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How to Fix "Nodemon Script Cannot Be Loaded" Error in Windows PowerShell

If you're a developer using Node.js with Nodemon on Windows, you might encounter an error like this when trying to run your application:

nodemon : File C:\\\\Users\\\\YourUserName\\\\AppData\\\\Roaming\\\\npm\\\\nodemon.ps1 cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system. For more information, see about_Execution_Policies at https:/go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=135170.

This error occurs because the PowerShell execution policy on your system is set to restrict the execution of scripts for security reasons. Here’s a step-by-step guide to resolve this issue.

Step 1: Open PowerShell as Administrator

First, you need to open PowerShell with administrative privileges.

1. Press Win + X on your keyboard.
2. Select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin) from the menu.

Step 2: Check the Current Execution Policy

Before changing the execution policy, it’s a good idea to check the current setting.

1. In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter:

   Get-ExecutionPolicy
   
   

2. This command will display the current execution policy. It is likely set to Restricted, which prevents all scripts from running.

Step 3: Change the Execution Policy

To allow scripts to run, you need to change the execution policy to RemoteSigned or Unrestricted. The RemoteSigned policy is safer as it allows local scripts to run and requires that scripts downloaded from the internet are signed by a trusted publisher.

1. Type the following command in the PowerShell window and press Enter:

   Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
   
   

2. If you are prompted to confirm the change, type Y and press Enter.

Step 4: Verify the New Execution Policy

After changing the policy, it’s a good practice to verify that the change has been applied.

1. Run the following command:

   Get-ExecutionPolicy
   
   

2. The output should now show RemoteSigned.

Step 5: Run Nodemon Again

Now that the execution policy has been changed, you can run Nodemon without encountering the error.

1. Close the current PowerShell window and open a new one (you don’t need to run it as Administrator this time).

2. Navigate to your project directory using the cd command.

3. Run Nodemon with your script:

   nodemon your_script.js
   
   

Important Security Note

Changing the execution policy affects the security of your system. The RemoteSigned policy is a balanced choice between security and flexibility, but make sure you understand the implications. If you are concerned about security, you can revert the policy back to Restricted after you are done with your Node.js development.

To revert the execution policy, open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

Set-ExecutionPolicy Restricted

Summary of Commands

Here’s a quick summary of the commands you need to run:

# Check the current execution policy
Get-ExecutionPolicy

# Change the execution policy to RemoteSigned
Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

# Verify the new execution policy
Get-ExecutionPolicy

# Revert to Restricted if needed
Set-ExecutionPolicy Restricted

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the Nodemon script loading error and continue with your Node.js development without any issues. Happy coding!