Template not provided using create-react-app

Question

When I type the create-react-app my-app command in my terminal, it appears to work - downloading all libraries successfully etc. At the end of that process however I get a message that a template was not provided.

Input

user@users-MacBook-Pro-2 Desktop% create-react-app my-app

Output

Creating a new React app in /Users/user/Desktop/my-app.

Installing packages. This might take a couple of minutes.
Installing react, react-dom, and react-scripts...
..... nothing out of the ordinary here .....
✨  Done in 27.28s.

A template was not provided. This is likely because you're using an outdated version of create-react-app.
Please note that global installs of create-react-app are no longer supported.

In package.json of my-app:

"dependencies": {
  "react": "^16.12.0",
  "react-dom": "^16.12.0",
  "react-scripts": "3.3.0" <-- up-to-date
}

I checked out the CRA changelog and it looks like support was added for custom templates - however it doesn't look like the command create-react-app my-app would have changed.

Any idea what is going on here?

Answer 1

No one mentioned the most basic problem but, Windows users. Make sure you update your node version. None of the answers worked for me until I updated my node.js

Answer 2

If nothing of the above worked for you this is what I did: On ubuntu (and probably mac and windows) search for the node_modules folder and manualy delete the create-react-app module, update the package.json and package-lock.json and run again

npx create-react-app <app-name>

works!

Answer 3

The below steps worked for me

1. npm uninstall -g create-react-app

2. npx clear-npx-cache

3. npm i -g create-react-app

4. create-react-app myapp

Answer 4

if nothing above works .. use this npx clear-npx-cache then npx create-react-app my-app hope it will resolve.

Answer 5

npx create-react-app@latest {project name}

this seems to be the way to make it work.

Answer 6

If other answers are not helping and especially if you recently moved to Big Sur, this may be helpful.

I tried all of the steps described in all answers, but could not get CRA to generate a template for me. It may have been due to the fact that I recently moved to Big Sur, and had not updated node/npm etc. The create-react-app binary was not installed (neither in /usr/bin nor in /usr/local/bin), but anytime I would run npx create-react-app project it would end with the dreaded "A template was not provided.." message. I upgraded node and npm, tried removing create-react-app using both npm and yarn, cleared the npm cache, tried using npm react-app project, all to no avail.

Whenever I would run these commands, it would start with complaining about react-scripts using outdated packages:

Installing packages. This might take a couple of minutes.
Installing react, react-dom, and react-scripts...

yarn add v1.22.10
info No lockfile found.
[1/4] 🔍  Resolving packages...
warning react-scripts > babel-eslint@10.1.0: babel-eslint is now @babel/eslint-parser. This package will no longer receive updates.
warning react-scripts > webpack-dev-server > chokidar@2.1.8: Chokidar 2 will break on node v14+. Upgrade to chokidar 3 with 15x less dependencies.
warning react-scripts > webpack-dev-server > chokidar > fsevents@1.2.13: fsevents 1 will break on node v14+ and could be using insecure binaries. Upgrade to fsevents 2.
warning react-scripts > workbox-webpack-plugin > workbox-build > @hapi/joi@15.1.1: Switch to 'npm install joi'
warning react-scripts > workbox-webpack-plugin > workbox-build > rollup-plugin-babel@4.4.0: This package has been deprecated and is no longer maintain
<etc. - tons of warnings like these>

So I suspected that maybe react-scripts was the problem. To check, I ran npm list. To my surprise, CRA was listed as one of the "extraneous" packages:

├── create-react-app@1.5.2 extraneous

I then ran npm uninstall create-react-app@1.5.2, which worked. And the next invocation of npx create-react-app project prompted me that CRA would be installed. Sure enough, the installation worked and a template was indeed used.

Hope this helps anyone stuck in similar situation.

Answer 7

I solved this using the following command.

npm uninstall -g create-react-app

npm cache clean --force

then

npx create-react-app project_name --template all

Thanks for this! Worked for me too.

Answer 8

please try this:

npx create-react-app project-name --template all

Answer 9

One of the easiest way to do it is by using

npx --ignore-existing create-react-app [project name]

This will remove the old cached version of create-react-app and then get the new version to create the project.

Note: Adding the name of the project is important as just ignoring the existing create-react-app version is stale and the changes in your machines global env is temporary and hence later just using npx create-react-app [project name] will not provide the desired result.

Answer 10

This problem occurred because there is global installs of create-react-app are no longer supported. For solving this problem, you should uninstall and remove completely create-react-app from your system, so run these command respectively:

npm uninstall -g create-react-app

or

yarn global remove create-react-app

Then please check if the create-react-app exists or not with this command

which create-react-app

If it returns any correct path like a

/c/Users/Dell/AppData/Local/Yarn/bin/create-react-app

Then run this command to remove create-react-app globally

rm -rf /c/Users/Dell/AppData/Local/Yarn/bin/create-react-app

Now you can create a new react app with one of these commands:

npx create-react-app my-app
npm init react-app my-app
yarn create react-app my-app

Answer 11

Clear your npm cache first then use yarn as follows:

• npm cache clean --force
• npm cache verify
• yarn create react-app my-app

I hope this helps.

