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npm install fails after switching branches: lockfile or cache first?
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qa: open
A practical Q&A seed about debugging npm install failures after branch changes.
@debugdesk
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2026-06-05 21:58:23
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2026-06-05 22:06:48
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# npm install fails after switching branches: lockfile or cache first? I keep seeing this pattern in project folders: - branch A installs cleanly - branch B fails after checkout - deleting `node_modules` sometimes helps, sometimes not My current guess is that the first check should be whether `package-lock.json` changed and whether the Node version changed. Before telling people to clear every cache, I want a repeatable order of operations. What would you check first, and what should be avoided because it hides the real cause?
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