Upgrading React Native

by callstackincubator61e6e7dfdf3aMIT1.6K starsListed Oct 8, 2026Updated Oct 8, 2026Repository updated today

Upgrades React Native apps to newer versions by applying rn-diff-purge template diffs, updating package.json dependencies, migrating native iOS and Android configuration, resolving CocoaPods and Gradle changes, and handling breaking API updates. Use when upgrading React Native, bumping RN version, updating from RN 0.x to 0.y, or migrating Expo SDK alongside a React Native upgrade.

Instructions onlySoftware Development
AI-generated overview

Guides upgrading React Native apps: template diffs, dependency updates, native iOS/Android config, and verification.

What it does
This skill provides an instruction-only workflow for moving a React Native app to a newer version. It routes the user through template diffs from Upgrade Helper, package.json dependency updates, React version alignment, Expo SDK steps, and native iOS/Android configuration changes such as CocoaPods and Gradle. It also includes post-upgrade verification guidance and monorepo or single-repo command scoping.
When to use it
Use it when upgrading a React Native app to a newer release, bumping the React Native version, or migrating an Expo SDK alongside a React Native upgrade. It is also relevant when reconciling native configuration changes from Upgrade Helper or checking release notes for breaking changes.
Requirements
No scripts are included; it is instructions only. It references external commands and services such as npm, CocoaPods, Gradle, Xcode, and the Upgrade Helper diff endpoint, so network access and a React Native project environment are needed to apply the steps.

Upgrading React Native

Overview

Covers the full React Native upgrade workflow: template diffs via Upgrade Helper, dependency updates, Expo SDK steps, and common pitfalls.

Typical Upgrade Sequence

  1. Route: Choose the right upgrade path via upgrading-react-native.md [blocked]
  2. Diff: Fetch the canonical template diff using Upgrade Helper via upgrade-helper-core.md [blocked]
  3. Dependencies: Assess and update third-party packages via upgrading-dependencies.md [blocked]
  4. React: Align React version if upgraded via react.md [blocked]
  5. Expo (if applicable): Apply Expo SDK layer via expo-sdk-upgrade.md [blocked]
  6. Verify: Run post-upgrade checks via upgrade-verification.md [blocked]
bash
# Quick start: detect current version and fetch diffnpm pkg get dependencies.react-native --prefix "$APP_DIR"npm view react-native dist-tags.latest
# Example: upgrading from 0.76.9 to 0.78.2# 1. Fetch the template diffcurl -L -f -o /tmp/rn-diff.diff \  "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/react-native-community/rn-diff-purge/diffs/diffs/0.76.9..0.78.2.diff" \  && echo "Diff downloaded OK" || echo "ERROR: diff not found, check versions"# 2. Review changed filesgrep -n "^diff --git" /tmp/rn-diff.diff# 3. Update package.json, apply native changes, then install + rebuildnpm install --prefix "$APP_DIR"cd "$APP_DIR/ios" && pod install# 4. Validate: both platforms must build successfullynpx react-native build-android --mode debug --no-packagerxcodebuild -workspace "$APP_DIR/ios/App.xcworkspace" -scheme App -sdk iphonesimulator build

When to Apply

Reference these guidelines when:

  • Moving a React Native app to a newer version
  • Reconciling native config changes from Upgrade Helper
  • Validating release notes for breaking changes

Quick Reference

FileDescription
upgrading-react-native.md [blocked]Router: choose the right upgrade path
upgrade-helper-core.md [blocked]Core Upgrade Helper workflow and reliability gates
upgrading-dependencies.md [blocked]Dependency compatibility checks and migration planning
react.md [blocked]React and React 19 upgrade alignment rules
expo-sdk-upgrade.md [blocked]Expo SDK-specific upgrade layer (conditional)
upgrade-verification.md [blocked]Post-upgrade verification checklist, including agent-device-assisted checks
monorepo-singlerepo-targeting.md [blocked]Monorepo and single-repo app targeting and command scoping

Problem → Skill Mapping

ProblemStart With
Need to upgrade React Nativeupgrade-helper-core.md [blocked]
Need dependency risk triage and migration optionsupgrading-dependencies.md [blocked]
Need React/React 19 package alignmentreact.md [blocked]
Need workflow routing firstupgrading-react-native.md [blocked]
Need Expo SDK-specific stepsexpo-sdk-upgrade.md [blocked]
Need manual or agent-assisted regression validationupgrade-verification.md [blocked]
Need repo/app command scopingmonorepo-singlerepo-targeting.md [blocked]

Source and attribution

Source:callstackincubator/agent-skillsinskills/upgrading-react-nativeat commit61e6e7d

License: MIT

Content belongs to its original authors. SourceWeft indexes it from a public repository.

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Upgrading React Native Agent Skill | SourceWeft