Cannot Install Most Nuxt modules When Creating Nuxt App. Error [ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED]: No "exports" main defined in /Users/user/Project/Project/node_modules/@nuxt/ui/package.json

[ibrahimsabieh]

Environment

Operating System: MacOS Sequoia 15.1
Nuxt Version: latest/4.3.1
Node Version: 24.13.1 (LTS)
Package Manager: npm@11.8.0

---

Reproduction

An empty directory, nvm with only the LTS version of node installed (24.13.1), npm installed using nvm node version.

Describe the bug

When trying to create a new Nuxt project by running:

npm create nuxt@latest <project-name>

I follow the prompts:

(base) user@MacBook-Pro-3 Project % npm create nuxt@latest Project

> npx
> "create-nuxt" Project


        .d$b.
       i$$A$$L  .d$b
     .$$F` `$$L.$$A$$.
    j$$'    `4$$:` `$$.
   j$$'     .4$:    `$$.
  j$$`     .$$:      `4$L
 :$$:____.d$$:  _____.:$$:
 `4$$$$$$$$P` .i$$$$$$$$P`

┌  Welcome to Nuxt!
│
◇  Templates loaded
│
◇  Which template would you like to use?
│  minimal – Minimal setup for Nuxt 4
│
◇  Creating project in Project
│
◇  Downloaded minimal template
│
◇  Which package manager would you like to use?
│  npm
│
◇  Initialize git repository?
│  No
│
◇  Dependencies installed
│
◇  Would you like to browse and install modules?

When prompted with:

Would you like to browse and install modules?

I select yes, but if I try and install any module it returns the following:

◇  Would you like to browse and install modules?
│  Yes
│
◇  Modules loaded
│
│
◇  Search and select modules:
│  1 items selected
│
●  Resolved @nuxt/ui, adding module...
│
●  Installing @nuxt/ui@4.4.0 as a dependency

added 185 packages, removed 1 package, and audited 783 packages in 10s

206 packages are looking for funding
  run `npm fund` for details

4 moderate severity vulnerabilities

To address issues that do not require attention, run:
  npm audit fix

To address all issues (including breaking changes), run:
  npm audit fix --force

Run `npm audit` for details.
│
■  Error [ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED]: No "exports" main defined in /Users/user/Project/Project/node_modules/@nuxt/ui/package.json
│
◇  Install failed for @nuxt/ui@4.4.0. Do you want to continue adding the module to nuxt.config?
│  Yes
│
●  Adding @nuxt/ui to the modules
ℹ Nuxt Icon server bundle mode is set to local                                          5:07:48 PM
│
◆  Types generated in Project/.nuxt.
│
└  ✨ Nuxt project has been created with the minimal template.

╭── 👉 Next steps ───╮
│                    │
│   › cd Project    │
│   › npm run dev    │
│                    │
╰────────────────────╯

If I choose not to add the module to nuxt.config:

◇  Install failed for @nuxt/ui@4.4.0. Do you want to continue adding the module to nuxt.config?
│  No
│
◆  Types generated in Project/.nuxt.
│
└  ✨ Nuxt project has been created with the minimal template.

╭── 👉 Next steps ───╮
│                    │
│   › cd Project    │
│   › npm run dev    │
│                    │
╰────────────────────╯

Additional context

I attempted several fixes such as running npm update, trying an older version of node, uninstalling and reinstalling npm and node, clearing npm cache, deleting the '.npm' folder from my user directory, using pnpm instead. Nothing worked. Maybe its not a bug but I never had this issue on older versions of Nuxt.

Logs

[coderabbitai]

🔗 Related PRs

nuxt/nuxt#32726 - docs: update Nuxt installation command to use npm create nuxt@latest [merged]

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[ibrahimsabieh]

I seem to have figured out the cause. If a module is added using nuxi@latest it installs the module but fails to add it to the project. For example:
npx nuxi@latest module add scripts

output:

●  Resolved @nuxt/scripts, adding module...
│
●  Installing @nuxt/scripts@0.13.2 as a dependency

added 3 packages, and audited 973 packages in 3s

278 packages are looking for funding
  run `npm fund` for details

28 moderate severity vulnerabilities

To address issues that do not require attention, run:
  npm audit fix

To address all issues possible (including breaking changes), run:
  npm audit fix --force

Some issues need review, and may require choosing
a different dependency.

Run `npm audit` for details.
│
■  Error [ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED]: No "exports" main defined in /Users/user/Project/Project/node_modules/@nuxt/scripts/package.json
│
◇  Install failed for @nuxt/scripts@0.13.2. Do you want to continue adding 
the module to nuxt.config?
│  No
[1:44:57 PM] ℹ Nuxt Icon server bundle mode is set to local
│
◆  Types generated in .nuxt.

However, if the script is added using nuxt instead:

npx nuxt module add scripts

output:

●  Resolved @nuxt/scripts, adding module...
│
●  @nuxt/scripts is already installed
│
●  Adding @nuxt/scripts to the modules
[1:46:39 PM] ℹ Nuxt Icon server bundle mode is set to local
│
◆  Types generated in .nuxt.

It adds to the project without issue.

[Deeyuude]

No bro it still happens with nuxi or nuxt ! It happens even in Project scaffolding

[ibrahimsabieh]

Did you try installing the modules after creating the nuxt project. Is it failing to install the module completely or only failing to add the module to the project?

Please add the output from your terminal and the commands you used like how I did above so I can better understand. Thanks

[Deeyuude]

It's the same output you had ! If i choose yes it fails saying no exports main ..... And also if i choose no and try to add modules with the pnpm dlx bunx or even npx nuxt@latest ( or ven without the latest tag it gives the error no exports ....but the wierd thing is that no issue with Pinia and vueuse nuxt Image and i18n modules but almost every other module fails like ui ( it gives the error and won't even install tailwind as before )

[ibrahimsabieh]

If that didn't work then im not too sure. It sounds like its installing the module files but its just not adding it to the project properly. Try adding the modules to the nuxt.config and run the server. If it says something like

warning: '@nuxt/ui' listed in modules but is not installed

Then the issue still persists. If it doesn't however, then the module is working

[Deeyuude]

Yeap ! It says that the npm package was installed but if you check the the nuxt ui docs for example it should install ui + tailwindcss in the root project ( to prevent pnpm issue without the shamefuly-hoist ) but when the error occurs ! No tailwindcss npm package added ! I'm not sure if this related or not

[ibrahimsabieh]

try and install tailwind separately. It likely didnt install it because the command exited with an error before it got to the tailwind install

[Deeyuude]

Yeap ! With the manual install everything works fine for sure ! But having one command for doing both installing and modifying nuxt.config.ts is more of a Nuxt great DX

[ibrahimsabieh]

For sure! Happy its working now. Ill keep the issue open however, since the actually issue hasn't been resolved, just a work around.

[Deeyuude]

The real issue and the wierd part is why some modules like :
Pinia
Vueuse
Test-utils
I18n
Image
Added fine with the command but others like:
A11y
UI
Gives this error even if the exports declarations in package.json looks fine !!! Is it c12 issue ? I don't really find anything help me understand 😂

[mchoo7]

Happens on macOS Tahoe 26.3, Node 24.13.1, and pnpm 10.30.1 as well.

This is a major regression and I hope this gets fixed asap.