Quick Fix – npm WARN old lockfile The package-lock.json file was created with an old version of npm

Are you working with node.js? You may have received an exception that keeps you worried. The ‘npm WARN old lockfile The package-lock.json file was created with an old version of npm’ seems to be a new error for you, but you don’t need to worry as we are going to shed light on this exception and help you find a way out of it.

Let’s check out how to fix this exception

How to Fix ‘npm WARN old lockfile The package-lock.json file was created with an old version of npm’

Before jumping to the solutions to solve this error, first, we should check how you get the exception. This is how you get the error warning

“The package-lock.json file was created with an old version of npm” Error Occurs

Step 12/26 : RUN npm ci --production --package-lock &&     npm ci --production --package-lock --prefix ./ui-runner
 ---> Running in 3473c209b98c
npm WARN old lockfile 
npm WARN old lockfile The package-lock.json file was created with an old version of npm,
npm WARN old lockfile so supplemental metadata must be fetched from the registry.
npm WARN old lockfile 
npm WARN old lockfile This is a one-time fix-up, please be patient...
npm WARN old lockfile

The cause of this error is installing npm instead of npm ci along with the –package-lock flag. When you are trying to run, the error warning shows.

Solution 1 – Downgrade the npm version

When you are trying to access a newer version of the npm, you may encounter the above error warning. So, downgrading the version is helpful. You can just install the version you want with the following command

npm install -g npm@"Ver"

Replace the “Ver” with the version you want to install. You can easily look for the npm versions and choose the best one that you are comfortable programming with.

Solution 2 – Swap Node.js with the nvm version

Another way to solve the error is to switch the node.js version you have with the nvm. This can be done with the following command

nvm install 14 
nvm use 14

This is considered the best solution that can solve the error.

Solution 3 – Create the ‘package-lock.json’

The third way to get rid of the error warning is to generate the following command that is used to commit the version updated ‘package-lock.json’ to the docker/repo image or anything else you try.

npm install --package-lock-only

Solution 4 – Ignore the warning “The package-lock.json file was created with an old version of npm”

Ignoring the error warning is also one of the solutions. It is just adding the information of all the happenings to the package-lock.json file. So, if the warning is not bothering you, then go with it. As this warning can be resolved with the next version. In the case, you are getting disturbed by the error warning, then you should try the above solutions to get rid of it.

Conclusion

We discussed all the quick ways to remove the error ‘npm WARN old lockfile The package-lock.json file was created with an old version of npm’.

I hope you can solve the issue with the above-mentioned solutions!