I ran
npm config set prefix /usr/local
After running that command,
When trying to run any npm commands on Windows OS I keep getting the below.
Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, mkdir 'C:Program Files (x86)Gitlocal'
at Error (native)
Have deleted all files from
C:Users<your username>.configconfigstore
It did not work.
Any suggestion ?
asked Jan 4, 2016 at 22:21
![]()
8
Running this command was my mistake.
npm config set prefix /usr/local
Path /usr/local is not for windows. This command changed the prefix variable at 'C:Program Files (x86)Gitlocal'
To access and make a change to this directory I need to run my cmd as administrator.
So I did:
- Run cmd as administrator
- Run
npm config edit(You will get notepad editor) - Change
prefixvariable toC:Users<User Name>AppDataRoamingnpm
Then npm start works in a normal console.
answered Jan 5, 2016 at 15:10
![]()
Lahar ShahLahar Shah
6,9364 gold badges30 silver badges39 bronze badges
4
This is occurring because windows is not giving permission to the user to create a folder inside system drive. To solve this:
Right Click
The Folder > Properties > Security Tab
Click on Edit to change Permissions > Select the user and give Full Control to that user.
mikemaccana
108k99 gold badges385 silver badges484 bronze badges
answered Jun 20, 2016 at 5:38
RatneZRatneZ
1,0489 silver badges9 bronze badges
8
Sometimes, all that’s required is to stop the dev server before installing/updating packages.
answered Feb 22, 2018 at 11:51
Ezra ObiwaleEzra Obiwale
1,7561 gold badge12 silver badges15 bronze badges
3
Restarting VsCode solved it for me!
answered Nov 26, 2019 at 23:58
![]()
LegendsLegends
21k13 gold badges93 silver badges122 bronze badges
3
I recently had the same problem when I upgraded to the new version, the only solution was to do the downgraded
To uninstall:
npm uninstall npm -g
Install the previous version:
npm install npm@5.3 -g
Try update the version in another moment.
answered Sep 2, 2017 at 17:27
![]()
1
I use Windows 10.
I started the CMD as administrator, and it solved the problem.
Find CMD, right click, and click open as administrator.
nicovank
3,1571 gold badge21 silver badges42 bronze badges
answered Oct 13, 2017 at 6:15
![]()
DIANGELISJDIANGELISJ
7176 silver badges4 bronze badges
3
I had an outdated version of npm. I ran a series of commands to resolve this issue:
npm cache clean --force
Then:
npm install -g npm@latest --force
Then (once again):
npm cache clean --force
And finally was able to run this (installing Angular project) without the errors I was seeing regarding EPERM:
ng new myProject
answered Sep 26, 2019 at 14:16
![]()
LatentDenisLatentDenis
2,76912 gold badges47 silver badges97 bronze badges
1
In my case, I was facing this error because my directory and its file were opened in my editor (VS code) while I was running npm install. I solved the issue by closing my editor and running npm install through the command line.
answered Mar 12, 2019 at 6:39
I had the same problem when I tried to install the npm package AVA. The solution for me was to delete the node_modules folder and force-clean the npm cache:
rm -rf node_modules
npm cache clean --force
I could then install the npm package without a problem.
answered Mar 5, 2019 at 16:23
Liran HLiran H
8,9257 gold badges39 silver badges51 bronze badges
1
I had the same problem, after updating npm. Solved it by re-installing latest npm again with:
npm i -g npm
but this time with cmd running in administrating mode.
i did all this because i suspected there was an issue with the update, mostly some missing files.
answered Sep 21, 2017 at 10:03
![]()
Web StepsWeb Steps
3342 silver badges11 bronze badges
for me it was an issue of altering existing folders in node_module, so i nuked the whole folder and run npm install again. it works with no errors after that
answered Nov 17, 2016 at 20:08
![]()
Sonic SoulSonic Soul
23.7k37 gold badges129 silver badges196 bronze badges
0
The Problem I faced (In Windows Computer)
When I was trying to install a couple of npm packages I got the following error:
npm — EPERM: operation not permitted — while npm was trying to rename a file
Here’s my debug snippet for reference, if you’ve faced the similar problem:

After carefully checking out the answers from other users, I have created a detailed answer for the community
My Solution for the problem
Follow the mentioned steps
- Right-click on the project folder
- Go to
properties -> Security Tab - Select
Users -> Edit - In the
Permission for Userssection,Full control->Give a check mark in Allow->OK - Wait for Windows security to apply the new security rules
- Click
OK
Visualization of the steps

If you follow these steps and try to install npm packages again it will work properly.
