Bug Payload CLI install 3.33.x

[manubravo]

Describe the Bug

I found a bug in the CLI: even if you run npx create-payload-app@latest, the CMS always creates a project with version 3.33.x. I was testing the CMS using the Blank template to understand its basic functionality, and I ran into some issues that required updating to 3.35.x. Later, I created another project using the Website template, and even though it says it’s going to install the latest stable version (3.38.x), it still ends up installing 3.33.x.
Attaching screenshots of a recent project created with the Blank template:

Link to the code that reproduces this issue

pnpx create-payload-app@latest -t blank

Reproduction Steps

npx create-payload-app@latest test and then you see in CLI 3.38.x ... but check the package.json

Which area(s) are affected? (Select all that apply)

area: core

Environment Info

  "dependencies": {
    "@payloadcms/next": "3.33.0",
    "@payloadcms/payload-cloud": "3.33.0",
    "@payloadcms/richtext-lexical": "3.33.0",
    "cross-env": "^7.0.3",
    "graphql": "^16.8.1",
    "next": "15.3.0",
    "payload": "3.33.0",
    "react": "19.1.0",
    "react-dom": "19.1.0",
    "sharp": "0.32.6",
    "@payloadcms/db-postgres": "3.33.0"
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "@eslint/eslintrc": "^3.2.0",
    "@types/node": "^22.5.4",
    "@types/react": "19.1.0",
    "@types/react-dom": "19.1.2",
    "eslint": "^9.16.0",
    "eslint-config-next": "15.3.0",
    "prettier": "^3.4.2",
    "typescript": "5.7.3"
  },

[github-actions]

Please add a reproduction in order for us to be able to investigate.

Depending on the quality of reproduction steps, this issue may be closed if no reproduction is provided.

Why was this issue marked with the invalid-reproduction label?

To be able to investigate, we need access to a reproduction to identify what triggered the issue. We prefer a link to a public GitHub repository created with create-payload-app@latest -t blank or a forked/branched version of this repository with tests added (more info in the reproduction-guide).

To make sure the issue is resolved as quickly as possible, please make sure that the reproduction is as minimal as possible. This means that you should remove unnecessary code, files, and dependencies that do not contribute to the issue. Ensure your reproduction does not depend on secrets, 3rd party registries, private dependencies, or any other data that cannot be made public. Avoid a reproduction including a whole monorepo (unless relevant to the issue). The easier it is to reproduce the issue, the quicker we can help.

Please test your reproduction against the latest version of Payload to make sure your issue has not already been fixed.

I added a link, why was it still marked?

Ensure the link is pointing to a codebase that is accessible (e.g. not a private repository). "example.com", "n/a", "will add later", etc. are not acceptable links -- we need to see a public codebase. See the above section for accepted links.

Useful Resources

• Reproduction Guide
• Contributing to Payload

[paulpopus]

Should be fixed now! Let us know if not!

[manubravo]

@paulpopus it’s fixed! Thank you so much! 😁 Now it installs the latest version (3.39.1 at the moment) 🙌

[github-actions]

This issue has been automatically locked.
Please open a new issue if this issue persists with any additional detail.