Yeoman generator unable to use older version of @microsoft/sharepoint

[harrybbdev]

Target SharePoint environment

SharePoint Online

What SharePoint development model, framework, SDK or API is this about?

💥 SharePoint Framework

Developer environment

None

What browser(s) / client(s) have you tested

• 💥 Internet Explorer
• 💥 Microsoft Edge
• 💥 Google Chrome
• 💥 FireFox
• 💥 Safari
• mobile (iOS/iPadOS)
• mobile (Android)
• not applicable
• other (enter in the "Additional environment details" area below)

Additional environment details

No response

Describe the bug / error

I need to install version 1.20.0 of SPFx, as a package that I am working with does not work on the later versions of Node, which 1.21.0 uses.

I have tried every combination of:

• npm install -g @microsoft/[email protected]
• npx -p @microsoft/[email protected] yo @microsoft/sharepoint
• yo @microsoft/[email protected]
• Cleaned my global cache, uninstalled everything and installed 1.20.0 again globally

For all of these, I am met with the following screen, clearing showing 1.21.1 being used.

     _-----_     ╭──────────────────────────╮
    |       |    │ Welcome to the Microsoft │
    |--(o)--|    │      365 SPFx Yeoman     │
   `---------´   │     [email protected]     │
    ( _´U`_ )    ╰──────────────────────────╯
    /___A___\   /
     |  ~  |
   __'.___.'__
 ´   `  |° ´ Y `

Workaround
The only way it works fully is via this command below:

• npx --package yo --package @microsoft/[email protected] yo @microsoft/sharepoint

Which is not documented as being required anywhere, hence feels like a bug.

Steps to reproduce

1. Start on a clean install of the yeoman generator, uninstalling any globally and clearing npm cache
2. Run npm install -g @microsoft/[email protected]
3. Runn yo @microsoft/sharepoint
4. Observe that 1.21.0 is used instead

Expected behavior

The generator runs with version 1.20 instead

[Ashlesha-MSFT]

Hello @harrybbdev,
Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. We will look into it and get back to you shortly.

[Ashlesha-MSFT]

@harrybbdev,
While attempting to reproduce the issue, I encountered the following error during the setup process:

It appears that the @microsoft/[email protected] package requires Node.js version ≥18.17.1, as several dependencies in SPFx 1.20 depend on Node.js 14+ or 18+.

I’ve switched to Node.js v18 to ensure compatibility, and the generator is now using version 1.20 as expected.