GitHub Actions setup-node cache "path glob not matched"

When cache is enabled on setup-node, it hashes the package manager lockfile to build the cache key. If no lockfile is found at the default location (or the configured cache-dependency-path), it cannot resolve a path to cache.

What this error means

A setup-node step with cache fails saying no paths matched, or that the dependencies lockfile was not found, in a monorepo or non-root project.

Error: Some specified paths were not resolved, unable to cache dependencies.
Error: Dependencies lock file is not found in /home/runner/work/repo/repo. Supported file patterns: package-lock.json,npm-shrinkwrap.json,yarn.lock

Common causes

Lockfile not at the repo root

In a monorepo or subdirectory project the lockfile is not where setup-node looks by default.

Wrong package manager for cache

cache: npm with only a pnpm-lock.yaml (or vice versa) finds no matching lockfile.

How to fix it

Point cache at the real lockfile

1. Set cache-dependency-path to the lockfile location (supports globs for monorepos).
2. Match the cache value to the package manager that produced the lockfile.
3. Ensure the lockfile is committed.

- uses: actions/setup-node@v4
  with:
    node-version: '20'
    cache: 'pnpm'
    cache-dependency-path: 'apps/web/pnpm-lock.yaml'

How to prevent it

• Set cache-dependency-path explicitly in monorepos.
• Keep the cache type aligned with the committed lockfile.

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