Basic Configuration
User preferences live in the Windows registry. Manage them with nvm config (alias: nvm cfg).
nvm config list
nvm config get mode auto_use
nvm config set auto_install=true
nvm config reset auto_install
nvm config docs
On certified fleets, machine policy can override these values. See Administrative Templates and the registry policy reference.
Structured Docs
Use nvm config docs --json for machine-readable metadata.
Mode and install location
| Option | Default | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
mode | shim | shim, link | Specifies how Node.js commands and versions are managed, either through shim-based routing or direct junction/symlink linking. Same as nvm use shim/nvm use link. See Operating Modes. |
root | %LOCALAPPDATA%\Author Software\nvm\installs | Directory path | Root directory where Node.js versions are installed. Changing this does not move existing installs; migrate files yourself or reinstall versions. |
Downloads and mirrors
| Option | Default | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
node_mirror | https://nodejs.org/dist | One or more URLs | Mirror URL(s) for downloading Node.js. In nvm config, pass a comma-delimited list. In the registry (MirrorNode), store as REG_MULTI_SZ (one URL per entry) — not a single comma-separated REG_SZ. See Download Mirrors. |
npm_mirror | https://registry.npmjs.org | One or more URLs | Mirror URL(s) for the npm registry fallback. Same rules: comma-delimited in nvm config; REG_MULTI_SZ (MirrorNpm) in the registry. See Download Mirrors. |
cache_downloads | false | Boolean | Whether to cache downloaded files for offline use. |
allow_download_cache_removal | true | Boolean | Allow removing cached downloads. |
allow_insecure_downloads | false | Boolean | Allow expired/invalid SSL certificates when downloading assets. |
auto_installed_modules | (none) | Comma-delimited npm package names | Comma-delimited list of global npm modules to automatically install with new Node.js versions. (REG_MULTI_SZ as AutoInstallModuleList under policy.) |
nvm config set node_mirror=https://npmmirror.com/mirrors/node
nvm config set node_mirror=https://mirror.author.io/runtime/nodejs,https://nodejs.org/dist
nvm config set cache_downloads=true
nvm config set auto_installed_modules=typescript,prettier
Proxy
Proxies are automatically detected/applied from HTTP_PROXY, HTTPS_PROXY, or NO_PROXY environment variables.
| Option | Default | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
proxy | (none) | URL | The plain text URL of the proxy. This is a hidden from everyday cfg docs output since it is usually auto-detected. |
On certified builds proxies are usually set by policy (see registry reference).
Corporate Proxies
The community build supports basic proxies. IWA, WPAD, and PAC proxies are supported in Certified Builds, available September 2026.
Project detection and auto behavior
These options apply primarily in shim mode (and related nvm pin workflows).
| Option | Default | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
auto_detect | .nvmrc, .node-version, package.json | Comma-delimited filenames | Project files to inspect for version (shim-only). |
default_detect_file | .nvmrc | Filename | The default file to write to when saving/pinning a version to a project. |
auto_use | true | Boolean | Automatically switch to auto-detected version to run the specified scripts without modifying the system version (shim-only). |
auto_install | false | Boolean | Automatically install missing auto-detected version (node shim + proxy: npm/npx/yarn/pnpm/globals; also nvm pin). |
auto_install_prompt | true | Boolean | Prompt before automatically installing missing auto-detected version (node shim + proxy; also nvm pin). |
nvm config set auto_install=true auto_install_prompt=false
nvm config set auto_detect=.nvmrc,.node-version
Package managers
| Option | Default | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
pm_mismatch_action | error | ignore, warn, error | Action to take when a mismatch between npm/pnpm/yarn and Node.js versions is detected during install or use:
|
Logging and announcements
| Option | Default | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
log_executions | false | Boolean | Whether to log every Node.js invocation (ex: node file.js). (shim-only) |
disable_announcements | false | Boolean | Whether to disable project and release announcements. License expiry warnings still run. |
nvm config set log_executions=true
nvm config set disable_announcements=true
Related settings
(not listed in cfg docs)
| Topic | Where |
|---|---|
Version aliases (stable=24.x, etc.) | Prefer nvm alias; values are stored as aliases |
| Turn version management on/off | nvm on/nvm off (writes enabled) |
| Active/last version | Managed by nvm use (active_version, last_version) |
| Shim security/V8 flags | Registry reference (EnforcePermissionModel, FreezeV8GlobalObjects, DisableEvalAndStringExecution) |
| Enterprise locks (mirrors, version allow/block lists, proxies) | Administrative Templates and registry policies |
nvm config docs
nvm config docs --json