/expo-upgrade

React 19

React 19 is included in Expo SDK 54. This release simplifies several common patterns.

Context Changes

useContext → use

The use hook replaces useContext:

// Before (React 18)
import { useContext } from "react";
const value = useContext(MyContext);

// After (React 19)
import { use } from "react";
const value = use(MyContext);

• The use hook can also read promises, enabling Suspense-based data fetching.
• use can be called conditionally, this simplifies components that consume multiple contexts.

Context.Provider → Context

Context providers no longer need the .Provider suffix:

// Before (React 18)
<ThemeContext.Provider value={theme}>
  {children}
</ThemeContext.Provider>

// After (React 19)
<ThemeContext value={theme}>
  {children}
</ThemeContext>

ref as a Prop

Removing forwardRef

Components can now receive ref as a regular prop. forwardRef is no longer needed:

// Before (React 18)
import { forwardRef } from "react";

const Input = forwardRef<TextInput, Props>((props, ref) => {
  return <TextInput ref={ref} {...props} />;
});

// After (React 19)
function Input({ ref, ...props }: Props & { ref?: React.Ref<TextInput> }) {
  return <TextInput ref={ref} {...props} />;
}

Migration Steps

1. Remove forwardRef wrapper
2. Add ref to the props destructuring
3. Update the type to include ref?: React.Ref<T>

Other React 19 Features

• Actions — Functions that handle async transitions
• useOptimistic — Optimistic UI updates
• useFormStatus — Form submission state (web)
• Document Metadata — Native <title> and <meta> support (web)

Cleanup Checklist

When upgrading to SDK 54:

• Replace useContext with use
• Remove .Provider from Context components
• Remove forwardRef wrappers, use ref prop instead