Note: It’s a best practice to close and open up the command line again to experience the changes
answered Oct 7, 2021 at 4:45
0
Just run cmd as admin. delete old node_modules folder and run npm install again.
answered Dec 7, 2017 at 12:58
![]()
Rahul KhuntRahul Khunt
6435 silver badges6 bronze badges
1
Simplest way
Hope I am not too late for this post but recently even I too got hit by this issue. And also I had no admin rights on my laptop.
Here is the simplest way I fixed the bug.
- Locate the file name
.npmrc(it will be inC:Users<user name>.npmrc) - Open it and change the path of
prefix=toprefix=C:Users<user name>AppDataRoamingnpm
hope it will be helpful..
answered Jul 29, 2019 at 8:21
0
Happened to me since the folder/file was locked by another process. Used a tool (LockHunter) to terminate that process and it started working again (possible reason).
answered Mar 11, 2019 at 19:22
HummusHummus
5491 gold badge9 silver badges21 bronze badges
If you getting this error in an IDE’s terminal/commands prompt, try delete node_modules, close IDE, and run the npm install command again.
The time when IDE started but still not completed its analysis of node_modules tree is a tricky moment, when packages installation may fail because IDE still scanning node_modules contents.
answered Nov 20, 2019 at 14:22
Kote IsaevKote Isaev
2574 silver badges13 bronze badges
This error is caused by different problems try the below one of them will work for you!
-
try to run
npmas Administrator -
Run cmd as administrator
npm config edit(You will get notepad editor)
ChangePrefixvariable toC:Users<User Name>AppDataRoamingnpm -
The errors went after I disabled my anti-virus (Avast)
-
Sometimes a simple cache clear like the below would fix it.
npm cache clear
answered Jul 19, 2020 at 12:01
![]()
EricgitEricgit
5,9392 gold badges41 silver badges51 bronze badges
npm install cross-env
Try this it worked for me.
Samsul Islam
2,5682 gold badges17 silver badges23 bronze badges
answered May 22, 2020 at 7:31
0
For me the problem come from bash terminal. I change my terminal to powershell and it’s ok.
Really easy to resolve
answered Mar 31, 2022 at 10:04
stephsteph
451 silver badge8 bronze badges
2
Find this command npm cache clean as a solution to those error in quick and simple way!
answered Jan 19, 2018 at 8:23
I updated my node version to 8.9.4 and ran the necessary install command again from administrator command prompt. It worked for me!
answered Feb 15, 2018 at 6:49
![]()
Rahul SharmaRahul Sharma
3291 gold badge3 silver badges10 bronze badges
A reboot of my laptop and then
npm install
worked for me!
answered Nov 8, 2018 at 11:41
Chau NguyenChau Nguyen
8948 silver badges13 bronze badges
Running npm commands in Windows Powershell solved my issue.
answered Mar 1, 2019 at 7:14
![]()
0
Try npm i -g npm . NPM version 6.9 is work to me.
answered May 29, 2019 at 9:49
karloskarlos
7971 gold badge8 silver badges33 bronze badges
Apparently anti-virus software can also cause this error. In my case I had Windows Security’s Ransomware Protection protecting my user folders which caused this error.
answered Aug 25, 2019 at 21:58
orrdorrd
9,3495 gold badges39 silver badges30 bronze badges
Windows 10,
Running the IDE (in my case IntelliJ) in administrator mode and executing npm install does resolves the problem.
