upgrading-expo

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

bash

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

bash

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

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.

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

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

Check if there are any outdated patches in the

patches/

directory. Remove them if they are no longer needed.

Remove redundant metro config options:

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.