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Fixing 'vite is not recognized' Error in Vite

Authors
  • Name
    Ripal & Zalak
    Twitter

If you're encountering the vite is not recognized as an internal or external command error while working with a Vite application, you're not alone. This issue is common when setting up a new Vite project and running it for the first time. Here's a detailed guide to help you troubleshoot and fix this issue.

Understanding the Problem

The error occurs when the Vite executable cannot be found. This can be due to:

  1. Missing or improperly installed dependencies.
  2. Vite not being added to the project's node_modules.
  3. Incorrect configuration of environment variables.

Error Message Example

'vite' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

This error prevents you from running your Vite project with npm run dev.

Solutions

Below are several solutions. Follow them in order until the error is resolved:

1. Install Dependencies

Make sure all dependencies are installed by running the following commands:

npm install
npm run dev

This ensures that Vite is installed in the node_modules directory and accessible by the project.

2. Add Vite to the Project

If Vite is not listed in your package.json, add it manually as a dev dependency:

npm install vite@latest --save-dev

Then, start your development server:

npm run dev

3. Clear and Reinstall Dependencies

Sometimes, dependency issues can be resolved by clearing and reinstalling them:

rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json
npm install
npm run dev

This clears out the node_modules directory and lock file, ensuring a clean installation of all dependencies.

4. Check the scripts Section in package.json

Ensure that your package.json includes the following in the scripts section:

"scripts": {
  "dev": "vite",
  "build": "vite build",
  "serve": "vite preview"
}

If the dev script is missing or incorrect, add or update it, then try running:

npm run dev

5. Check Environment Variables (Windows Users)

If you're on Windows and the error persists, check your environment variables:

  1. Open the Environment Variables settings in your system.
  2. Ensure the PATH variable includes the directory for Node.js and npm.
  3. Restart your terminal after making changes.

6. Use npx to Run Vite

If the error persists, you can use npx to directly run Vite without needing it globally installed:

npx vite

Or, for development:

npx vite dev

FAQs

1. Why does this error occur?

The error occurs when the Vite executable is not found in your project or system. This can happen due to missing dependencies, incorrect configurations, or environment variable issues.

2. Do I need to install Vite globally?

No, it's recommended to install Vite as a dev dependency within your project to avoid version conflicts.

3. How do I check if Vite is installed?

Run the following command in your project directory:

npm list vite

This will show whether Vite is installed and its version.