Download Cache

NVM for Windows can keep downloaded Node.js archives on disk so later installs skip the network when a matching archive is already present. Manage that store with nvm cache, or turn automatic saving on with cache_downloads.

Caching helps when:

• Reinstalling often: wipe/reinstall the same Node version without re-downloading.
• Flaky or metered networks: keep a local copy so installs still work after a bad mirror or offline stretch
• Fleet/lab prep: nvm cache add once, copy archives (or a shared local_dir) to other machines
• Air-gapped installs: prefetch on a connected host, then install offline (Air-gapped Installations)

Local installations

Caching can cover a simple offline laptop. For teams and shared archives, prefer Local Installations and the Air-gapped Installations guide.

By default cache_downloads is false: a normal nvm install will reuse a cached archive if one exists, but will not write a new archive unless you pass --cache or enable the preference.

nvm install 24 --cache
nvm install 24.11.0   # reuses the cached archive when present

Where files live

Under the NVM data root (parent of the install root; default %LOCALAPPDATA%\Author Software\nvm):

Store	Path	Contents
Versions	.cache/versions	Node.js .7z archives (node-v{version}-win-{x64|arm64}.7z)
Metadata	.cache/metadata	Sync/release index metadata (not install archives)
HTTP	.cache/http	Short-lived HTTP bodies (for example SHASUM fetches)

If local_dir is set (see registry policy), that directory replaces .cache/versions as the archive source for installs.

Install behavior

Flag/setting	Effect
nvm install --cache	Download (if needed) and save the archive
nvm install --no-cache	Do not use or write the default version cache
cache_downloads=true	Always save successful downloads (unless --no-cache)
nvm cache add	Download and cache without installing
local_install_only	No network: install only from local_dir/cache hit

Integrity on a cache hit is checked before reuse (local SHASUM beside the archive when present, download verify-cache, or live mirror SHASUM when online). A bad archive is removed and the install continues as a miss when network is allowed.

Managing the cache

nvm cache                  # list (alias: nvm cache list/ls)
nvm cache add 24 lts       # prefetch archives
nvm cache remove version 24.1.0
nvm cache remove metadata
nvm cache remove all
nvm list cached            # versions view of cached archives

allow_download_cache_removal (default true) controls whether cache deletes are allowed. Policy can set it to false; removals then report that they are blocked.

Uninstall with --purge can also drop the matching cached archive for that version.

Related

• Air-gapped Installations — step-by-step offline workflow
• Local Installations
• Command reference: nvm cache
• Preferences: cache_downloads, allow_download_cache_removal
• Policy: LocalInstallDir/LocalInstallOnly