Update Global npm Packages on macOS Faster

Check outdated global packages

npm outdated -g

Update to wanted versions (semver-safe)

npm update -g

Update to absolute latest versions

npx npm-check-updates -g
npx npm-check-updates -g -u
npm install -g

Fix EACCES permission issues on macOS

mkdir -p ~/.npm-global
npm config set prefix '~/.npm-global'
echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.npm-global/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

Add a reusable shell function

If the above flow is inconvenient, add a helper to your shell and reload:

cat <<'EOF' >> ~/.zshrc
npm_update_globals() {
  echo "Outdated (global):"
  npm outdated -g || true

  echo "Updating to wanted versions…"
  npm update -g

  if command -v npx >/dev/null 2>&1; then
    echo "Upgrading to absolute latest (ignores semver)…"
    npx npm-check-updates -g && npx npm-check-updates -g -u && npm install -g
  fi

  echo "Verify:"
  npm outdated -g || true
}
EOF

source ~/.zshrc

Use the helper:

npm_update_globals

Keeping global npm packages current reduces breakage, surfaces security fixes sooner, and simplifies local tooling parity across machines. Configure a user-owned prefix once, then rely on the function to standardize updates in a single command.