If no IDE then run CMD in administrator mode and try executing npm install
answered Nov 28, 2019 at 10:24
Sasi Kumar MSasi Kumar M
2,4001 gold badge23 silver badges23 bronze badges
For those trying to update config
If having trouble updating your npm config, try instead running using the -g flag. This solved the issue on Win 10 for me after trying everything else.
npm config edit -g
I am able to update the config and changes are reflected everywhere. This may be due to running npm in an organizational scope.
answered Apr 29, 2020 at 9:03
![]()
I was running create-react-app server. Simply stopped the server and everything worked just fine.
answered May 13, 2020 at 18:20
SafferSaffer
1528 bronze badges
0
The simpler way to solve this by entering the below command
npm config set cache C:tmpnodejsnpm-cache --global
answered May 20, 2021 at 20:58
![]()
Hadayat NiaziHadayat Niazi
1,9212 gold badges15 silver badges28 bronze badges
At least I just solved my problem in this way:
- Search
cmd - Then run as administrator
- Then
npm i -g expo-cliornpm config set prefix /usr/local
I just solved my problem.
answered May 21, 2021 at 4:06
![]()
AlaminAlamin
1,81914 silver badges32 bronze badges
I ran
npm config set prefix /usr/local
After running that command,
When trying to run any npm commands on Windows OS I keep getting the below.
Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, mkdir 'C:Program Files (x86)Gitlocal'
at Error (native)
Have deleted all files from
C:Users<your username>.configconfigstore
It did not work.
Any suggestion ?
asked Jan 4, 2016 at 22:21
![]()
8
Running this command was my mistake.
npm config set prefix /usr/local
Path /usr/local is not for windows. This command changed the prefix variable at 'C:Program Files (x86)Gitlocal'
To access and make a change to this directory I need to run my cmd as administrator.
So I did:
- Run cmd as administrator
- Run
npm config edit(You will get notepad editor) - Change
prefixvariable toC:Users<User Name>AppDataRoamingnpm
Then npm start works in a normal console.
answered Jan 5, 2016 at 15:10
![]()
Lahar ShahLahar Shah
6,9364 gold badges30 silver badges39 bronze badges
4
This is occurring because windows is not giving permission to the user to create a folder inside system drive. To solve this:
Right Click
The Folder > Properties > Security Tab
Click on Edit to change Permissions > Select the user and give Full Control to that user.
mikemaccana
108k99 gold badges385 silver badges484 bronze badges
answered Jun 20, 2016 at 5:38
RatneZRatneZ
1,0489 silver badges9 bronze badges
8
Sometimes, all that’s required is to stop the dev server before installing/updating packages.
answered Feb 22, 2018 at 11:51
Ezra ObiwaleEzra Obiwale
1,7561 gold badge12 silver badges15 bronze badges
3
Restarting VsCode solved it for me!
answered Nov 26, 2019 at 23:58
![]()
LegendsLegends
21k13 gold badges93 silver badges122 bronze badges
3
I recently had the same problem when I upgraded to the new version, the only solution was to do the downgraded
To uninstall:
npm uninstall npm -g
Install the previous version:
npm install npm@5.3 -g
Try update the version in another moment.
answered Sep 2, 2017 at 17:27
![]()
1
I use Windows 10.
I started the CMD as administrator, and it solved the problem.
Find CMD, right click, and click open as administrator.
nicovank
3,1571 gold badge21 silver badges42 bronze badges
answered Oct 13, 2017 at 6:15
![]()
DIANGELISJDIANGELISJ
7176 silver badges4 bronze badges
3
I had an outdated version of npm. I ran a series of commands to resolve this issue:
npm cache clean --force
Then:
npm install -g npm@latest --force
Then (once again):
npm cache clean --force
And finally was able to run this (installing Angular project) without the errors I was seeing regarding EPERM:
ng new myProject
answered Sep 26, 2019 at 14:16
![]()
LatentDenisLatentDenis
2,76912 gold badges47 silver badges97 bronze badges
1
In my case, I was facing this error because my directory and its file were opened in my editor (VS code) while I was running npm install. I solved the issue by closing my editor and running npm install through the command line.
answered Mar 12, 2019 at 6:39
I had the same problem when I tried to install the npm package AVA. The solution for me was to delete the node_modules folder and force-clean the npm cache:
rm -rf node_modules
npm cache clean --force
I could then install the npm package without a problem.