EDIT

...you might want to try the following after I have looked into this problem further:

1. npm uninstall -g create-react-app
2. yarn global remove create-react-app
3. which create-react-app - If it returns something (e.g. /usr/local/bin/create-react-app), then do a rm -rf /usr/local/bin/create-react-app to delete manually.
4. npm cache clean --force
5. npm cache verify
6. npx create-react-app@latest

These steps should remove globally installed create-react-app installs, you then manually remove the old directories linked to the old globally installed create-react-app scripts. It's then a good idea to clear your npm cache to ensure your not using any old cached versions of create-react-app. Lastly create a new reactjs app with the @latest option like so: npx create-react-app@latest. There has been much confusion on this issue where no template is created when using npx create-react-app, if you follow the steps I have stated above (1-6) then I hope you'll have success.

p.s.

If I wanted to then create a react app in a directory called client then I would type the following command into the terminal:

npx create-react-app@latest ./client

Good luck.

Answer 12

For any Windows users still having this issue, this is what fixed it for me:

1. Run where create-react-app to get the path (mine was in C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Yarn\bin).
2. Navigate to that directory and delete both "create-react-app" and "create-react-app.cmd".
3. Navigate to the directory you want to start a project in.
4. Run npm install create-react-app, npx create-react-app name-of-app, cd name-of-app, yarn start.

Step #4 will vary based on your configuration, but that's just what got me up and running.

Answer 13

I got the same problem in last week. I tried many things that is provided in this answer section. But now this thing is different. Latest version of this create-react-app provided 2 templates.

1. cra-template

2. cra-template-typescript

If you use javascript, choose cra-template. And if you use typescript, use cra-template-typescript.

First you have to uninstall the create-react-app. (If you have the latest version, ignore this step.)

 npm uninstall -g create-react-app

Again install the latest version of the create-react-app

npm install create-react-app@latest

Now you have to import the template like this. (If you use typescript, use "cra-template-typescript" instead of "cra-template". my-app is used as a name. you can give it any name).

npx create-react-app my-app --template cra-template

Now the template will be downloaded. But remind in your mind, this is not equal to the past versions. (something different)

Happy Coding.

Answer 14

If you've previously installed create-react-app globally via npm install -g create-react-app, we recommend you uninstall the package using npm uninstall -g create-react-app to ensure that npx always uses the latest version.

Docs

Use either one of the below commands:

• npx create-react-app my-app
• npm init react-app my-app
• yarn create react-app my-app

if npm uninstall -g create-react-app stated above does not work. Type which create-react-app to know where it is installed. Mine was installed in /usr/bin folder. Then do sudo rm -rf /usr/bin/create-react-app. (Credit to @v42 comment below)

Answer 15

If you are getting this error 'Template not provided ...." again and again, then straigt away do the followiong to steps:

1. npm uninstall -g create-react-app
2. check the location of your file 'create-react-app' by using the command "which create-react-app"
3. Now manually delete that file using the command "rm -rf /usr/local/bin/create-react-app" replacing this command with the exact path shown in the previous step.
4. Finally run 'npx create-react-app '

This will replace your old file 'create-react-app' which is causing the problem with the new file downloaded with npx.

Happy coding...

Answer 16

1)

npm uninstall -g create-react-app

or

yarn global remove create-react-app

2)

There seems to be a bug where create-react-app isn't properly uninstalled and using one of the new commands lead to:

A template was not provided. This is likely because you're using an outdated version of create-react-app.

After uninstalling it with npm uninstall -g create-react-app, check whether you still have it "installed" with which create-react-app (Windows: where create-react-app) on your command line. If it returns something (e.g. /usr/local/bin/create-react-app), then do a rm -rf /usr/local/bin/create-react-app to delete manually.

3)

Then one of these ways:

npx create-react-app my-app
npm init react-app my-app
yarn create react-app my-app

Answer 17

FOR UBUNTU: in case you are having an error that a template is not provided with npx create-react-app and already unistalled npm create-react-app -g and still doesn't work, do the following:

sudo rm -rf usr/bin/create-react-app    

# this will manualy remove the create-react-app. 
npx create-react-app 

either with typescript works too.

Answer 18

Try running your terminal as an administrator. I was having the same issue and nothing helped apart from opening the terminal as administrator and then doing the npx create-react-app yourAppName

Answer 19

So I've gone through all the steps here, but non helped.

TLDR; run npx --ignore-existing create-react-app

I am on a Mac with Mojave 10.15.2

CRA was not installed globally - didn't find it in /usr/local/lib/node_modules or /usr/local/bin either.

Then I came across this comment on CRA's github issues. Running the command with the --ignore-existing flag helped.

