Shopify CLI App Creation Error

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Topic summary

Shopify CLI app creation fails during npm install with EBADENGINE due to unsupported Node versions required by the project.

  • Error details: Required Node versions show as ^18.20 || ^20.10 || ^22 (or >=21.0.0 in one case). Actual environments: v20.6.0 with npm 10.8.1, and v18.14.0 with npm 9.3.1—both below the minimums.
  • Context: Occurs on macOS (Intel/Darwin64 and ARM64). Earlier CLI versions reportedly worked.

Resolution/workaround shared:

  • Remove all Node installations.
  • Reinstall nvm (Node Version Manager).
  • Delete node_modules and the lock file (to clear cached/locked engine constraints).
  • Install a compliant Node version (example: v22.3.0).
  • Follow Shopify Remix quickstart and rerun the app init command (npm init @Shopify_77 [email removed]

Outcome/status:

  • One user confirmed the above steps resolved the issue.
  • Another user is seeking a fix; upgrading Node to a supported version (>=18.20, >=20.10, or >=21/22) is the key action.
  • No official root-cause beyond Node engine mismatch was provided; discussion appears open but with a working workaround.
Summarized with AI on December 26. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Trying to create apps with latest Shopify CLI ( 3.61.2)

npm init @Shopify_77 /app@latest

…

Receive this error:

Command failed with exit code 1: npm install

npm error code EBADENGINE

npm error engine Unsupported engine

npm error engine Not compatible with your version of node/npm: undefined

npm error notsup Not compatible with your version of node/npm: undefined

npm error notsup Required: {“node”:“^18.20 || ^20.10 || ^22”}

npm error notsup Actual: {“npm”:“10.8.1”,“node”:“v20.6.0”}

Yet I am running a valid version of node.

Same results with older mac OS11 with Darwin64 && with new Macbook w/ ARM64.

Earlier versions of CLI worked fine.

Thoughts on what I need to look into would be most appreciated.

2

I am having the same issue when trying to create an app via shopify CLI

Error coming from npm install

Command failed with exit code 1: npm install
npm ERR! code EBADENGINE
npm ERR! engine Unsupported engine
npm ERR! engine Not compatible with your version of node/npm: undefined
npm ERR! notsup Not compatible with your version of node/npm: undefined
npm ERR! notsup Required: {“node”:“^18.20 || ^20.10 || >=21.0.0”}
npm ERR! notsup Actual: {“npm”:“9.3.1”,“node”:“v18.14.0”}

Any suggestions how this can be fixed?

3

Ivakaraivanska,
In my case, I was able to resolve the issue by

  1. Deleting all versions of node
  2. Reinstalling nvm
  3. Deleting node_modules directory (and your lock file for your installer)
    – in my case, I did have an invalid node version there; you may have portions of invalid node v18.14.0 persisting
  4. Installing node v22.3.0
  5. Following the shopify remix quickstart instrucrtions
    https://shopify.dev/docs/api/shopify-app-remix
    ==> npm init @Shopify_77 [email removed]

Good luck!

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