Next.js 16+ uses Turbopack by default for local development: an incremental bundler written in Rust that significantly speeds up dev startup and hot updates.
When to Use
Turbopack (default dev)
Use for day-to-day development. Faster cold start and HMR, especially in large apps.
Webpack (legacy dev)
Use only if you hit a Turbopack bug or rely on a webpack-only plugin in dev. Disable with
--webpack
(or
--no-turbopack
depending on your Next.js version; check the docs for your release).
Production
Production build behavior (
next build
) may use Turbopack or webpack depending on Next.js version; check the official Next.js docs for your version.
Use when: developing or debugging Next.js 16+ apps, diagnosing slow dev startup or HMR, or optimizing production bundles.
How It Works
Turbopack
Incremental bundler for Next.js dev. Uses file-system caching so restarts are much faster (e.g. 5–14x on large projects).
Default in dev
From Next.js 16,
next dev
runs with Turbopack unless disabled.
File-system caching
Restarts reuse previous work; cache is typically under
.next
; no extra config needed for basic use.
Bundle Analyzer (Next.js 16.1+)
Experimental Bundle Analyzer to inspect output and find heavy dependencies; enable via config or experimental flag (see Next.js docs for your version).
Examples
Commands
next dev
next build
next start
Usage
Run
next dev
for local development with Turbopack. Use the Bundle Analyzer (see Next.js docs) to optimize code-splitting and trim large dependencies. Prefer App Router and server components where possible.
Best Practices
Stay on a recent Next.js 16.x for stable Turbopack and caching behavior.
If dev is slow, ensure you're on Turbopack (default) and that the cache isn't being cleared unnecessarily.
For production bundle size issues, use the official Next.js bundle analysis tooling for your version.