// Integrate Expo and React Native into an existing native iOS or Android app. Use when the user mentions brownfield, embedding React Native in a native app, AAR/XCFramework, or adding Expo to an existing Kotlin/Swift project. Covers both the isolated approach and the integrated approach.
| name | expo-brownfield |
| description | Integrate Expo and React Native into an existing native iOS or Android app. Use when the user mentions brownfield, embedding React Native in a native app, AAR/XCFramework, or adding Expo to an existing Kotlin/Swift project. Covers both the isolated approach and the integrated approach. |
A brownfield app is an existing native iOS or Android app that adopts React Native incrementally, as opposed to a greenfield app that is React Native from day one.
Expo supports two distinct ways to add React Native to a brownfield project:
| Approach | What ships to the native app | When to choose |
|---|---|---|
| Isolated | Prebuilt AAR / XCFramework | Native team doesn't need Node or RN tooling; RN code can live in a separate repo |
| Integrated | React Native sources added to the existing Gradle / CocoaPods build | One team owns everything; comfortable with RN tooling; wants a single build |
For the full decision matrix, see ./references/comparison.md.
Use these quick rules — fall through to comparison.md for anything ambiguous.
More information available at https://docs.expo.dev/brownfield/overview/
Both approaches require, in the environment that builds the React Native side:
The integrated approach additionally requires CocoaPods on iOS (sudo gem install cocoapods). The isolated approach does not require CocoaPods or any RN tooling in the consuming native app.
Expo SDK 55 is the minimum supported version for brownfield integration. Earlier SDKs lack expo-brownfield, the required ExpoReactHostFactory / ExpoReactNativeFactory entry points, and the current autolinking surface. When creating the Expo project, always pin the SDK explicitly:
npx create-expo-app@latest my-project --template default@sdk-55
Pin the same Expo SDK across both the RN project and any embedded dependencies.
Add an iOS App Clip target to an Expo app. Use when the user mentions App Clip, AASA, apple-app-site-association, appclips, smart app banner, or wants to ship a lightweight iOS Clip invoked from a URL alongside their parent app.
Guide for creating and writing Expo native modules and views using the Expo Modules API (Swift, Kotlin, TypeScript). Covers module definition DSL, native views, shared objects, config plugins, lifecycle hooks, autolinking, and type system. Use when building or modifying native modules for Expo.
Guidelines for upgrading Expo SDK versions and fixing dependency issues
Check the health of published EAS Updates: crash rates, install/launch counts, unique users, payload size, and the split between embedded and OTA users per channel. Use when the user asks how an update is performing, whether a rollout is healthy, how many users are on the embedded build vs OTA, or wants to gate CI on update health.
`@expo/ui/jetpack-compose` package lets you use Jetpack Compose Views and modifiers in your app.
`@expo/ui/swift-ui` package lets you use SwiftUI Views and modifiers in your app.