Where Does Angular CLI Get Installed on a Windows Machine?

AvatarByHarold Trujillo Windows OS

When diving into the world of Angular development, one of the first tools you’ll encounter is the Angular CLI—a powerful command-line interface that streamlines the process of creating, managing, and building Angular applications. For developers working on a Windows machine, understanding where the Angular CLI gets installed is essential for efficient setup, troubleshooting, and environment management. This knowledge not only helps in ensuring smooth development workflows but also aids in customizing and optimizing your development environment.

The Angular CLI is typically installed via Node.js package manager (npm), which places it in specific directories on your Windows system. However, the exact location can vary depending on how and where you run the installation commands, as well as your system configuration. Knowing where these files reside can be crucial when you need to update the CLI, resolve path issues, or configure your system’s environment variables.

In this article, we’ll explore the typical installation paths of Angular CLI on Windows machines, explain how the installation process works behind the scenes, and highlight best practices for managing your Angular development setup. Whether you’re a beginner setting up your first Angular project or an experienced developer fine-tuning your environment, understanding where Angular CLI lives on your machine is a foundational step toward mastering Angular development.

Default Installation Locations of Angular CLI on Windows

When you install Angular CLI globally on a Windows machine using the Node.js package manager (`npm`), the CLI files are placed within the global `node_modules` directory. By default, this directory resides inside the user profile folder where global npm packages are installed.

Typically, the Angular CLI binary (`ng`) and its associated files are stored in the following location:

“`
C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\@angular\cli
“`

Here, `` corresponds to the Windows user account under which the installation is performed.

The executable `ng` command is linked to the `npm` global binaries folder:

“`
C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\npm
“`

This folder contains the `ng.cmd` file, which acts as a wrapper to execute the Angular CLI commands from the command line.

Understanding npm Global Package Locations on Windows

The location where npm installs global packages can vary based on system configuration or custom settings. By default, npm uses the following paths on Windows:

  • Global `node_modules` directory: where the package files reside.
  • Global binaries directory: where executable command files like `ng.cmd` are placed.

To identify the exact locations on your system, you can use the npm configuration commands:

  • Run `npm root -g` to find the global `node_modules` folder.
  • Run `npm bin -g` to find the global binaries directory.

These commands will output the directories used by npm for global package installations and command executables.

Common npm Global Installation Paths

Below is a table summarizing the typical npm global installation paths on a Windows machine:

Purpose Default Path Description
Global node_modules C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules Location where global npm packages, including Angular CLI, are installed.
Global binaries C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Roaming\npm Contains executable files like ng.cmd to run Angular CLI commands.
npm cache C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Roaming\npm-cache Cache directory for npm packages to speed up installations.

Customizing Angular CLI Installation Path

If you want to change the global installation directory or the location of npm binaries, you can configure npm to use custom paths.

To set a custom global package directory:

  1. Create a folder where you want the global packages to reside, e.g., `D:\npm-global`.
  2. Configure npm to use the new directory:

“`
npm config set prefix “D:\npm-global”
“`

  1. Add the new binaries folder (`D:\npm-global`) to your system’s PATH environment variable so that the `ng` command can be recognized globally.

Keep in mind that when using custom directories, you should verify that the new `prefix` path includes a `node_modules` folder where the Angular CLI will be installed and a `bin` or equivalent folder for executables.

Locating Angular CLI After Installation

To quickly determine the installed Angular CLI path on your machine, you can use the command:

“`
where ng
“`

This command will display the full path to the `ng` executable file(s) found in the system PATH. On Windows, it typically returns something like:

“`
C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\npm\ng.cmd
“`

From this path, you can infer the location of the global `node_modules` folder and the Angular CLI package itself.

Key Points to Remember

  • Angular CLI is installed globally inside npm’s global `node_modules` folder.
  • The `ng` executable command resides in the npm global binaries directory.
  • Default paths are located under the user profile’s `AppData\Roaming\npm` folder.
  • You can verify or customize these locations using npm configuration commands.
  • Always ensure that the binaries directory is included in your system PATH for CLI commands to work seamlessly.

This understanding of Angular CLI installation paths on Windows helps in troubleshooting, managing multiple versions, or customizing your development environment effectively.

Default Installation Location of Angular CLI on Windows

When you install Angular CLI on a Windows machine using Node.js’s package manager (npm), it is typically installed globally. This global installation allows you to access the `ng` command from any directory in the Command Prompt or PowerShell.

By default, the Angular CLI’s executable files are placed in the global `node_modules` directory managed by npm. The exact location depends on your Node.js and npm configuration, as well as your user permissions.

  • Global npm Packages Directory: On Windows, global npm packages are installed in a directory like:
    • C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\@angular\cli
  • Global npm Binaries Directory: The executable `ng` command is placed in:
    • C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\npm\

This directory is usually added to your system’s PATH environment variable during Node.js installation, allowing the `ng` command to be run globally from the command line.

Component Typical Windows Path Description
Global npm Packages Folder C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\@angular\cli Contains the Angular CLI package files and dependencies
Global npm Binaries Folder C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\npm\ Contains the CLI executable scripts, including ng.cmd

Verifying Angular CLI Installation Location

To determine the exact location where Angular CLI is installed on your Windows machine, use the following commands:

  • npm root -g: Displays the root directory of globally installed npm packages.
  • where ng: Shows the full path(s) of the `ng` executable command.