answered Mar 5, 2019 at 16:23
Liran HLiran H
8,9257 gold badges39 silver badges51 bronze badges
1
I had the same problem, after updating npm. Solved it by re-installing latest npm again with:
npm i -g npm
but this time with cmd running in administrating mode.
i did all this because i suspected there was an issue with the update, mostly some missing files.
answered Sep 21, 2017 at 10:03
![]()
Web StepsWeb Steps
3342 silver badges11 bronze badges
for me it was an issue of altering existing folders in node_module, so i nuked the whole folder and run npm install again. it works with no errors after that
answered Nov 17, 2016 at 20:08
![]()
Sonic SoulSonic Soul
23.7k37 gold badges129 silver badges196 bronze badges
0
The Problem I faced (In Windows Computer)
When I was trying to install a couple of npm packages I got the following error:
npm — EPERM: operation not permitted — while npm was trying to rename a file
Here’s my debug snippet for reference, if you’ve faced the similar problem:

After carefully checking out the answers from other users, I have created a detailed answer for the community
My Solution for the problem
Follow the mentioned steps
- Right-click on the project folder
- Go to
properties -> Security Tab - Select
Users -> Edit - In the
Permission for Userssection,Full control->Give a check mark in Allow->OK - Wait for Windows security to apply the new security rules
- Click
OK
Visualization of the steps

If you follow these steps and try to install npm packages again it will work properly.
Note: It’s a best practice to close and open up the command line again to experience the changes
answered Oct 7, 2021 at 4:45
0
Just run cmd as admin. delete old node_modules folder and run npm install again.
answered Dec 7, 2017 at 12:58
![]()
Rahul KhuntRahul Khunt
6435 silver badges6 bronze badges
1
Simplest way
Hope I am not too late for this post but recently even I too got hit by this issue. And also I had no admin rights on my laptop.
Here is the simplest way I fixed the bug.
- Locate the file name
.npmrc(it will be inC:Users<user name>.npmrc) - Open it and change the path of
prefix=toprefix=C:Users<user name>AppDataRoamingnpm
hope it will be helpful..
answered Jul 29, 2019 at 8:21
0
Happened to me since the folder/file was locked by another process. Used a tool (LockHunter) to terminate that process and it started working again (possible reason).
answered Mar 11, 2019 at 19:22
HummusHummus
5491 gold badge9 silver badges21 bronze badges
If you getting this error in an IDE’s terminal/commands prompt, try delete node_modules, close IDE, and run the npm install command again.
The time when IDE started but still not completed its analysis of node_modules tree is a tricky moment, when packages installation may fail because IDE still scanning node_modules contents.
answered Nov 20, 2019 at 14:22
Kote IsaevKote Isaev
2574 silver badges13 bronze badges
This error is caused by different problems try the below one of them will work for you!
-
try to run
npmas Administrator -
Run cmd as administrator
npm config edit(You will get notepad editor)
ChangePrefixvariable toC:Users<User Name>AppDataRoamingnpm -
The errors went after I disabled my anti-virus (Avast)
-
Sometimes a simple cache clear like the below would fix it.
npm cache clear
answered Jul 19, 2020 at 12:01
![]()
EricgitEricgit
5,9392 gold badges41 silver badges51 bronze badges
npm install cross-env
Try this it worked for me.
Samsul Islam
2,5682 gold badges17 silver badges23 bronze badges
answered May 22, 2020 at 7:31
0
For me the problem come from bash terminal. I change my terminal to powershell and it’s ok.
