npm Down? npm Outage January 29, 2026 - Status, 502/503 Errors & Fixes

Last updated: January 29, 2026 at 20:04 UTC | Status: Investigating

TL;DR: npm is down. If you're getting 502 or 503 errors when running npm install, the npm registry is experiencing a major outage. Use npm install --prefer-offline to use cached packages, or switch to yarn/pnpm temporarily. Check status.npm.org for live updates.

Is npm Down Right Now?

Yes, npm is currently down. As of January 29, 2026, the npm registry is experiencing widespread service disruptions affecting developers worldwide.

If you're seeing errors like these, you're not alone:

• npm ERR! 502 Bad Gateway
• npm ERR! 503 Service Unavailable
• npm ERR! code ENOTFOUND
• npm ERR! network request failed

npm Outage Status (January 29, 2026)

According to the official npm status page at status.npm.org:

Official Message: "Investigating - We are currently investigating this issue."

Timestamp: January 29, 2026 - 20:04 UTC

What's Causing the npm 502 and 503 Errors?

The npm registry is experiencing server-side problems causing 502 Bad Gateway and 503 Service Unavailable errors. We first noticed issues when package installations started failing with 503 errors, which have since shifted to 502 responses.

It took approximately 20 minutes from when we started seeing errors for the official status page to reflect the issue. This delay is typical for major service outages as teams verify and diagnose the root cause.

npm Status: Where to Check for Updates

Track real-time updates at:

• Official Status Page: status.npm.org
• npm Twitter/X: @npmjs
• GitHub Status: githubstatus.com (npm is owned by GitHub)

We'll update this article as new information becomes available.

How to Fix npm Install Not Working (Workarounds)

If you're in the middle of development and need to work around the npm downtime, here are your options:

Fix 1: Use Your Local Cache (Fastest Solution)

npm caches packages locally after the first download. If you've previously installed a package, you can often reinstall it from cache:

# Check your cache
npm cache verify
 
# Install from cache (if available)
npm install --prefer-offline

The --prefer-offline flag tells npm to use cached packages when possible and only reach out to the registry if absolutely necessary.

Fix 2: Use Alternative Package Managers (yarn, pnpm)

Several mirror registries exist that might still be operational:

# Use Yarn (which can use different registries)
yarn install
 
# Use pnpm (faster alternative with good caching)
pnpm install
 
# Temporarily switch to a mirror registry
npm config set registry https://registry.npmmirror.com
npm install
# Remember to switch back after: npm config set registry https://registry.npmjs.org

Note: Be cautious when using alternative registries. Stick to well-known mirrors and switch back to the official registry once service is restored.

Fix 3: Work with Existing node_modules

If you're not adding new packages, your existing node_modules should continue working:

# If node_modules exists, you can still run your project
npm start  # or npm run dev
 
# Commit your package-lock.json or yarn.lock to help teammates
git add package-lock.json
git commit -m "Lock dependencies during npm outage"

Fix 4: Set Up Verdaccio (Local Registry for Future Outages)

For teams that want resilience against future outages, consider running a local npm proxy:

# Install Verdaccio globally
npm install -g verdaccio
 
# Run your local registry (do this when npm is back up)
verdaccio
 
# Point npm to your local registry
npm config set registry http://localhost:4873

Verdaccio caches all packages you install, creating a local mirror that works even when npm is down.

Why Is npm Down? Understanding the npm Registry Outage

npm serves over 20 billion package downloads per week. When it goes down, development teams worldwide grind to a halt. CI/CD pipelines fail. Deployments get blocked. New projects can't initialize.

This outage is a reminder of how centralized the JavaScript ecosystem has become. A single point of failure affects millions of developers simultaneously.

How to Prevent npm Outage Disruptions in the Future

While we can't prevent npm outages, we can build resilience into our workflows:

1. Lock Your Dependencies: Always commit package-lock.json or yarn.lock. This ensures reproducible builds even during registry issues.

2. Use CI Caching: Configure your CI/CD pipelines to cache node_modules or use tools like Turborepo that intelligently cache dependencies.

3. Consider a Private Registry: Tools like Verdaccio, Artifactory, or GitHub Packages can act as a failover when the public registry is down.

4. Monitor npm Status: Subscribe to updates at status.npm.org so you're informed when issues occur.

5. Have Fallback Plans: Document alternative registries and mirror URLs your team can switch to during outages.

npm Outage Updates (Live)

We're monitoring the situation and updating this article as npm provides more information.

Check back here or follow @npmjs on Twitter for real-time updates.

npm Down: Impact on CI/CD and Deployments

If you're running automated tests or CI/CD pipelines, expect failures related to package installation. Here's what to do:

• Pause deployments that require fresh npm installs
• Use cached builds where possible
• Communicate with your team about the outage to avoid confusion
• Test disaster recovery procedures (this is a good opportunity)

At Autonoma, we use dependency caching in our CI pipelines specifically for scenarios like this. When npm goes down, our builds continue using cached packages, and our autonomous testing agents keep running. It's a reminder that resilience isn't optional in modern development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is npm down right now?

Yes, npm is experiencing an outage as of January 29, 2026. The official status shows "Degraded Experience Installing and Viewing Packages" with partial outages affecting package installation.

Why am I getting npm 502 or 503 errors?

The 502 and 503 errors are caused by the current npm registry outage. These are server-side errors indicating npm's infrastructure is experiencing problems.

How long will npm be down?

The npm team is actively investigating. Check status.npm.org for real-time updates on resolution progress.

Can I still publish packages to npm?

According to the status page, package publishing is currently operational, though you may experience slower response times.

What's the best workaround for npm not working?

The fastest fix is npm install --prefer-offline to use your local cache. If that doesn't work, try yarn or pnpm as alternatives.

Stay Updated on npm Status

This is a developing situation. For the latest information:

• npm Status: status.npm.org
• npm Blog: github.blog/category/npm
• Twitter/X: @npmjs

We'll update this article as more information becomes available about the root cause and resolution timeline.

Experiencing npm issues? Found other workarounds? The developer community is sharing solutions on Twitter/X with #npmdown.