diff --git a/docs/content/commands/npm-dedupe.md b/docs/content/commands/npm-dedupe.md
index 377e17d814a6f..53d2e64272a67 100644
--- a/docs/content/commands/npm-dedupe.md
+++ b/docs/content/commands/npm-dedupe.md
@@ -72,6 +72,12 @@ result in new modules being installed.
 
 Using `npm find-dupes` will run the command in `--dry-run` mode.
 
+Note that by default `npm dedupe` will not update the semver values of direct
+dependencies in your project `package.json`, if you want to also update
+values in `package.json` you can run: `npm dedupe --save` (or add the
+`save=true` option to a [configuration file](/configuring-npm/npmrc)
+to make that the default behavior).
+
 ### Configuration
 
 <!-- AUTOGENERATED CONFIG DESCRIPTIONS START -->
diff --git a/docs/content/commands/npm-update.md b/docs/content/commands/npm-update.md
index ad02118e4687f..1889d60569fe5 100644
--- a/docs/content/commands/npm-update.md
+++ b/docs/content/commands/npm-update.md
@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ packages.
 If no package name is specified, all packages in the specified location (global
 or local) will be updated.
 
+Note that by default `npm update` will not update the semver values of direct
+dependencies in your project `package.json`, if you want to also update
+values in `package.json` you can run: `npm update --save` (or add the
+`save=true` option to a [configuration file](/configuring-npm/npmrc)
+to make that the default behavior).
+
 ### Example
 
 For the examples below, assume that the current package is `app` and it depends
diff --git a/docs/content/using-npm/config.md b/docs/content/using-npm/config.md
index fe197e344dbc0..4cb9bdb0fcce3 100644
--- a/docs/content/using-npm/config.md
+++ b/docs/content/using-npm/config.md
@@ -1326,7 +1326,8 @@ The base URL of the npm registry.
 
 #### `save`
 
-* Default: true
+* Default: true unless when using `npm update` or `npm dedupe` where it
+  defaults to `false`
 * Type: Boolean
 
 Save installed packages to a package.json file as dependencies.
@@ -1334,6 +1335,8 @@ Save installed packages to a package.json file as dependencies.
 When used with the `npm rm` command, removes the dependency from
 package.json.
 
+Will also prevent writing to package-lock.json if set to `false`.
+
 <!-- automatically generated, do not edit manually -->
 <!-- see lib/utils/config/definitions.js -->
 
diff --git a/lib/commands/dedupe.js b/lib/commands/dedupe.js
index cc4b119d09d2a..1c270249adb3f 100644
--- a/lib/commands/dedupe.js
+++ b/lib/commands/dedupe.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ class Dedupe extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
     'legacy-bundling',
     'strict-peer-deps',
     'package-lock',
+    'save',
     'omit',
     'ignore-scripts',
     'audit',
@@ -29,6 +30,12 @@ class Dedupe extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
       throw er
     }
 
+    // In the context of `npm dedupe` the save
+    // config value should default to `false`
+    const save = this.npm.config.isDefault('save')
+      ? false
+      : this.npm.config.get('save')
+
     const dryRun = this.npm.config.get('dry-run')
     const where = this.npm.prefix
     const opts = {
@@ -36,6 +43,7 @@ class Dedupe extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
       log,
       path: where,
       dryRun,
+      save,
       workspaces: this.workspaceNames,
     }
     const arb = new Arborist(opts)
diff --git a/lib/commands/update.js b/lib/commands/update.js
index ace6738400fad..a5374d0ae41ca 100644
--- a/lib/commands/update.js
+++ b/lib/commands/update.js
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ class Update extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
     'legacy-bundling',
     'strict-peer-deps',
     'package-lock',
+    'save',
     'omit',
     'ignore-scripts',
     'audit',
diff --git a/lib/utils/config/definitions.js b/lib/utils/config/definitions.js
index ac8a4e2f6749d..111ebd7898e67 100644
--- a/lib/utils/config/definitions.js
+++ b/lib/utils/config/definitions.js
@@ -1583,6 +1583,8 @@ define('registry', {
 
 define('save', {
   default: true,
+  defaultDescription: `true unless when using \`npm update\` or
+  \`npm dedupe\` where it defaults to \`false\``,
   usage: '-S|--save|--no-save|--save-prod|--save-dev|--save-optional|--save-peer',
   type: Boolean,
   short: 'S',
@@ -1591,6 +1593,8 @@ define('save', {
 