Really easy to resolve
answered Mar 31, 2022 at 10:04
stephsteph
451 silver badge8 bronze badges
2
Find this command npm cache clean as a solution to those error in quick and simple way!
answered Jan 19, 2018 at 8:23
I updated my node version to 8.9.4 and ran the necessary install command again from administrator command prompt. It worked for me!
answered Feb 15, 2018 at 6:49
![]()
Rahul SharmaRahul Sharma
3291 gold badge3 silver badges10 bronze badges
A reboot of my laptop and then
npm install
worked for me!
answered Nov 8, 2018 at 11:41
Chau NguyenChau Nguyen
8948 silver badges13 bronze badges
Running npm commands in Windows Powershell solved my issue.
answered Mar 1, 2019 at 7:14
![]()
0
Try npm i -g npm . NPM version 6.9 is work to me.
answered May 29, 2019 at 9:49
karloskarlos
7971 gold badge8 silver badges33 bronze badges
Apparently anti-virus software can also cause this error. In my case I had Windows Security’s Ransomware Protection protecting my user folders which caused this error.
answered Aug 25, 2019 at 21:58
orrdorrd
9,3495 gold badges39 silver badges30 bronze badges
Windows 10,
Running the IDE (in my case IntelliJ) in administrator mode and executing npm install does resolves the problem.
If no IDE then run CMD in administrator mode and try executing npm install
answered Nov 28, 2019 at 10:24
Sasi Kumar MSasi Kumar M
2,4001 gold badge23 silver badges23 bronze badges
For those trying to update config
If having trouble updating your npm config, try instead running using the -g flag. This solved the issue on Win 10 for me after trying everything else.
npm config edit -g
I am able to update the config and changes are reflected everywhere. This may be due to running npm in an organizational scope.
answered Apr 29, 2020 at 9:03
![]()
I was running create-react-app server. Simply stopped the server and everything worked just fine.
answered May 13, 2020 at 18:20
SafferSaffer
1528 bronze badges
0
The simpler way to solve this by entering the below command
npm config set cache C:tmpnodejsnpm-cache --global
answered May 20, 2021 at 20:58
![]()
Hadayat NiaziHadayat Niazi
1,9212 gold badges15 silver badges28 bronze badges
At least I just solved my problem in this way:
- Search
cmd - Then run as administrator
- Then
npm i -g expo-cliornpm config set prefix /usr/local
I just solved my problem.
answered May 21, 2021 at 4:06
![]()
AlaminAlamin
1,81914 silver badges32 bronze badges
@dhioputro
This is not the recommended way of using create-react-app according to the React documentation and it may cause problems down the line.|Same happened with me. I did the same, installed create-react-app globally and it started working but after a few days and a few tweaks and a few updates here and there it stopped working again.
After having to spend 2 hours digging I found this to be the more permanent solution.
This error is caused by having a space in your User name (i.e the name of your machine) for instance my machine name is Themba Alex, npx has an issue when such is the case, the solution to this is to open your terminal and run this command:
npm config edit afterward go to every line that is starting with
;cache=C:UsersThemba AlexAppDataRoamingnpm-cache, remove the ; and remove the space on your username, write the first 6 letters and add"~1"i.e;cache=C:UsersThemba AlexAppDataRoamingnpm-cachewill now becache=C:UsersThemba~1AppDataRoamingnpm-cachethis will solve the issueAfter a lot of digging and coming to this, I thought this would solve my problem but it isn’t solving my problem. Even after changing
Firstname LastnametoFirstname~1and toFirstname~LastnameI am getting the same error.
Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, mkdir 'C:UsersFirstname~Lastname' command not found: create-react-appI found the solution to this. Instead of just changing
Firstname LastnametoFirstname~1orFirstname~Lastname, check what the short name for your Username directory is. You can do this by opening the CMD as an administrator and runningdir /xin the parent folder of the folder whose short name you’re trying to find. In this case since you want to know the short name to yourFirstname Lastnamefolder, the parent folder will beC:/Users. So go toC:/Usersand rundir /x. You’ll find the short name of yourFirstname Lastnamefolder. It may not necessarily beFirstname~1. In my case, it wasFirstnameL~1. After this you can runnpm config set cache "C:/Users/<shortname-you-found-with-dir/x>/AppData/Roaming/npm-cache" --global. Now you should be able to runnpx create-react-app my-appwithout any issue.
