> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.jolter.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Updating toolchains

> Update active versions, change project policy, and safely remove old installations.

Jolter separates installed versions, global active versions, and project requirements. Updating one does not silently rewrite the others.

## Update a global active version

Update within the active major line:

```bash theme={null}
jolter update node
jolter update pnpm
```

Move to an explicit selector:

```bash theme={null}
jolter update node@26
jolter update pnpm@latest
```

Update every active runtime and tool:

```bash theme={null}
jolter update --all
```

`update --all` is sequential. If a later target fails, earlier successful updates remain active. Fix the issue and rerun the command.

## Change project policy

Edit requirements with `pin`:

```bash theme={null}
jolter pin node@26
jolter pin pnpm@11
jolter sync
jolter doctor
```

Review the diff before committing:

```bash theme={null}
git diff -- jolter.json
```

## Update plugin tools

Update a plugin itself:

```bash theme={null}
jolter plugin update eslint
jolter plugin update --all
```

Update an active plugin-provided tool:

```bash theme={null}
jolter update eslint
jolter update eslint@latest
```

If multiple installed plugins provide the same tool, declare the provider in `jolter.json#plugins`.

## Remove old exact versions

Remove one exact runtime or tool:

```bash theme={null}
jolter uninstall node@24.5.0
jolter uninstall pnpm@10.12.1
```

Active versions are protected. To intentionally remove an active version and clear the fallback:

```bash theme={null}
jolter uninstall node@24.5.0 --force
```

## Prune storage

Preview first:

```bash theme={null}
jolter prune --dry-run
```

Keep the newest complete version of each kind:

```bash theme={null}
jolter prune
```

Keep two newest complete versions:

```bash theme={null}
jolter prune --keep 2
```

Prune protects global active versions, current project requirements, and the newest kept versions per kind. Run prune from the project whose requirements must be protected.

## Clean cache

```bash theme={null}
jolter cache status
jolter cache clean
```

Cache cleaning removes metadata and downloaded archives. It does not remove installed runtimes, tools, plugin tools, shims, or active selections.

<Warning>
  Cleaning the cache can break offline readiness until required metadata and
  artifacts are downloaded again.
</Warning>


## Related topics

- [Configuration](/reference/configuration.md)
- [Environment variables](/reference/environment.md)
- [Jolter](/index.md)
- [Monorepos](/guides/monorepos.md)