     When used with the \`npm rm\` command, removes the dependency from
     package.json.
+
+    Will also prevent writing to package-lock.json if set to \`false\`.
   `,
   flatten,
 })
diff --git a/smoke-tests/index.js b/smoke-tests/index.js
index 06ca3dee6422e..2f8258e073d0b 100644
--- a/smoke-tests/index.js
+++ b/smoke-tests/index.js
@@ -267,3 +267,13 @@ t.test('npm pkg', async t => {
     'should have expected npm pkg delete modified package.json result'
   )
 })
+
+t.test('npm update --save', async t => {
+  const cmd = `${npmBin} update --save`
+  const cmdRes = await exec(cmd)
+
+  t.matchSnapshot(cmdRes.replace(/in.*s/, ''), 'should have expected update --save reify output')
+  t.matchSnapshot(readFile('package.json'), 'should have expected update --save package.json result')
+  t.matchSnapshot(readFile('package-lock.json'), 'should have expected update --save lockfile result')
+})
+
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/smoke-tests/index.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/smoke-tests/index.js.test.cjs
index c1316e04d7ad9..b25f9da94e935 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/smoke-tests/index.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/smoke-tests/index.js.test.cjs
@@ -666,6 +666,64 @@ removed 1 package
 
 `
 
+exports[`smoke-tests/index.js TAP npm update --save > should have expected update --save lockfile result 1`] = `
+{
+  "name": "project",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "lockfileVersion": 2,
+  "requires": true,
+  "packages": {
+    "": {
+      "name": "project",
+      "version": "1.0.0",
+      "license": "ISC",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "abbrev": "^1.1.1"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/abbrev": {
+      "version": "1.1.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/abbrev/-/abbrev-1.1.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-nne9/IiQ/hzIhY6pdDnbBtz7DjPTKrY00P/zvPSm5pOFkl6xuGrGnXn/VtTNNfNtAfZ9/1RtehkszU9qcTii0Q=="
+    }
+  },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "abbrev": {
+      "version": "1.1.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/abbrev/-/abbrev-1.1.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-nne9/IiQ/hzIhY6pdDnbBtz7DjPTKrY00P/zvPSm5pOFkl6xuGrGnXn/VtTNNfNtAfZ9/1RtehkszU9qcTii0Q=="
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+`
+
+exports[`smoke-tests/index.js TAP npm update --save > should have expected update --save package.json result 1`] = `
+{
+  "name": "project",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "description": "",
+  "main": "index.js",
+  "scripts": {
+    "test": "echo /"Error: no test specified/" && exit 1",
+    "hello": "echo Hello"
+  },
+  "keywords": [],
+  "author": "",
+  "license": "ISC",
+  "dependencies": {
+    "abbrev": "^1.1.1"
+  }
+}
+
+`
+
+exports[`smoke-tests/index.js TAP npm update --save > should have expected update --save reify output 1`] = `
+
+up to date 
+
+`
+
 exports[`smoke-tests/index.js TAP npm update dep > should have expected update lockfile result 1`] = `
 {
   "name": "project",
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/load-all-commands.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/load-all-commands.js.test.cjs
index 6efecf2089e83..e7142c2492322 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/load-all-commands.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/load-all-commands.js.test.cjs
@@ -170,6 +170,7 @@ npm dedupe
 
 Options:
 [--global-style] [--legacy-bundling] [--strict-peer-deps] [--no-package-lock]
+[-S|--save|--no-save|--save-prod|--save-dev|--save-optional|--save-peer]
 [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--ignore-scripts]
 [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
 [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
@@ -1061,8 +1062,10 @@ npm update [<pkg>...]
 
 Options:
 [-g|--global] [--global-style] [--legacy-bundling] [--strict-peer-deps]
-[--no-package-lock] [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]]
-[--ignore-scripts] [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
+[--no-package-lock]
+[-S|--save|--no-save|--save-prod|--save-dev|--save-optional|--save-peer]
+[--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--ignore-scripts]
+[--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
 [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
 [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root]
 
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/definitions.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/definitions.js.test.cjs
index 84bb22ff0ef59..1ee8400d7ae85 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/definitions.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/definitions.js.test.cjs
@@ -1406,13 +1406,16 @@ The base URL of the npm registry.
 exports[`test/lib/utils/config/definitions.js TAP > config description for save 1`] = `
 #### \`save\`
 
-* Default: true
+* Default: true unless when using \`npm update\` or \`npm dedupe\` where it
+  defaults to \`false\`
 * Type: Boolean
 
 Save installed packages to a package.json file as dependencies.
 
