Install ReactJS on Windows

Step 1: Download Node.js

Open nodejs.org and download the Windows installer (LTS).

Step 2: Install Node.js

1. Run the installer and click Next.

   

2. Accept the license agreement.

   

3. Keep the default folder and the components, including npm package manager and Add to PATH.

   

   

4. Click Install, then Finish.

   

Step 3: Check Node.js and npm

Open a new Command Prompt:

node -v
npm -v

Step 4: Create a React app

The tool create-react-app is no longer advised by the React team. A modern way is Vite:

npm create vite@latest my-app -- --template react
cd my-app
npm install

The older way, which still works:

npm install -g create-react-app
npx create-react-app my-app

Step 5: Start the app

With Vite:

npm run dev

With create-react-app:

cd my-app
npm start

Open the address that the terminal shows (http://localhost:5173 for Vite, http://localhost:3000 for create-react-app). You see the React start page.

The development build is not optimized. When you are ready to publish, make a production build with npm run build.

Quick recap

• Install Node.js LTS.
• Create the app with Vite (npm create vite@latest).
• Run it with npm run dev.