---
title: Why does npm run start not work on Vercel?
description: Information on why commands that start servers may not work with Vercel.
url: /kb/guide/npm-run-start-not-working
canonical_url: "https://vercel.com/kb/guide/npm-run-start-not-working"
published: 2025-11-03
last_updated: 2025-11-10
authors: Matthew Sweeney
related:
  - /docs/functions
install_vercel_plugin: npx plugins add vercel/vercel-plugin
---
<!-- docsgraph:related -->
## Related pages

> **For AI agents:** Follow these links to understand how this page connects to the rest of the Vercel ecosystem. For the full cross-link map (inbound, outbound, prerequisites, and semantic neighbors), see the .graph.md link below.

- [NestJS](https://vercel.com/docs/frameworks/backend/nestjs?from=related) — Deploy NestJS applications to Vercel with zero configuration.
- [Build System](https://vercel.com/docs/fundamentals/builds?from=related) — Learn how Vercel transforms your source code into optimized assets ready to serve globally.
- [Node.js](https://vercel.com/docs/functions/runtimes/node-js?from=related) — Learn how to use the Node.js runtime to create functions and deploy Node.js servers on Vercel.
- [Advanced Node.js Usage](https://vercel.com/docs/functions/runtimes/node-js/advanced-node-configuration?from=related) — Learn about advanced configurations for Vercel functions on Vercel.
- [Express](https://vercel.com/docs/frameworks/backend/express?from=related) — Deploy Express applications to Vercel with zero configuration. Learn about middleware and Vercel Functions.
- [Why does my Serverless Function work locally but not when deployed?](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/why-does-my-serverless-function-work-locally-but-not-when-deployed?from=related) — Learn how to troubleshoot your Serverless Functions.
- [Using Express.js with Vercel](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/using-express-with-vercel?from=related) — Learn how to use Express.js in a Serverless environment.
- [Can I deploy Discord bots to Vercel?](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/can-i-deploy-discord-bots-to-vercel?from=related) — Learn about whether it's possible to deploy Discord Bots to Vercel.
- [Why is running another CDN on top of Vercel not recommended?](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/why-running-another-cdn-on-top-of-vercel-is-not-recommended?from=related) — Information about possible strategies when using a CDN on top of Vercel.
- [Can I deploy a locally built Next.js app to Vercel?](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/deploying-locally-built-nextjs?from=related) — Learn how to deploy a locally built Next.js application to Vercel.

Full cross-link map for this page: [/kb/guide/npm-run-start-not-working.graph.md](/kb/guide/npm-run-start-not-working.graph.md)
<!-- /docsgraph:related -->


When deploying your application with Vercel you are prompted for a build command. This command is intended to build your application to generate frontend assets that can be served by the Vercel CDN.

## No Running Servers

If your build command is `npm run start`, `node app.js`, `nodemon server.js`, or similar, it is likely you are trying to start a server for your application.

The Vercel platform is serverless and designed for static frontends and [Serverless Functions](https://vercel.com/docs/functions). **There is no running server**.

As a result of this, if you are trying to start a server, you are likely to run into difficulties either with your application not starting, or unexpected behavior.

## Serverless Functions

As an alternative to running a server, Vercel allows you to create Serverless Functions, which can be used to execute logic on the server side.

Serverless Functions are stateless and event-driven, which means that they are created to respond to a request and will no longer exist once the response has been sent.

Therefore, it is not possible to store state in-between requests. Any data that needs to be persisted must be stored in a database.