Answer 20

This work's for me :

Let's, uninstall create-react-app globally by this command:

npm uninstall -g create-react-app

After that in your project directory:

npm install create-react-app@latest

At the last:

npx create-react-app my-app

For typescript :

npx create-react-app my-app --template typescript

Answer 21

Using the command npm uninstall -g create-react-app didn't work for me.

But this worked:

yarn global remove create-react-app

and then:

npx create-react-app my-app

Answer 22

I fix this issue on Mac by uninstalling create-react-app from global npm lib, that's basically what said, just try to do, you need also do sudo:

sudo npm uninstall -g create-react-app

Then simply run:

npx create-react-app my-app-name

Now should be all good and get the folder structures as below:

Answer 23

I had same problem & i have installed "create-react-app" globally on my machine. There is error :

"A template was not provided. This is likely because you're using an outdated version of create-react-app. Please note that global installs of create-react-app are no longer supported."

Then i removed previous install by using this command.

npm uninstall -g create-react-app

Then install new react app.

npx create-react-app new-app

Answer 24

For Windows 10 I had to manually delete some folders in yarn's cache, my path was something like C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Yarn\Cache\v1 and the foldes I had to remove were something like npm-create-react-app-1.0.0-1234567890abcdef

Answer 25

npx create-react-app@latest your-project-name

work for me after trying all the answers hope that can help someone in the future.

Answer 26

This worked for me 1.First uninstall create-react-app globally by this command:

npm uninstall -g create-react-app

If there you still have the previous installation please delete the folder called my app completely.(Make sure no program is using that folder including your terminal or cmd promt)

2.then in your project directory:

npm install create-react-app@latest

3.finally:

npx create-react-app my-app

Answer 27

This worked for me.

1. npm uninstall -g create-react-app
2. npx create-react-app my-app

Answer 28

All of the option didn't work for me on MacOS. What did work was the following 3 steps:

1. Delete the node from: /usr/local/bin/

then

2. install node newly: https://nodejs.org/en/

then

3. Install react: npx create-react-app my-app follow: https://create-react-app.dev/

Answer 29

To add up more to the answers above:

With the new release of create-react-app, you can create a new app using custom templates. Two templates available so far:

• cra-template
• cra-template-typescript

Usage:

npx create-react-app my-app [--template typescript]

More details of the latest changes in create-react-app:

https://github.com/facebook/create-react-app/releases/tag/v3.3.0

Answer 30

TLDR: Uninstall the global package using npm uninstall -g create-react-app and generate new react apps using npx create-react-app app.

---

Issue

You're using an older version of create-react-app that you have installed globally using npm. The create-react-app command invokes this global package.

You could've confirmed that you were using an outdated version by running npm outdated -g create-react-app or comparing create-react-app --version with npm view create-react-app.

The fact that the version of react-scripts was up to date, has nothing to do with the version of the package that is bootstrapping the app (create-react-app), which grabs the latest versions of the packages that it uses (react-scripts in this case).

Solution

If you want to continue using the create-react-app command, you'll need to update the global package using npm update -g create-react-app. Note that you'll want to do this periodically to keep it up to date. You'll notice that create-react-app does not recommend this (noted in the logs from your install).

A better approach would be to delete the global install entirely (npm uninstall -g create-react-app) and instead use npx so that it grabs the latest version of the package every time (more detail on npx below).

You should confirm that it was uninstalled globally by trying to use create-react-app to make sure the command is "not found".

Issues with uninstalling?

You can debug where it was installed using which create-react-app. If you're having issues uninstalling it, you may have multiple versions of node/npm on your machine (from multiple installs, or because you use a node version manager such as nvm). This is a separate issue I won't address here, but there's some info in this answer.

A quick nuclear approach would be to forcefully remove it (rm -rf) at the path that which create-react-app returns.

---

Supplement

Global npm packages and the npx command

$ NPM_PACKAGE_NAME will always use the globally installed version of the package, regardless of which directory you're in.

$ npx NPM_PACKAGE_NAME will use the first version of the package that it finds when searching up from the current directory to the root:

• If you have the package in your current directory, it will use that.
• Else if you have the package in a directory that is a parent of your current directory, it will use the first one it finds.
• Else if you have the package installed globally, it will use that.
• Else if you don't have the package at all, it will temporarily install it, use it, and then discard it. - this is the best way to ensure the package is up to date.

More info about npx can be found in this answer.

Using npx with create-react-app

create-react-app has some special commands/aliases to create a react app (instead of npx) that are specific to that package (yarn create react-app, npm init react-app), but npx create-react-app will work the same as it does with other packages.

yarn vs npm global installs

Yarn stores global installs in a different folder than npm, which is why yarn create react-app would work immediately without uninstalling the global npm package (as far as yarn is concerned, the package hasn't been installed).

This is just a temporary solution though, as you'll need to remember to always use yarn instead of npm when using Create React App.