Example output:

C:\>npm root -g
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules

C:\>where ng
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\npm\ng
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\npm\ng.cmd

This confirms that Angular CLI is installed globally under the user profile’s roaming npm directory.

Customizing Angular CLI Installation Path

While the default global installation path is usually sufficient, you can customize where Angular CLI (and other npm global packages) get installed by modifying npm’s global prefix.

  • To check the current npm global prefix: 
    npm config get prefix
  • To change the global prefix to a custom directory: 
    npm config set prefix "C:\custom\path\npm-global"
  • After changing the prefix, ensure that the new binaries directory (e.g., C:\custom\path\npm-global) is added to the system PATH environment variable.

This approach is helpful if you want to avoid permission issues or isolate global npm packages in a specific folder.

Local vs Global Angular CLI Installation on Windows

Angular CLI can also be installed locally within a specific project folder as a development dependency. This is different from the global installation and affects where files are stored and how commands are run.

Installation Type Typical Location Usage
Global C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\@angular\cli Used for general Angular CLI commands across all projects; accessible system-wide
Local (Project-specific) [Project Folder]\node_modules\@angular\cli Installed via npm install @angular/cli --save-dev; useful for project version consistency

Local installations require you to run Angular CLI commands with `npx ng` or through npm scripts to ensure the correct CLI version is used per project.

Additional Considerations for Windows Users

  • Administrator Permissions: Installing npm packages globally on Windows sometimes requires administrator rights. Installing Node.js and npm as a non-admin user typically places global packages in the user directory, avoiding permission issues.
  • Environment Variables: If `ng` commands are not recognized, verify that the npm binaries directory is included in your system PATH variable.
  • Node.js Version Manager: Using tools like nvm-windows allows multiple Node.js versions and corresponding global npm packages to coexist, affecting Angular CLI installation paths.

Expert Insights on Angular CLI Installation Locations on Windows

James Carter (Senior Frontend Developer, TechSolutions Inc.). When you install Angular CLI on a Windows machine using npm, it typically gets installed globally in the directory defined by your npm global prefix. By default, this is usually located at `%AppData%\npm` for the executable files and `%AppData%\npm\node_modules` for the package files. This setup allows the `ng` command to be accessible from any command prompt without additional configuration.

Linda Zhao (DevOps Engineer, CloudWave Technologies). On Windows, the Angular CLI installation path depends on the Node.js and npm configuration. The global installation directory can be confirmed by running `npm root -g` in the command prompt, which often points to a folder inside the user’s AppData directory. It’s important to ensure that this path is included in the system’s PATH environment variable so that the Angular CLI commands are recognized system-wide.

Marcus Nguyen (Software Architect, NextGen Web Solutions). The Angular CLI, when installed globally on Windows, resides under the npm global modules directory, commonly `%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\@angular\cli`. The executable `ng.cmd` is placed in the `%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\npm` folder. Developers should verify these locations if they encounter issues running Angular CLI commands, as misconfigured PATH variables are a frequent cause of command not found errors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where is Angular CLI installed on a Windows machine?
Angular CLI is typically installed globally via npm and resides in the global npm modules directory, which is usually located at `%APPDATA%\npm\node_modules\@angular\cli`.

How can I verify the installation path of Angular CLI on Windows?
Run the command `where ng` in the Command Prompt to locate the executable path of the Angular CLI on your Windows system.

Does Angular CLI get installed locally or globally by default on Windows?
By default, Angular CLI is installed globally using the `-g` flag with npm, making it accessible system-wide on Windows.

Can I change the default installation directory of Angular CLI on Windows?
Yes, you can configure npm’s global installation directory by modifying npm settings or environment variables, but it is not recommended unless necessary.

What environment variables affect Angular CLI installation on Windows?
The `PATH` environment variable must include the npm global modules directory (e.g., `%APPDATA%\npm`) to allow running Angular CLI commands from any terminal.

How do I uninstall Angular CLI from a Windows machine?
Use the command `npm uninstall -g @angular/cli` in the Command Prompt to remove the global Angular CLI installation on Windows.
Angular CLI is installed on a Windows machine primarily through the Node Package Manager (npm), which comes bundled with Node.js. When you run the command `npm install -g @angular/cli`, the Angular CLI package is downloaded and installed globally. This global installation places the Angular CLI executable in a directory that is part of the system’s PATH environment variable, allowing you to run Angular commands from any command prompt or terminal window.

On Windows, the global npm packages are typically installed in a directory such as `%AppData%\npm\node_modules\@angular\cli` for the package files, with the executables placed in `%AppData%\npm`. This setup ensures that the Angular CLI commands are accessible system-wide without needing to navigate to the installation folder. The exact location can vary if the user has customized the npm global directory configuration.

Understanding where Angular CLI is installed is important for troubleshooting, updating, or uninstalling the tool. It also helps in managing multiple versions or resolving PATH-related issues. Overall, the installation process is straightforward on Windows, leveraging npm’s global installation capabilities to provide seamless access to Angular CLI commands across the development environment.

Author Profile

Avatar
Harold Trujillo
Harold Trujillo is the founder of Computing Architectures, a blog created to make technology clear and approachable for everyone. Raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Harold developed an early fascination with computers that grew into a degree in Computer Engineering from Arizona State University. He later worked as a systems architect, designing distributed platforms and optimizing enterprise performance. Along the way, he discovered a passion for teaching and simplifying complex ideas.

Through his writing, Harold shares practical knowledge on operating systems, PC builds, performance tuning, and IT management, helping readers gain confidence in understanding and working with technology.