 When used with the \`npm rm\` command, removes the dependency from
 package.json.
+
+Will also prevent writing to package-lock.json if set to \`false\`.
 `
 
 exports[`test/lib/utils/config/definitions.js TAP > config description for save-bundle 1`] = `
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/describe-all.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/describe-all.js.test.cjs
index 3db90f7679d4e..31fab28de6f48 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/describe-all.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/describe-all.js.test.cjs
@@ -1200,7 +1200,8 @@ The base URL of the npm registry.
 
 #### \`save\`
 
-* Default: true
+* Default: true unless when using \`npm update\` or \`npm dedupe\` where it
+  defaults to \`false\`
 * Type: Boolean
 
 Save installed packages to a package.json file as dependencies.
@@ -1208,6 +1209,8 @@ Save installed packages to a package.json file as dependencies.
 When used with the \`npm rm\` command, removes the dependency from
 package.json.
 
+Will also prevent writing to package-lock.json if set to \`false\`.
+
 <!-- automatically generated, do not edit manually -->
 <!-- see lib/utils/config/definitions.js -->
 
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/npm-usage.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/npm-usage.js.test.cjs
index 0e48cfa613149..ab8f1cf3b4e87 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/npm-usage.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/npm-usage.js.test.cjs
@@ -311,6 +311,7 @@ All commands:
                     
                     Options:
                     [--global-style] [--legacy-bundling] [--strict-peer-deps] [--no-package-lock]
+                    [-S|--save|--no-save|--save-prod|--save-dev|--save-optional|--save-peer]
                     [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--ignore-scripts]
                     [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
                     [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
@@ -1096,8 +1097,10 @@ All commands:
                     
                     Options:
                     [-g|--global] [--global-style] [--legacy-bundling] [--strict-peer-deps]
-                    [--no-package-lock] [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]]
-                    [--ignore-scripts] [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
+                    [--no-package-lock]
+                    [-S|--save|--no-save|--save-prod|--save-dev|--save-optional|--save-peer]
+                    [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--ignore-scripts]
+                    [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
                     [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
                     [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root]
                     
diff --git a/test/lib/commands/dedupe.js b/test/lib/commands/dedupe.js
index 2e2fae238103f..bf6964081ca79 100644
--- a/test/lib/commands/dedupe.js
+++ b/test/lib/commands/dedupe.js
@@ -38,11 +38,12 @@ t.test('should remove dupes using Arborist', async (t) => {
 })
 
 t.test('should remove dupes using Arborist - no arguments', async (t) => {
-  t.plan(1)
+  t.plan(2)
   const { npm } = await loadMockNpm(t, {
     mocks: {
       '@npmcli/arborist': function (args) {
         t.ok(args.dryRun, 'gets dryRun from config')
+        t.ok(args.save, 'gets user-set save value from config')
         this.dedupe = () => {}
       },
       '../../lib/utils/reify-output.js': () => {},
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ t.test('should remove dupes using Arborist - no arguments', async (t) => {
     },
     config: {
       'dry-run': true,
+      save: true,
     },
   })
   await npm.exec('dedupe', [])
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/reify.js b/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/reify.js
index 87f521de5483b..ad8d8b5c09caf 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/reify.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/reify.js
@@ -1142,8 +1142,21 @@ module.exports = cls => class Reifier extends cls {
     // for install failures.  Those still end up in the shrinkwrap, so we
     // save it first, then prune out the optional trash, and then return it.
 
