Create-react-app stuck on v4.0.3, cannot create a new app

[rydwhelchel]

Describe the bug

When attempting to use npx create-react-app <app-name>, I get the following error:

You are running `create-react-app` 4.0.3, which is behind the latest release (5.0.0).

We no longer support global installation of Create React App.

Please remove any global installs with one of the following commands:
- npm uninstall -g create-react-app
- yarn global remove create-react-app

What I have tried to fix it:

1. Run npm uninstall -g create-react-app to uninstall any global versions of create-react-app
2. Run npm i -g npm@latest to update npm
3. Run npm uninstall -g create-react-app && sudo npm cache clean -f to try and clean any cached information regarding create-react-app.

Below is a gif showing the issue in real time.

Which terms did you search for in User Guide?

Latest release

Environment

Unfortunately, the npx create-react-app info command ends up with the same error.

I am currently on Mac v12.0.1. Please request more info if needed.

Steps to reproduce

1. Attempt to run npx create-react-app <app-name-here>

Expected behavior

A React app is created.

Actual behavior

create-react-app errors due to incorrect version.

[Newbie012]

run

npx create-react-app@5.0.0 app-name

[rydwhelchel]

Dang it's that simple huh. Thanks, that worked like a charm!

Is there something I can do on my end to set default behavior of create-react-app to use the newest version? That way I don't have to specify a version any time there is an update?

[Newbie012]

Sadly not that I know of

[Runejm]

I faced the exact same issue today - fixed it by running
Step 1: npm uninstall -g create-react-app
Step 2: npm -g create-react-app@latest

Followed by:
Step 3: npx create-react-app my-app

let me know if it helps.

[labnol]

run

npx create-react-app@5.0.0 app-name

Thank you. That worked!

[mryechkin]

Is there something I can do on my end to set default behavior of create-react-app to use the newest version? That way I don't have to specify a version any time there is an update?

Make sure you don't have create-react-app installed globally, and then just run npx create-react-app any time you need to use it. If you have it installed globally, it'll use whatever version is installed locally on your machine, rather than pulling the latest.

[mryechkin]

I faced the exact same issue today - fixed it by running
Step 1: npm uninstall -g create-react-app
Step 2: npm -g create-react-app@latest

Followed by: Step 3: npx create-react-app my-app

let me know if it helps.

FYI you don't need to have create-react-app installed globally if you're going to use npx to run it. That's the whole point of npx - it pulls the latest version from NPM whenever you run that command. There's no need for Step 2 above

[jestrickler]

That's the problem. npx is NOT pulling the latest version. The workaround npx create-react-app@5.0.0 app-name will let you create a react app. But if you go back to the standard npx create-react-app my-app it goes back to this broken looping behavior where it is globally installing 4.0.3, then telling you to uninstall it... rinse... repeat

[Runejm]

Agree, but if you use the method I listed above, npx does not default back to broken behavior.

So @mryechkin might be right in saying that: it is not needed to install "create-react-app" globally. however I found this to be the only way to "clear" the faulty behavior.

[jestrickler]

@Runejm right, but you have to have the @latest installed globally, which you shouldn't with npx. If you run npm uninstall -g create-react-app it goes right back to 4.0.3 broken behavior.

[janhavi-ai]

run

npx create-react-app@5.0.0 app-name

During set-up I got the following error:

npm ERR! code ETARGET
npm ERR! notarget No matching version found for @babel/plugin-transform-react-jsx-development@^7.16.5.
npm ERR! notarget In most cases you or one of your dependencies are requesting
npm ERR! notarget a package version that doesn't exist.

[jestrickler]

Actually npx create-react-app@latest my-app works and should continue to work with a newer release..?

[Runejm]

@Runejm right, but you have to have the @latest installed globally, which you shouldn't with npx. If you run npm uninstall -g create-react-app it goes right back to 4.0.3 broken behavior.

Ahh, yeah that is correct.

[Runejm]

so, the solution seems to be found here. Tested it on my machine, and it worked.

I didn't know that npx had its own cache.

[NathanMartinez]

I also ran into this issue today. I ran all above workarounds such as:

npm uninstall -g create-react-app
npx clear-npx-cache
npx create-react-app@latest my-app --use-npm
npx create-react-app@5.0.0 app-name
and npx create-react-app@latest my-app with no success.

I am running nvm version 0.39.0, node version v16.13.1, npm version 8.3.0, and npx version 8.3.0 if that helps at all.

I did however have success with running the yarn create react-app my-app in case any others have the same issues as me. I am running yarn version 1.22.17.

Best!

[Runejm]

@NathanMartinez A dumb question: did you try to clear npm cache and do a reboot in addition to the other tries?

[NathanMartinez]

@Runejm Very good question actually. I did try clearing out the cache with a few commands I was able to find poking around. I also did try terminating my terminal sessions, however, I didn't think to do a reboot.

I will definitely try that out tonight!

If it does resolve the issue I'll be sure to post it here as well.

Thank you for the insight!

[vibonacci]

When creating a fresh CRA app, it prints:

You are running create-react-app 4.0.3, which is behind the latest release (5.0.0).
We no longer support global installation of Create React App.

Please remove any global installs with one of the following commands:

• npm uninstall -g create-react-app
• yarn global remove create-react-app

Would be nice if the message included that you probably need to run npx clear-npx-cache for the uninstallation to properly take effect.

[raix]

Seem related to #11772

[chuchude]

npx create-react-app@5.0.0 app-name

When running this command, I got npm WARN deprecated tar@2.2.2: This version of tar is no longer supported, and will not receive security updates. Please upgrade asap.

[chuchude]

Just fix the issue by running npm install -g create-react-app@5.0.0

[asbillt]

Just fix the issue by running npm install -g create-react-app@5.0.0

@chuchude That is the problem. You should not need to install it globally. Using npx create-react-app app-name should always use the latest version without a global install. You can also use npx create-react-app@latest my-app as a workaround for the issue, but perhaps the React.js documentation needs to be updated if @latest needs to be included from now on.

[chuchude]

Just fix the issue by running npm install -g create-react-app@5.0.0

@chuchude That is the problem. You should not need to install it globally. Using npx create-react-app app-name should always use the latest version without a global install. You can also use npx create-react-app@latest my-app as a workaround for the issue, but perhaps the React.js documentation needs to be updated if @latest needs to be included from now on.

Yes, I did try the npx create-react-app@latest my-app and npx create-react-app@5.0.0 my-app. But it doesn't work either. So I ran the npm outdated and I still can see the create-react-app 4.0.3, even though I have run the uninstall command. So I just manually install the 5.0.0. And then run npx create-react-app myapp. And It works. I guess something wrong with my PC. I don't quite understand why.

[muneeb-devp]

When creating a fresh CRA app, it prints:

You are running create-react-app 4.0.3, which is behind the latest release (5.0.0).
We no longer support global installation of Create React App.
Please remove any global installs with one of the following commands:

• npm uninstall -g create-react-app
• yarn global remove create-react-app

Would be nice if the message included that you probably need to run npx clear-npx-cache for the uninstallation to properly take effect.

Tried it after uninstalling the global install of create-react-app using npm uninstall -g create-react-app, it got stuck in the same loop again:

First run:

npx clear-npx-cache
Need to install the following packages: clear-npx-cache Ok to proceed? (y) y

Second run:

npx clear-npx-cache
Need to install the following packages: clear-npx-cache Ok to proceed? (y)

Pretty sure that's not how it's supposed to be!

[BigLeo16]

J