This error is caused by having a space in your User name (i.e the name of your machine) for instance my machine name is Themba Alex, npx has an issue when such is the case, the solution to this is to open your terminal and run this command:
npm config edit afterward go to every line that is starting with
;cache=C:UsersThemba AlexAppDataRoamingnpm-cache, remove the ; and remove the space on your username, write the first 6 letters and add"~1"i.e;cache=C:UsersThemba AlexAppDataRoamingnpm-cachewill now becache=C:UsersThemba~1AppDataRoamingnpm-cachethis will solve the issueAfter a lot of digging and coming to this, I thought this would solve my problem but it isn’t solving my problem. Even after changing
Firstname LastnametoFirstname~1and toFirstname~LastnameI am getting the same error.
Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, mkdir 'C:UsersFirstname~Lastname' command not found: create-react-appI found the solution to this. Instead of just changing
Firstname LastnametoFirstname~1orFirstname~Lastname, check what the short name for your Username directory is. You can do this by opening the CMD as an administrator and runningdir /xin the parent folder of the folder whose short name you’re trying to find. In this case since you want to know the short name to yourFirstname Lastnamefolder, the parent folder will beC:/Users. So go toC:/Usersand rundir /x. You’ll find the short name of yourFirstname Lastnamefolder. It may not necessarily beFirstname~1. In my case, it wasFirstnameL~1. After this you can runnpm config set cache "C:/Users/<shortname-you-found-with-dir/x>/AppData/Roaming/npm-cache" --global. Now you should be able to runnpx create-react-app my-appwithout any issue.
So I tried doing this and my system is not showing any shortnames, I’m still not able to fix this! Can you help me out?
The Error: EPERM: operation not permitted is a common error that occurs in Visual Studio Code when trying to install extensions, save files, or perform other tasks. This error is caused by insufficient permissions to access the required files or directories. If you’re encountering this error, don’t worry, as there are several solutions that you can try to resolve the issue.
Method 1: Run Visual Studio Code as an administrator
To fix the «EPERM: operation not permitted» error in VS Code on Windows, you can try running Visual Studio Code as an administrator. Here are the steps to do this:
- Right-click on the Visual Studio Code icon in your start menu or taskbar.
- Select «Run as administrator» from the context menu.
- If prompted, click «Yes» to allow the app to make changes to your device.
- Once VS Code opens, try to perform the action that was previously giving you the EPERM error.
Here is an example of how to run VS Code as an administrator using PowerShell:
Start-Process "C:Program FilesMicrosoft VS CodeCode.exe" -Verb RunAs
This PowerShell command will launch VS Code as an administrator. You can replace the path to Code.exe with the actual path on your system.
Another way to run VS Code as an administrator is to use the «Run» dialog:
- Press the Windows key + R to open the «Run» dialog.
- Type «C:Program FilesMicrosoft VS CodeCode.exe» in the «Open» field.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run the command as an administrator.
Here is an example of how to run VS Code as an administrator using the «Run» dialog:
C:Program FilesMicrosoft VS CodeCode.exe
Remember to press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run the command as an administrator.
By running VS Code as an administrator, you should be able to perform actions that require elevated permissions without encountering the EPERM error.
Method 2: Change the ownership of the Visual Studio Code folder
To fix the «Error: EPERM: operation not permitted» issue in VS Code on Windows, you can change the ownership of the Visual Studio Code folder. Here are the steps:
-
Open the File Explorer and navigate to the Visual Studio Code folder. By default, it is located at
C:Program FilesMicrosoft VS Code. -
Right-click on the folder and select «Properties» from the context menu.
-
In the Properties window, go to the «Security» tab and click on the «Advanced» button.
-
In the Advanced Security Settings window, click on the «Change» link next to the «Owner» field.
-
In the Select User or Group window, type your username in the «Enter the object name to select» field and click on the «Check Names» button. Your username should be displayed in the «From this location» field.
-
Click on the «OK» button to close the Select User or Group window.
-
Back in the Advanced Security Settings window, make sure that your username is selected in the «Change owner to» field and check the «Replace owner on subcontainers and objects» checkbox.
-
Click on the «OK» button to close the Advanced Security Settings window.
-
In the Properties window, go to the «Security» tab and click on the «Edit» button.
-
In the Permissions window, click on the «Add» button.
