Fix 'Build Failed' Error for Next.js on Netlify

$ Build failed with exit code 1

Also appears as:

  • Command failed with exit code 1: next build
  • Build script returned non-zero exit code: 1
  • Error: Build failed
  • Netlify build failed next.js

Symptoms

  • Deploy fails during the build step
  • Build logs show 'exit code 1' with no clear error message
  • Build works locally but fails on Netlify
  • Build started failing after a dependency update

What Causes This Error

Missing or incompatible dependencies

Common

A package in your project requires a different Node.js version, or a dependency is missing from package.json. This is the most common cause of build failures. Dependencies that work locally may fail on Netlify if they rely on globally installed packages or specific OS features.

TypeScript or ESLint errors

Common

Next.js treats TypeScript errors and ESLint errors as build failures in production. Locally, you might have these disabled or configured differently. The build log will show specific type errors or lint violations.

Memory exceeded during build

Occasional

Next.js builds can be memory-intensive, especially with many pages, large images, or heavy dependencies. Netlify's build environment has a memory limit that can be exceeded by large projects.

Case-sensitive file imports

Occasional

macOS and Windows file systems are case-insensitive, but Netlify's Linux build environment is case-sensitive. An import of './Components/Button' will fail if the actual file is './components/Button'.

Stale build cache

Rare

Netlify caches node_modules and the .next directory between builds. Occasionally, the cache becomes stale after major dependency changes, causing build failures.

How to Fix It

Fix 1: Check the full build log

  1. Go to your site's Deploys page in Netlify
  2. Click on the failed deploy
  3. Scroll through the build log to find the actual error message
  4. The root cause is usually above the 'exit code 1' line

Verify: Identify the specific error message and proceed to the relevant fix below.

Fix 2: Fix dependency issues

  1. Ensure your Node.js version matches locally and on Netlify
  2. Set the NODE_VERSION environment variable in Netlify to match your local version
  3. Delete node_modules and package-lock.json locally, then reinstall
  4. Push the updated lock file to trigger a fresh build
node -v  # Check your local version
# Set this in Netlify environment variables:
# NODE_VERSION=20

Verify: Push a commit and verify the build succeeds with the correct Node.js version.

Fix 3: Fix TypeScript and ESLint errors

  1. Run 'next build' locally to see the same errors Netlify encounters
  2. Fix all TypeScript type errors and ESLint violations
  3. If you want to temporarily bypass: set 'eslint.ignoreDuringBuilds' or 'typescript.ignoreBuildErrors' in next.config.js (not recommended for production)
next.config.js (temporary workaround)
/** @type {import('next').NextConfig} */
const nextConfig = {
  eslint: {
    ignoreDuringBuilds: true, // Not recommended
  },
  typescript: {
    ignoreBuildErrors: true, // Not recommended
  },
}
module.exports = nextConfig

Verify: Run 'next build' locally with no errors, then push to Netlify.

Fix 4: Fix memory issues

  1. Set NODE_OPTIONS environment variable in Netlify to increase memory
  2. Reduce the number of statically generated pages using ISR or on-demand generation
  3. Optimize images and reduce bundle size
Environment variable
NODE_OPTIONS=--max_old_space_size=4096

Verify: Redeploy and check if the build completes without memory errors.

Fix 5: Clear the build cache

  1. Go to your site's Deploys page in Netlify
  2. Click 'Trigger deploy'
  3. Select 'Clear cache and deploy site'
  4. Wait for the fresh build to complete

Verify: If the build succeeds after clearing the cache, the issue was stale cached data.

How to Prevent This

1.

Always run 'next build' locally before pushing to catch errors early.

2.

Set up CI checks (GitHub Actions or similar) to run the build on every pull request.

3.

Pin your Node.js version in both .nvmrc and Netlify environment variables.

4.

Keep dependencies updated incrementally rather than in large batches.

5.

Use the Netli.fyi app to get instant notifications when builds fail.

Perttu Lähteenlahti

Perttu Lähteenlahti

Developer Advocate at RevenueCat and creator of Netli.fyi. Building on Netlify since 2019. Writes from hands-on experience deploying dozens of production sites.

Manage Netlify on the go

Download Netli.fyi and monitor your sites, check deploys, and manage your projects from anywhere.

Google Play