react-native-keyboard-controller causes crash in Expo (Managed Workflow)

[emmsdan]

Issue Description

After installing a new Expo app ("expo": "~52.0.37",), I installed react-native-gifted-chat. However, the app could not load.

Steps to Reproduce / Code Snippets

• Create a new expo application, (npx create-expo-app@latest MyChatty)
• Install Gifted chat npx expo install react-native-gifted-chat react-native-reanimated react-native-keyboard-controller
• run app

Error Message

iOS Bundled 2125ms node_modules/expo-router/entry.js (1323 modules)
 (NOBRIDGE) LOG  Bridgeless mode is enabled
 INFO
 💡 JavaScript logs will be removed from Metro in React Native 0.77! Please use React Native DevTools as your default tool. Tip: Type j in the terminal to open (requires Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge).
 (NOBRIDGE) ERROR  Error: The package 'react-native-keyboard-controller' doesn't seem to be linked. Make sure:

- You have run 'pod install'
- You rebuilt the app after installing the package
- You are not using Expo Go
 [Component Stack]
 (NOBRIDGE) WARN  Route "./(tabs)/explore.tsx" is missing the required default export. Ensure a React component is exported as default. [Component Stack]
 (NOBRIDGE) WARN  [Layout children]: Too many screens defined. Route "explore" is extraneous. [Component Stack]

System spec

Node.js version: v22.13.1
React version: 18.3.1
React Native version: 0.76.7
react-native-gifted-chat version: 2.8.0
Platform(s): iOS & Android (simulator/emulator) could not build)
TypeScript version: 5.3.3

[jakecurreri]

Ran into this issue when upgrading on RN 0.76.7. Rolled back to my last working version (2.6.3).

[emmsdan]

Ran into this issue when upgrading on RN 0.76.7. Rolled back to my last working version (2.6.3).

Thanks @jakecurreri , I tried your solution out, and it worked for me also.

Downgraded react-native-gifted-chat to 2.6.3

npx expo install react-native-gifted-chat@2.6.3

[NiharR027]

+1, with react-native-gifted-chat version 2.8.0 and on expo sdk 51, seeing this issue too...

iOS Bundling failed 4494ms index.js (5715 modules)
Unable to resolve "react-native-keyboard-controller" from "node_modules/react-native-gifted-chat/lib/GiftedChat/index.js"

[abpbackup]

This is due to a limitation of Expo go with the react-native-keyboard-controller package which is not supported. You need to use a development build or wait for expo go to support this package.

[jkronk]

I have this same issue, its really annoying

[izaacMBD]

I have the same problem, does anyone know how to solve it?

[amandaharlin]

@izaacMBD what version are you on? have you tried downgrading to 2.6.3?