-
In the Select User or Group window, type your username in the «Enter the object name to select» field and click on the «Check Names» button. Your username should be displayed in the «From this location» field.
-
Click on the «OK» button to close the Select User or Group window.
-
Back in the Permissions window, select your username from the list of Group or user names and check the «Full control» checkbox.
-
Click on the «OK» button to close the Permissions window.
-
Click on the «Apply» button and then on the «OK» button to close the Properties window.
Now, you should be able to use VS Code without encountering the «Error: EPERM: operation not permitted» issue.
Steps:
1. Open the File Explorer and navigate to the Visual Studio Code folder. By default, it is located at `C:Program FilesMicrosoft VS Code`.
2. Right-click on the folder and select "Properties" from the context menu.
3. In the Properties window, go to the "Security" tab and click on the "Advanced" button.
4. In the Advanced Security Settings window, click on the "Change" link next to the "Owner" field.
5. In the Select User or Group window, type your username in the "Enter the object name to select" field and click on the "Check Names" button. Your username should be displayed in the "From this location" field.
6. Click on the "OK" button to close the Select User or Group window.
7. Back in the Advanced Security Settings window, make sure that your username is selected in the "Change owner to" field and check the "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects" checkbox.
8. Click on the "OK" button to close the Advanced Security Settings window.
9. In the Properties window, go to the "Security" tab and click on the "Edit" button.
10. In the Permissions window, click on the "Add" button.
11. In the Select User or Group window, type your username in the "Enter the object name to select" field and click on the "Check Names" button. Your username should be displayed in the "From this location" field.
12. Click on the "OK" button to close the Select User or Group window.
13. Back in the Permissions window, select your username from the list of Group or user names and check the "Full control" checkbox.
14. Click on the "OK" button to close the Permissions window.
15. Click on the "Apply" button and then on the "OK" button to close the Properties window.
Method 3: Reinstall Visual Studio Code
If you are encountering the «EPERM: operation not permitted» error while using Visual Studio Code on Windows, reinstalling the application can help resolve the issue. Here are the steps to do so:
-
Uninstall Visual Studio Code from your Windows machine. You can do this by going to the Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, selecting Visual Studio Code and clicking on «Uninstall».
-
Download the latest version of Visual Studio Code from the official website: https://code.visualstudio.com/Download
-
Install the downloaded Visual Studio Code package by double-clicking on the downloaded file and following the installation wizard.
-
Once the installation is complete, launch Visual Studio Code and check if the «EPERM: operation not permitted» error has been resolved.
Here is the code to uninstall Visual Studio Code:
// Open Command Prompt or PowerShell
// Run the following command to uninstall Visual Studio Code
C:> "C:Program FilesMicrosoft VS Codeunins000.exe" /silent
Here is the code to download the latest version of Visual Studio Code:
// Open PowerShell
// Run the following command to download the latest version of Visual Studio Code
PS C:> Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://code.visualstudio.com/sha/download?build=stable&os=win32-x64-user" -OutFile "C:DownloadsVSCodeSetup.exe"
Here is the code to install Visual Studio Code:
// Open PowerShell
// Run the following command to install Visual Studio Code
PS C:> Start-Process "C:DownloadsVSCodeSetup.exe" -ArgumentList "/verysilent" -Wait
By following these steps, you should be able to fix the «EPERM: operation not permitted» error on Windows by reinstalling Visual Studio Code.
Method 4: Check for malware or viruses
If you are getting the «EPERM: operation not permitted» error while using VS Code on Windows, it might be due to malware or viruses on your system. Here is how you can check for malware or viruses and fix the error:
Step 1: Install and Update Your Antivirus Software
Make sure that you have antivirus software installed on your system and it is up to date. You can use any antivirus software of your choice, such as Norton, McAfee, or Avast.
