You could run npm i -g npm to update your node, but you should go for:

  1. Open a Powershell as Administrator
  2. Set the Execution Policy the right way, with unrestricted rights: 
    Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Scope CurrentUser -Force

     

  3. Install the npm-windows-upgrade package as global: 
    npm install -g npm-windows-upgrade
  4. Finally, run the updater and choose your desired version: 
    npm-windows-upgrade
Upgrade node on Windows

Upgrade node on Windows

 

According to stack overflow user „Robert“, here are the reasons for updating NPM the way described here:

  • Upgrades npm in-place, where node installed it.
  • Easy updating, update the to the latest by running npm-windows-upgrade -p -v latest.
  • Does not modify the default path.
  • Does not change the default global package location.
  • Allows easy upgrades and downgrades.
  • Officially recommended by the NPM team.