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Is update-notifier ESM-only? Can you require() it?

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Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against update-notifier@7.3.1. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 6.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 5.1.0

update-notifier dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (June 2022). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 5.1.0, published Jan 31, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("update-notifier") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. On Node.js 18, which has no require(esm), require("update-notifier") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("update-notifier") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const updateNotifier = await import("update-notifier"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install update-notifier@5.1.0, the last CommonJS release (published Jan 31, 2021); it declares Node.js >=10.
  4. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/update-notifier
Latest
7.3.1 (Sep 9, 2024)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
5.1.0
ESM-only since
6.0.0 (Jun 23, 2022)
TypeScript types
@types/update-notifier
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
8.8M
License
BSD-2-Clause

Does update-notifier@7.3.1 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("update-notifier")import "update-notifier"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✓ works
Node.js 20✓ works✓ works
Node.js 22✓ works✓ works
Node.js 24✓ works✓ works
Node.js 26✓ works✓ works
Bun 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import update-notifier

ES modules (import)

import * as updateNotifier from "update-notifier";

Namespace import shown because the ESM entry may have no default export; use named imports for what it exports.

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const updateNotifier = require("update-notifier");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=18), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const updateNotifier = await import("update-notifier");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=10):
// npm install update-notifier@5.1.0

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm, corrected where a runtime test of that version contradicted them (52 versions; the newest 52 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
6.0.0 – 7.3.1ESM-onlyJun 23, 2022
0.1.0 – 5.1.0CommonJSDec 8, 2012

Frequently asked

Is update-notifier ESM-only?

update-notifier@7.3.1 is ESM-only. update-notifier dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (June 2022). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 5.1.0, published Jan 31, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

Which version of update-notifier still supports CommonJS / require()?

5.1.0 is the last version of update-notifier with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=10. Install it with "npm install update-notifier@5.1.0". Every version from 6.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use update-notifier from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const updateNotifier = await import("update-notifier"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("update-notifier") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin update-notifier@5.1.0 (declares Node.js >=10).

Does update-notifier work in Bun?

Yes. import "update-notifier" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does update-notifier ship TypeScript types?

Not bundled. Install the community types with "npm install -D @types/update-notifier".

Links

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