-    // support save=false option
-    if (options.save === false || this[_global] || this[_dryRun]) {
+    const skipSave = options.save === false
+    const save = !skipSave
+    const hasUpdates = this[_updateAll] || this[_updateNames].length
+
+    // we're going to completely skip save ideal tree in case of a global or
+    // dry-run install and also if the save option is set to false, EXCEPT for
+    // update since the expected behavior for npm7+ is for update to
+    // NOT save to package.json, we make that exception since we still want
+    // saveIdealTree to be able to write the lockfile
+    const skipSaveIdealTree =
+      (skipSave && !hasUpdates)
+      || this[_global]
+      || this[_dryRun]
+
+    if (skipSaveIdealTree) {
       return false
     }
 
@@ -1165,7 +1178,7 @@ module.exports = cls => class Reifier extends cls {
         // that we couldn't resolve, this MAY be missing.  if we haven't
         // blown up by now, it's because it was not a problem, though, so
         // just move on.
-        if (!child) {
+        if (!child || !addTree.isTop) {
           continue
         }
 
@@ -1284,25 +1297,32 @@ module.exports = cls => class Reifier extends cls {
       return nodes
     }
 
-    // when using update all alongside with save, we'll make
-    // sure to refresh every dependency of the root idealTree
-    if (this[_updateAll] && options.save) {
-      const nodes = retrieveUpdatedNodes()
-      updateNodes(nodes)
-    } else {
-      // resolvedAdd is the list of user add requests, but with names added
-      // to things like git repos and tarball file/urls.  However, if the
-      // user requested 'foo@', and we have a foo@file:../foo, then we should
-      // end up saving the spec we actually used, not whatever they gave us.
-      if (this[_resolvedAdd].length) {
-        updateNodes(this[_resolvedAdd])
-      }
-
-      // if updating given dependencies by name, restrict the list of
-      // nodes to check to only those currently in _updateNames
-      if (this[_updateNames].length && options.save) {
-        const nodes = retrieveUpdatedNodes(this[_updateNames])
+    if (save) {
+      // when using update all alongside with save, we'll make
+      // sure to refresh every dependency of the root idealTree
+      if (this[_updateAll]) {
+        const nodes = retrieveUpdatedNodes()
         updateNodes(nodes)
+      } else {
+        // resolvedAdd is the list of user add requests, but with names added
+        // to things like git repos and tarball file/urls.  However, if the
+        // user requested 'foo@', and we have a foo@file:../foo, then we should
+        // end up saving the spec we actually used, not whatever they gave us.
+        if (this[_resolvedAdd].length) {
+          updateNodes(this[_resolvedAdd])
+        }
+
+        // if updating given dependencies by name, restrict the list of
+        // nodes to check to only those currently in _updateNames
+        if (this[_updateNames].length) {
+          const nodes = retrieveUpdatedNodes(this[_updateNames])
+          updateNodes(nodes)
+        }
+
+        // grab any from explicitRequests that had deps removed
+        for (const { from: tree } of this.explicitRequests) {
+          updatedTrees.add(tree)
+        }
       }
     }
 
@@ -1338,15 +1358,12 @@ module.exports = cls => class Reifier extends cls {
       await pkgJson.save()
     }
 
-    // grab any from explicitRequests that had deps removed
-    for (const { from: tree } of this.explicitRequests) {
-      updatedTrees.add(tree)
-    }
-
-    for (const tree of updatedTrees) {
-      // refresh the edges so they have the correct specs
-      tree.package = tree.package
-      promises.push(updatePackageJson(tree))
+    if (save) {
+      for (const tree of updatedTrees) {
+        // refresh the edges so they have the correct specs
+        tree.package = tree.package
+        promises.push(updatePackageJson(tree))
+      }
     }
 
     await Promise.all(promises)
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/tap-snapshots/test/arborist/reify.js.test.cjs b/workspaces/arborist/tap-snapshots/test/arborist/reify.js.test.cjs
index a38242140a231..1f1bbafa373c6 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/tap-snapshots/test/arborist/reify.js.test.cjs
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/tap-snapshots/test/arborist/reify.js.test.cjs
@@ -17113,7 +17113,7 @@ ArboristNode {
 }
 `
 
-exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-dep-allinstall-fail > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-dep-allinstall-fail save=false > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
 ArboristNode {
   "edgesOut": Map {
     "@isaacs/testing-fail-allinstall" => EdgeOut {
@@ -17125,14 +17125,33 @@ ArboristNode {
   },
   "isProjectRoot": true,
   "location": "",
-  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-allinstall-fail",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-allinstall-fail-save-false",
   "packageName": "optional-dep-allinstall-fail",
-  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-allinstall-fail",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-allinstall-fail-save-false",
   "version": "1.0.0",
 }
 `
 
-exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-dep-install-fail > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-dep-allinstall-fail save=true > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+ArboristNode {
+  "edgesOut": Map {
+    "@isaacs/testing-fail-allinstall" => EdgeOut {
+      "name": "@isaacs/testing-fail-allinstall",
+      "spec": "^1.0.0",
+      "to": null,
+      "type": "optional",
+    },
+  },
+  "isProjectRoot": true,
+  "location": "",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-allinstall-fail-save-true",
+  "packageName": "optional-dep-allinstall-fail",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-allinstall-fail-save-true",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+}
+`
+
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-dep-install-fail save=false > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
 ArboristNode {
   "edgesOut": Map {
     "@isaacs/testing-fail-install" => EdgeOut {
@@ -17144,14 +17163,33 @@ ArboristNode {
   },
   "isProjectRoot": true,
   "location": "",
-  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-install-fail",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-install-fail-save-false",
   "packageName": "optional-dep-install-fail",
-  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-install-fail",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-install-fail-save-false",
   "version": "1.0.0",
 }
 `
 
-exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-dep-postinstall-fail > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-dep-install-fail save=true > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+ArboristNode {
+  "edgesOut": Map {
+    "@isaacs/testing-fail-install" => EdgeOut {
+      "name": "@isaacs/testing-fail-install",
+      "spec": "^1.0.0",
+      "to": null,
+      "type": "optional",
+    },
+  },
+  "isProjectRoot": true,
+  "location": "",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-install-fail-save-true",
+  "packageName": "optional-dep-install-fail",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-install-fail-save-true",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+}
+`
+
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-dep-postinstall-fail save=false > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
 ArboristNode {
   "children": Map {
     "@isaacs/testing-fail-postinstall" => ArboristNode {
@@ -17166,7 +17204,7 @@ ArboristNode {
       "location": "node_modules/@isaacs/testing-fail-postinstall",
       "name": "@isaacs/testing-fail-postinstall",
       "optional": true,
-      "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-postinstall-fail/node_modules/@isaacs/testing-fail-postinstall",
+      "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-postinstall-fail-save-false/node_modules/@isaacs/testing-fail-postinstall",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@isaacs/testing-fail-postinstall/-/testing-fail-postinstall-1.0.0.tgz",
       "version": "1.0.0",
     },
@@ -17181,14 +17219,70 @@ ArboristNode {
   },
   "isProjectRoot": true,
   "location": "",
-  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-postinstall-fail",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-postinstall-fail-save-false",
   "packageName": "optional-dep-postinstall-fail",
-  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-postinstall-fail",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-postinstall-fail-save-false",
   "version": "1.0.0",
 }
 `
 
-exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-dep-preinstall-fail > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-dep-postinstall-fail save=true > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+ArboristNode {
+  "children": Map {
+    "@isaacs/testing-fail-postinstall" => ArboristNode {
+      "edgesIn": Set {
+        EdgeIn {
+          "from": "",
+          "name": "@isaacs/testing-fail-postinstall",
+          "spec": "^1.0.0",
+          "type": "optional",
+        },
+      },
+      "location": "node_modules/@isaacs/testing-fail-postinstall",
+      "name": "@isaacs/testing-fail-postinstall",
+      "optional": true,
+      "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-postinstall-fail-save-true/node_modules/@isaacs/testing-fail-postinstall",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@isaacs/testing-fail-postinstall/-/testing-fail-postinstall-1.0.0.tgz",
+      "version": "1.0.0",
+    },
+  },
+  "edgesOut": Map {
+    "@isaacs/testing-fail-postinstall" => EdgeOut {
+      "name": "@isaacs/testing-fail-postinstall",
+      "spec": "^1.0.0",
+      "to": "node_modules/@isaacs/testing-fail-postinstall",
+      "type": "optional",
+    },
+  },
+  "isProjectRoot": true,
+  "location": "",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-postinstall-fail-save-true",
+  "packageName": "optional-dep-postinstall-fail",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-postinstall-fail-save-true",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+}
+`
+
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-dep-preinstall-fail save=false > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+ArboristNode {
+  "edgesOut": Map {
+    "@isaacs/testing-fail-preinstall" => EdgeOut {
+      "name": "@isaacs/testing-fail-preinstall",
+      "spec": "^1.0.0",
+      "to": null,
+      "type": "optional",
+    },
+  },
+  "isProjectRoot": true,
+  "location": "",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-preinstall-fail-save-false",
+  "packageName": "optional-dep-preinstall-fail",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-preinstall-fail-save-false",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+}
+`
+
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-dep-preinstall-fail save=true > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
 ArboristNode {
   "edgesOut": Map {
     "@isaacs/testing-fail-preinstall" => EdgeOut {
@@ -17200,14 +17294,14 @@ ArboristNode {
   },
   "isProjectRoot": true,
   "location": "",
-  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-preinstall-fail",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-preinstall-fail-save-true",
   "packageName": "optional-dep-preinstall-fail",
-  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-preinstall-fail",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-preinstall-fail-save-true",
   "version": "1.0.0",
 }
 `
 
-exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-dep-tgz-missing > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-dep-tgz-missing save=false > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
 ArboristNode {
   "edgesOut": Map {
     "@isaacs/testing-missing-tgz" => EdgeOut {
@@ -17219,14 +17313,33 @@ ArboristNode {
   },
   "isProjectRoot": true,
   "location": "",
-  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-tgz-missing",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-tgz-missing-save-false",
   "packageName": "@isaacs/testing-optional-dep-tgz-missing",
-  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-tgz-missing",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-tgz-missing-save-false",
   "version": "1.0.0",
 }
 `
 
-exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-metadep-allinstall-fail > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-dep-tgz-missing save=true > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+ArboristNode {
+  "edgesOut": Map {
+    "@isaacs/testing-missing-tgz" => EdgeOut {
+      "name": "@isaacs/testing-missing-tgz",
+      "spec": "^1.0.1",
+      "to": null,
+      "type": "optional",
+    },
+  },
+  "isProjectRoot": true,
+  "location": "",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-tgz-missing-save-true",
+  "packageName": "@isaacs/testing-optional-dep-tgz-missing",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-dep-tgz-missing-save-true",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+}
+`
+
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-metadep-allinstall-fail save=false > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
 ArboristNode {
   "edgesOut": Map {
     "@isaacs/testing-prod-dep-allinstall-fail" => EdgeOut {
@@ -17238,14 +17351,33 @@ ArboristNode {
   },
   "isProjectRoot": true,
   "location": "",
-  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-allinstall-fail",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-allinstall-fail-save-false",
+  "packageName": "optional-metadep-allinstall-fail",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-allinstall-fail-save-false",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+}
+`
+
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-metadep-allinstall-fail save=true > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+ArboristNode {
+  "edgesOut": Map {
+    "@isaacs/testing-prod-dep-allinstall-fail" => EdgeOut {
+      "name": "@isaacs/testing-prod-dep-allinstall-fail",
+      "spec": "^1.0.1",
+      "to": null,
+      "type": "optional",
+    },
+  },
+  "isProjectRoot": true,
+  "location": "",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-allinstall-fail-save-true",
   "packageName": "optional-metadep-allinstall-fail",
-  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-allinstall-fail",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-allinstall-fail-save-true",
   "version": "1.0.0",
 }
 `
 
-exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-metadep-install-fail > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-metadep-install-fail save=false > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
 ArboristNode {
   "edgesOut": Map {
     "@isaacs/testing-prod-dep-install-fail" => EdgeOut {
@@ -17257,14 +17389,33 @@ ArboristNode {
   },
   "isProjectRoot": true,
   "location": "",
-  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-install-fail",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-install-fail-save-false",
+  "packageName": "optional-metadep-install-fail",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-install-fail-save-false",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+}
+`
+
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-metadep-install-fail save=true > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+ArboristNode {
+  "edgesOut": Map {
+    "@isaacs/testing-prod-dep-install-fail" => EdgeOut {
+      "name": "@isaacs/testing-prod-dep-install-fail",
+      "spec": "^1.0.1",
+      "to": null,
+      "type": "optional",
+    },
+  },
+  "isProjectRoot": true,
+  "location": "",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-install-fail-save-true",
   "packageName": "optional-metadep-install-fail",
-  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-install-fail",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-install-fail-save-true",
   "version": "1.0.0",
 }
 `
 
-exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-metadep-postinstall-fail > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-metadep-postinstall-fail save=false > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
 ArboristNode {
   "edgesOut": Map {
     "@isaacs/testing-prod-dep-postinstall-fail" => EdgeOut {
@@ -17276,14 +17427,33 @@ ArboristNode {
   },
   "isProjectRoot": true,
   "location": "",
-  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-postinstall-fail",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-postinstall-fail-save-false",
+  "packageName": "optional-metadep-postinstall-fail",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-postinstall-fail-save-false",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+}
+`
+
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-metadep-postinstall-fail save=true > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+ArboristNode {
+  "edgesOut": Map {
+    "@isaacs/testing-prod-dep-postinstall-fail" => EdgeOut {
+      "name": "@isaacs/testing-prod-dep-postinstall-fail",
+      "spec": "^1.0.1",
+      "to": null,
+      "type": "optional",
+    },
+  },
+  "isProjectRoot": true,
+  "location": "",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-postinstall-fail-save-true",
   "packageName": "optional-metadep-postinstall-fail",
-  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-postinstall-fail",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-postinstall-fail-save-true",
   "version": "1.0.0",
 }
 `
 
-exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-metadep-preinstall-fail > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-metadep-preinstall-fail save=false > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
 ArboristNode {
   "edgesOut": Map {
     "@isaacs/testing-prod-dep-preinstall-fail" => EdgeOut {
@@ -17295,14 +17465,33 @@ ArboristNode {
   },
   "isProjectRoot": true,
   "location": "",
-  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-preinstall-fail",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-preinstall-fail-save-false",
+  "packageName": "optional-metadep-preinstall-fail",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-preinstall-fail-save-false",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+}
+`
+
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-metadep-preinstall-fail save=true > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+ArboristNode {
+  "edgesOut": Map {
+    "@isaacs/testing-prod-dep-preinstall-fail" => EdgeOut {
+      "name": "@isaacs/testing-prod-dep-preinstall-fail",
+      "spec": "^1.0.1",
+      "to": null,
+      "type": "optional",
+    },
+  },
+  "isProjectRoot": true,
+  "location": "",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-preinstall-fail-save-true",
   "packageName": "optional-metadep-preinstall-fail",
-  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-preinstall-fail",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-preinstall-fail-save-true",
   "version": "1.0.0",
 }
 `
 
-exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-metadep-tgz-missing > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-metadep-tgz-missing save=false > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
 ArboristNode {
   "edgesOut": Map {
     "@isaacs/testing-prod-dep-tgz-missing" => EdgeOut {
@@ -17314,9 +17503,28 @@ ArboristNode {
   },
   "isProjectRoot": true,
   "location": "",
-  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-tgz-missing",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-tgz-missing-save-false",
+  "packageName": "@isaacs/testing-optional-metadep-tgz-missing",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-tgz-missing-save-false",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+}
+`
+
+exports[`test/arborist/reify.js TAP optional dependency failures optional-metadep-tgz-missing save=true > expect resolving Promise 1`] = `
+ArboristNode {
+  "edgesOut": Map {
+    "@isaacs/testing-prod-dep-tgz-missing" => EdgeOut {
+      "name": "@isaacs/testing-prod-dep-tgz-missing",
+      "spec": "^1.0.1",
+      "to": null,
+      "type": "optional",
+    },
+  },
+  "isProjectRoot": true,
+  "location": "",
+  "name": "tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-tgz-missing-save-true",
   "packageName": "@isaacs/testing-optional-metadep-tgz-missing",
-  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-tgz-missing",
+  "path": "{CWD}/test/arborist/tap-testdir-reify-optional-dependency-failures-optional-metadep-tgz-missing-save-true",
   "version": "1.0.0",
 }
 `
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/deduper.js b/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/deduper.js
index 3ec37bd6250f4..511ba87bf36eb 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/deduper.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/deduper.js
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ const fixture = (t, p) => require('../fixtures/reify-cases/' + p)(t)
 
 const cache = t.testdir()
 const dedupeTree = (path, opt) =>
-  new Arborist({ registry, path, cache, ...(opt || {}) }).dedupe(opt)
+  new Arborist({ registry, path, cache, save: false, ...(opt || {}) }).dedupe(opt)
 
