Upgrading Expo

Upgrade Process

1. Pre-Upgrade Checklist

• Review Expo SDK release notes
• Identify breaking changes affecting your app
• Check compatibility of third-party packages
• Backup current project state
• Create a feature branch for the upgrade

2. Update Expo SDK

# Update Expo CLI
npm install -g expo-cli@latest

# Upgrade Expo SDK
npx expo install expo@latest

# Update all Expo packages
npx expo install --fix

3. Handle Breaking Changes

• Review migration guides for breaking changes
• Update deprecated API calls
• Modify configuration files as needed
• Update native dependencies if required
• Test affected features thoroughly

4. Update Dependencies

# Check for outdated packages
npx expo-doctor

# Update packages to compatible versions
npx expo install --fix

# Verify compatibility
npx expo-doctor

5. Testing

• Test core app functionality
• Verify native modules work correctly
• Check for runtime errors
• Test on both iOS and Android
• Verify app store builds still work

Common Issues

Dependency Conflicts

• Use expo install instead of npm install for Expo packages
• Check package compatibility with new SDK version
• Resolve peer dependency warnings

Configuration Changes

• Update app.json for new SDK requirements
• Migrate deprecated configuration options
• Update native configuration files if needed

Breaking API Changes

• Review API migration guides
• Update code to use new APIs
• Test affected features after changes

Best Practices

• Always upgrade in a feature branch
• Test thoroughly before merging
• Review release notes carefully
• Update dependencies incrementally
• Keep Expo CLI updated
• Use expo-doctor to verify setup

Resources

For more information, see the source repository.

Limitations

• Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
• Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
• Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.