References

•./references/new-architecture.md -- SDK +53: New Architecture migration guide
•./references/react-19.md -- SDK +54: React 19 changes (useContext → use, Context.Provider → Context, forwardRef removal)
•./references/react-compiler.md -- SDK +54: React Compiler setup and migration guide

Step-by-Step Upgrade Process

•Upgrade Expo and dependencies

bash

npx expo install expo@latest
npx expo install --fix

•
Run diagnostics: npx expo-doctor
•
Clear caches and reinstall

bash

npx expo export -p ios --clear
rm -rf node_modules .expo
watchman watch-del-all

Breaking Changes Checklist

•Check for removed APIs in release notes
•Update import paths for moved modules
•Review native module changes requiring prebuild
•Test all camera, audio, and video features
•Verify navigation still works correctly

Prebuild for Native Changes

If upgrading requires native changes:

bash

npx expo prebuild --clean

This regenerates the ios and android directories. Ensure the project is not a bare workflow app before running this command.

Clear caches for bare workflow

•Clear the cocoapods cache for iOS: cd ios && pod install --repo-update
•Clear derived data for Xcode: npx expo run:ios --no-build-cache
•Clear the Gradle cache for Android: cd android && ./gradlew clean

Housekeeping

•Review release notes for the target SDK version at https://expo.dev/changelog
•If using Expo SDK 54 or later, ensure react-native-worklets is installed — this is required for react-native-reanimated to work.
•Enable React Compiler in SDK 54+ by adding "experiments": { "reactCompiler": true } to app.json — it's stable and recommended
•Delete sdkVersion from app.json to let Expo manage it automatically
•Remove implicit packages from package.json: @babel/core, babel-preset-expo, expo-constants.
•If the babel.config.js only contains 'babel-preset-expo', delete the file
•If the metro.config.js only contains expo defaults, delete the file

Deprecated Packages

Old Package	Replacement
`expo-av`	`expo-audio` and `expo-video`
`expo-permissions`	Individual package permission APIs
`@expo/vector-icons`	`expo-symbols` (for SF Symbols)
`AsyncStorage`	`expo-sqlite/localStorage/install`
`expo-app-loading`	`expo-splash-screen`
expo-linear-gradient	experimental_backgroundImage + CSS gradients in View

Removing patches

Check if there are any outdated patches in the patches/ directory. Remove them if they are no longer needed.

Postcss

•autoprefixer isn't needed in SDK +53.
•Use postcss.config.mjs in SDK +53.

Metro

Remove redundant metro config options:

•resolver.unstable_enablePackageExports is enabled by default in SDK +53.
•experimentalImportSupport is enabled by default in SDK +54.
•EXPO_USE_FAST_RESOLVER=1 is removed in SDK +54.
•cjs and mjs extensions are supported by default in SDK +50.
•Expo webpack is deprecated, migrate to Expo Router and Metro web.

New Architecture

The new architecture is enabled by default, the app.json field "newArchEnabled": true is no longer needed as it's the default. Expo Go only supports the new architecture as of SDK +53.