 t.test('dedupes with actual tree', async t => {
   const path = fixture(t, 'dedupe-actual')
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/reify.js b/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/reify.js
index 50b1aebf441e8..c1052526ba89e 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/reify.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/reify.js
@@ -256,6 +256,7 @@ t.test('a workspace with a duplicated nested conflicted dep', t =>
 t.test('testing-peer-deps nested with update', t =>
   t.resolveMatchSnapshot(printReified(fixture(t, 'testing-peer-deps-nested'), {
     update: { names: ['@isaacs/testing-peer-deps'] },
+    save: false,
   })))
 
 t.test('update a bundling node without updating all of its deps', t => {
@@ -392,7 +393,7 @@ t.test('multiple bundles at the same level', t => {
 
 t.test('update a node without updating its children', t =>
   t.resolveMatchSnapshot(printReified(fixture(t, 'once-outdated'),
-    { update: { names: ['once'] } })))
+    { update: { names: ['once'] }, save: false })))
 
 t.test('do not add shrinkwrapped deps', t =>
   t.resolveMatchSnapshot(printReified(
@@ -508,6 +509,7 @@ t.test('update a node without updating a child that has bundle deps', t => {
   const path = fixture(t, 'testing-bundledeps-3')
   return t.resolveMatchSnapshot(printReified(path, {
     update: ['@isaacs/testing-bundledeps-parent'],
+    save: false,
   }))
 })
 
@@ -524,9 +526,16 @@ t.test('optional dependency failures', t => {
     'optional-metadep-postinstall-fail',
     'optional-metadep-allinstall-fail',
   ]
-  t.plan(cases.length)
-  cases.forEach(c => t.test(c, t =>
-    t.resolveMatchSnapshot(printReified(fixture(t, c), { update: true }))))
+  t.plan(cases.length * 2)
+  let p = [...cases.map(c => t.test(`${c} save=false`, t =>
+    t.resolveMatchSnapshot(printReified(fixture(t, c),
+      { update: true, save: false }))))]
+
+  // npm update --save
+  p = [...cases.map(c => t.test(`${c} save=true`, t =>
+    t.resolveMatchSnapshot(printReified(fixture(t, c),
+      { update: true, save: true }))))]
+  return p
 })
 
 t.test('failure to fetch prod dep is failure', t =>
@@ -665,6 +674,7 @@ t.test('rollbacks', { buffered: false }, t => {
 
     return t.resolveMatchSnapshot(a.reify({
       update: ['@isaacs/testing-bundledeps-parent'],
+      save: false,
     }).then(printTree))
   })
 
@@ -845,6 +855,7 @@ t.test('rollbacks', { buffered: false }, t => {
 
     return t.resolveMatchSnapshot(a.reify({
       update: ['@isaacs/testing-bundledeps-parent'],
+      save: false,
     }).then(tree => printTree(tree))).then(() => {
       const warnings = check()
       t.equal(warnings.length, 2)
@@ -1367,7 +1378,7 @@ t.test('save complete lockfile on update-all', async t => {
   const lock = () => fs.readFileSync(`${path}/package-lock.json`, 'utf8')
   await reify(path, { add: ['abbrev@1.0.4'] })
   t.matchSnapshot(lock(), 'should have abbrev 1.0.4')
-  await reify(path, { update: true })
+  await reify(path, { update: true, save: false })
   t.matchSnapshot(lock(), 'should update, but not drop root metadata')
 })
 
@@ -2478,7 +2489,7 @@ t.test('save package.json on update', t => {
       'package.json': JSON.stringify(pjson),
     })
 
-    await reify(path, { update: true })
+    await reify(path, { update: true, save: false })
 
     t.same(require(resolve(path, 'package.json')), pjson,
       'should not have changed package.json file on update all')
@@ -2490,7 +2501,7 @@ t.test('save package.json on update', t => {
       'package-lock.json': JSON.stringify(plock),
     })
 
-    await reify(path, { update: true })
+    await reify(path, { update: true, save: false })
 
     t.same(require(resolve(path, 'package.json')), pjson,
       'should not have changed package.json file on update all')
@@ -2511,7 +2522,7 @@ t.test('save package.json on update', t => {
       'package.json': JSON.stringify(pjson),
     })
 
-    await reify(path, { update: { names: ['abbrev'] } })
+    await reify(path, { update: { names: ['abbrev'] }, save: false })
 
     t.same(require(resolve(path, 'package.json')), pjson,
       'should not have changed package.json file on named update')