KeyboardGestureArea breaks keyboard dismissing

[SamuraiF0x]

Describe the bug
I'm using KeyboardGestureArea to extend the drag area to start from the top of the chat input instead of the top of the keyboard.

When I enter chat and focus input, then press back button to exit chat, keyboard doesn't dismiss.
When swiping from left screen edge, keyboard always dismisses.

Removing textInputNativeID resolves the issue, but of course KeyboardGestureArea doesn't work then.

First couple of times, keyboard dismisses, afterwards it never dismisses when leaving screen if input focused.

Code snippet

<KeyboardGestureArea
   style={{ flex: 1 }}
   offset={inputHeight}
   textInputNativeID="chat-input"
   interpolator="ios"
>
   <TextInput
      ref={ref}
      nativeID="chat-input"
      ...
   />
</KeyboardGestureArea>

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Focus input
2. Keyboard opens up
3. Press back button to exit chat
4. Keyboard stays open, cannot be dismissed
5. (sometimes do prev steps a couple of times before keyboard breaks and doesn't dismiss)

WhatsApp.Video.2026-01-12.at.22.21.54.mp4

Expected behavior
Keyboard should dismiss when screen with focused input is exited.

Screenshots
If applicable, add screenshots to help explain your problem.

Smartphone (please complete the following information):

• Device: iPhone Air (ios 26.2), iPhone 16 (ios 18.3)
• OS: iOS 26.2, 18.3
• RN version: 0.81.4
• RN architecture: new
• JS engine: hermes
• Library version: 1.20.4

[kirillzyusko]

Hey @SamuraiF0x

Could you please provide a minimal reproduction example? I've tried to reproduce it in example project, but I can not. So reproduction repo is highly desired to push the progress forward 🙏