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm" [ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" # This loads nvm [ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" # This loads nvm bash_completion
Type CTRL + x in your Mac
Type Shift + y in your Mac
Hit Enter or Return key

Then you need to QUIT/CLOSE ALL TERMINAL entirely to make effect

To see what Node versions are available to install run:

nvm ls-remote You will see list of Node version available. I recommend to install any node version with Latest LTS (green color text)

For me, I just needed the latest point release of Node version 12.8.4 LTS stable released during my answer for you so I ran

nvm install 12.18.4 or nvm install --lts
Otherwise a useful reference in 2022: https://heynode.com/tutorial/install-nodejs-locally-nvm/

Verify your node version:

node --version

THEN FINALLY INSTALL expo cli

npm install --global expo-cli

Check expo installation:

expo --version

I am a student I tried many ways and this work for me and I hope I would be part to help you. Comment if sth still go unplanned.

You are not a student in this case :). Thank you for your comprehensive instructions which helped me pretty much! — shizhen, Nov 17 '20 at 08:45
You're welcome. I just tried to make an answer that won't waste people's time. — Chanrithisak Phok, Nov 18 '20 at 01:48

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 21 '22 at 16:09

0

I am getting the same loop. This is how you fix your expo-cli.

npx uninstall -g expo-cli
npx update (in your project directory).

Works like a charm. No endless loop. No editing the bash or zsh files.

answered Nov 21 '22 at 16:09

Baxter

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score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 29 '23 at 00:41

0

I had the same issue: the following command worked for me on mac :

sudo npm install -g expo-cli
sudo npx create-expo-app

answered Mar 29 '23 at 00:41

scarface764

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score -1 · Answer 6 · answered Oct 14 '21 at 19:20

I had the same problem when switched from bash to zsh, I solved it by checking at my .bash_profile (wich is located at ~/.bash_profile) and I found this export:

 export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"  # This loads nvm
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion"  # This loads nvm bash_completion

given that in bash everything worked correctly I decided to copy the export and replace default export in .zshrc file (wich is located at ~./zshrc)

Your ~/.zshrc file should look something like this:

# If you come from bash you might have to change your $PATH.
#export PATH=/usr/local/bin/npm:$PATH
export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"  # This loads nvm
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion"

Then restart your terminal by pressing cmd + Q and you're done, hope this helps.

score -1 · Answer 7 · answered May 13 '22 at 04:01

-1

If none of the above work for you try:

sudo npm install --unsafe-perm -g expo-cli

hopefully this helps.

answered May 13 '22 at 04:01

Relie Essom

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score -1 · Answer 8 · answered Jun 09 '22 at 15:57

-1

use "sudo yarn global add expo-cli" instead of "yarn global add expo-cli"

answered Jun 09 '22 at 15:57

Imen Abid

1

score -1 · Answer 9 · answered Aug 26 '22 at 01:27

-1

When i got a new macbook i faced the same challange. Here's how i fixed the issue:

alias expo="npm config get prefix/bin/expo"

Now try expo start again, it should work.

answered Aug 26 '22 at 01:27

Ekene Okoli

1

Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please [edit] to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers [in the help center](/help/how-to-answer). – Community Aug 31 '22 at 15:14

Expo-cli installed but when running any expo command I get "zsh: command not found: expo"

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