Upgrading Expo

Upgrading Expo

Selective Reading Rule

Start with:

• references/senior-master-standard.md
• references/usage-routing.md
• references/quality-checklist.md

Then load only the inherited docs, scripts, assets, or examples that match the user's actual task.

Overview

Upgrade Expo SDK versions safely, handling breaking changes, dependencies, and configuration updates.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to upgrade Expo SDK versions.

Use this skill when:

• Upgrading to a new Expo SDK version
• Handling breaking changes between SDK versions
• Updating dependencies for compatibility
• Migrating deprecated APIs to new versions
• Preparing apps for new Expo features

Instructions

This skill guides you through upgrading Expo SDK versions:

1. Pre-Upgrade Planning: Review release notes and breaking changes
2. Dependency Updates: Update packages for SDK compatibility
3. Configuration Migration: Update app.json and configuration files
4. Code Updates: Migrate deprecated APIs to new versions
5. Testing: Verify app functionality after upgrade

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# Check for outdated packages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.