Step 2: Run a Full System Scan
Run a full system scan using your antivirus software to check for malware or viruses. This might take some time depending on the size of your system and the amount of data stored on it.
import mcafee
mc = mcafee.McAfee()
mc.scan()
Step 3: Quarantine or Remove Any Detected Threats
If your antivirus software detects any malware or viruses, it will quarantine or remove them automatically. Make sure to follow the instructions provided by your antivirus software to quarantine or remove the detected threats.
import norton
nt = norton.Norton()
nt.scan()
nt.quarantine()
Step 4: Restart Your System
After the full system scan and removal of any detected threats, restart your system to ensure that the changes take effect.
import os
os.system('shutdown /r /t 0')
After following these steps, try using VS Code again and see if the «EPERM: operation not permitted» error still persists. If the error still persists, you might need to try other methods to fix the error.
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Recently, when attempting to use the gulp command in the Terminal app, I saw an error message saying Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, uv_cwd. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to solve this problem.

What causes this error
In my case, the below error appeared when attempting to run the gulp command inside my app project directory in the Terminal app.
$ gulp build
internal/bootstrap/switches/does_own_process_state.js:129
cachedCwd = rawMethods.cwd();
^
Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, uv_cwd
at process.wrappedCwd [as cwd] (internal/bootstrap/switches/does_own_process_state.js:129:28)
at Yargs (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/gulp-cli/node_modules/yargs/yargs.js:33:27)
at Argv (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/gulp-cli/node_modules/yargs/index.js:11:16)
at Object.<anonymous> (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/gulp-cli/node_modules/yargs/index.js:6:1)
at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1147:30)
at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1167:10)
at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:996:32)
at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:896:14)
at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1036:19)
at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:72:18) {
errno: -1,
code: 'EPERM',
syscall: 'uv_cwd'
}
This seemed strange to me because I had just used the gulp tool and everything was fine. Then I tried to use the bundle update command, thinking that this can be a hint to localize the problem.
$ bundle update shell-init: error retrieving current directory: getcwd: cannot access parent directories: Operation not permitted Traceback (most recent call last): 9: from /usr/local/bin/bundle:23:in <main> 8: from /Library/Ruby/Site/2.6.0/rubygems.rb:294:in `activate_bin_path' 7: from /Library/Ruby/Site/2.6.0/rubygems.rb:264:in `find_spec_for_exe' 6: from /Library/Ruby/Site/2.6.0/rubygems/dependency.rb:284:in `matching_specs' 5: from /Library/Ruby/Site/2.6.0/rubygems/bundler_version_finder.rb:45:in `filter!' 4: from /Library/Ruby/Site/2.6.0/rubygems/bundler_version_finder.rb:7:in `bundler_version' 3: from /Library/Ruby/Site/2.6.0/rubygems/bundler_version_finder.rb:22:in `bundler_version_with_reason' 2: from /Library/Ruby/Site/2.6.0/rubygems/bundler_version_finder.rb:73:in `lockfile_version' 1: from /Library/Ruby/Site/2.6.0/rubygems/bundler_version_finder.rb:85:in `lockfile_contents' /Library/Ruby/Site/2.6.0/rubygems/bundler_version_finder.rb:85:in pwd': Operation not permitted - getcwd (Errno::EPERM)
The error appeared again, but now the error message is self explanatory. It saying that the shell-init cannot access parent directories, and this is because error retrieving current directory.
In my case, this makes sense because I used the Finder to delete my app project catalog and restore it from the backup after trying new things and changed my mind to keep them. Facepalm >_<
Now we know what caused this error.
How to solve it
Once we know what is causing the gulp run to fail, we can use it to solve the problem. It is a really easy process. To solve this problem, we just need to re-enter into our app project directory. Now, step by step guide.
In the Terminal app, type the following command and press the Enter key to go up one level in the directory.
Now, type the following command and press the Enter key to navigate to your working directory (in this example the my_app_dir catalog is used).
Important! In my case the working directory is the catalog of my app project called
my_app_dirwhere the problem has occurred. Change the command above to suit your case.
Conclusion
That’s it, you’re done. Now the gulp should run without the Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, uv_cwd error. So simple isn’t it?
If you are having trouble fixing this problem with the instructions above, but are being able to solve this problem with any another method please describe it in the comment section below. Thanks!
I hope this article has helped you learn how to fix the Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, uv_cwd error. If this article has helped you then please leave a comment ![]()
Thanks for reading!
