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Is cross-env ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Run scripts that set and use environment variables across platforms

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against cross-env@10.1.0. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 10.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 7.0.3

cross-env dropped its CommonJS build in 10.0.0 (July 2025). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 7.0.3, published Dec 1, 2020.

require("cross-env") failed in our probe on Node.js 20+ as well. See the runtime matrix below for the exact error.

cross-env@10.1.0 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

Latest
10.1.0 (Sep 29, 2025)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
7.0.3
ESM-only since
10.0.0 (Jul 25, 2025)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=20
Weekly downloads
22.2M
License
MIT

Does cross-env@10.1.0 actually load? Runtime test results

Installed and executed on Sep 9, 2026 with require("cross-env") from a CommonJS file and import "cross-env" from an ES module.

Runtimerequire("cross-env")import "cross-env"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✓ works
Node.js 20✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✓ works
Node.js 22✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✓ works
Node.js 24✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✓ works
Node.js 26✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✓ works
Bun 1.4✗ failserror: Cannot find package 'cross-env' from '/Users/boat/Projects/top-seo/data/probe-work/cross-env/req.cjs'✓ works

How to import cross-env

ES modules (import)

import crossEnv from "cross-env";

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+ / 22.12+ / newer (package has no top-level await):
const crossEnv = require("cross-env");

// Any Node.js version:
const crossEnv = await import("cross-env");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install cross-env@7.0.3

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (48 versions; the newest 48 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
10.0.0 – 10.1.0ESM-onlyJul 25, 2025
1.0.0 – 7.0.3CommonJSOct 1, 2015

Frequently asked

Is cross-env ESM-only?

cross-env@10.1.0 is ESM-only. cross-env dropped its CommonJS build in 10.0.0 (July 2025). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 7.0.3, published Dec 1, 2020.

Which version of cross-env still supports CommonJS / require()?

7.0.3 is the last version of cross-env with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install cross-env@7.0.3". Every version from 10.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use cross-env from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("cross-env"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("cross-env") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin cross-env@7.0.3.

Does cross-env work in Bun?

Yes. import "cross-env" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does cross-env ship TypeScript types?

Yes. cross-env bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

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