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

> update-notifier@7.3.1 is ESM-only. ESM-only since 6.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 5.1.0.

Update notifications for your CLI app

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

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

## Facts

- 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

## Runtime test results for update-notifier@7.3.1

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

| Runtime | require("update-notifier") | import "update-notifier" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (ERR_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:

```js
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:

```js
// 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 (52 versions; the newest 52 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 6.0.0 – 7.3.1 | ESM-only | Jun 23, 2022 |
| 0.1.0 – 5.1.0 | CommonJS | Dec 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

- [update-notifier on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/update-notifier)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/yeoman/update-notifier)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/update-notifier/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/update-notifier.json)

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