Vite Failed to Resolve Import on Windows (WSL2 and Native)
This error matches known, documented patterns with reliable solutions.
Quick Fix (Most Common Solution)
- Compare the capitalisation of the import path to the actual filename on disk exactly
- Fix the import statement to match the file name including capitalisation
Seeing "Failed to resolve import"? This error can be frustrating, but it's usually fixable. It typically affects your development workflow or system. Below you'll find clear, step-by-step solutions to resolve this issue.
What This Error Means
Vite cannot find the file named in an import statement. On Windows this most commonly happens because Windows file system is case-insensitive (MyComponent.tsx and mycomponent.tsx are the same file) while Vite's module resolver treats them as different.
Frequently documented in developer and vendor support forums.
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Common Causes
- Windows file system is case-insensitive; Vite's resolver is case-sensitive
- Import path capitalisation does not match the actual filename on disk
- WSL2 projects stored in the Windows filesystem (/mnt/c/) instead of the Linux filesystem
- Stale .vite cache referencing an old path after a file rename
How to Fix
- Compare the capitalisation of the import path to the actual filename on disk exactly
- Fix the import statement to match the file name including capitalisation
- If using WSL2, store the project in the Linux filesystem (/home/user/) not /mnt/c/
- Delete the .vite cache folder and restart the dev server
Last reviewed: June 2026 How we review solutions
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Environment-Specific Commands
Windows (native) — fix import case and clear cache
# Check actual filename capitalisation:dir src\components\# Fix the import to match exactly# Clear Vite cache:Remove-Item -Recurse -Force node_modules\.vitenpm run dev
WSL2 — move project to Linux filesystem
# Move project from /mnt/c/ to Linux home directorycp -r /mnt/c/Users/yourname/projects/myapp ~/projects/myappcd ~/projects/myappnpm installnpm run dev
Quick Diagnostic Path
- If Error names a specific file with its path → Verify the file exists at that exact path with that exact capitalisation — fix the import if not
- If Project is stored in /mnt/c/ inside WSL2 → Move the project to ~/projects/ inside WSL2 — Windows filesystem /mnt/c/ ignores Linux case rules
- If Import path looks correct but error persists after fixing → Delete .vite cache: rm -rf node_modules/.vite then npm run dev
If This Still Fails, Check
- Barrel files (index.ts): if you import from 'components/Button' but the folder is 'components/button', the case mismatch is in the directory name
- TypeScript path aliases (@/components): if @/ maps to src/ but src/ has mixed-case subfolders, the alias resolution may also be case-sensitive
- Git on Windows: by default git ignores case changes. Run 'git config core.ignoreCase false' to track file renames that only change capitalisation
Clear Vite cache and restart
# Clear Vite cache (Linux/Mac)
rm -rf node_modules/.vite
# Clear Vite cache (Windows PowerShell)
Remove-Item -Recurse -Force node_modules\.vite
# Restart dev server
npm run dev
# Verify: import error should be goneCI/CD Considerations
Vite Import Resolution Error Windows in Node.js CI: Build vs Runtime Environment Gaps
Vite Import Resolution Error Windows that appears only in CI or only in production usually traces to a gap between the build environment and the runtime environment. Node.js applications built on one Node version and run on another frequently encounter this class of error.
The standard preventive: pin Node version in both the build pipeline and the runtime image using the same identifier — for example, node:20.11.0-alpine rather than node:20-alpine. The minor version matters because V8 updates within minor releases can affect runtime behavior. For TypeScript projects, the compiled JavaScript must target the runtime Node version's supported JavaScript features — check tsconfig.json's target and lib settings. Native modules (compiled with node-gyp) must be compiled for the runtime architecture and Node version, not the build machine's — use npm rebuild in the runtime Dockerfile stage after copying node_modules. Environment variables available during npm run build (like NODE_ENV) affect bundling behavior and may produce different output than expected in production.Need reliable hosting?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did this work on Mac but not Windows?
macOS and Linux file systems are case-sensitive. Windows is not. An import with wrong capitalisation works on Mac but fails in CI/CD (Linux) or on a colleague's Windows machine configured differently.
How do I find all case-mismatch imports in my project?
Run the project on a Linux system (CI/CD or WSL2 with the project in the Linux filesystem) where case sensitivity is enforced. All mismatches will appear as import errors.
What is the .vite cache and where is it?
Vite stores pre-bundled modules in node_modules/.vite. Delete this folder to force a full rebuild: rm -rf node_modules/.vite then restart with npm run dev.
Related Resources
Also Known As
- Node.js error
- Node runtime error
- JavaScript server error
- Node exception
Common Search Variations
- "node js error fix"
- "node command not working"
- "node app crashing"
- "javascript server error solution"
- "node runtime crash fix"
- "how to debug node error"
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