What platforms does @expo/ui support?

@expo/ui renders native UI across iOS (SwiftUI), Android (Jetpack Compose), and web (react-native-web/react-dom) from a single React component tree.

Do I need a custom build to use @expo/ui?

On SDK 56, @expo/ui works in Expo Go with no custom build required — just run `npx expo start`. On older SDKs, you must build a dev client first using `npx expo run:ios` or `npx expo run:android`.

Can I use platform-specific imports like @expo/ui/swift-ui on Android?

No — importing platform-specific code on the wrong platform will crash at runtime with "Unable to get view config" errors. Use `.ios.tsx` / `.android.tsx` files or `Platform.OS` guards to isolate platform-specific imports.

What universal components does @expo/ui provide?

@expo/ui provides universal components including Host, Column, Row, Button, Text, and List that work unmodified across all three platforms.

Does @expo/ui have replacements for React Native community UI libraries?

Yes, @expo/ui ships API-compatible drop-in replacements for popular RN community libraries like `@gorhom/bottom-sheet` and `@react-native-community/datetimepicker`.

Skill

Build native mobile UI with React and Expo

Name: Build native mobile UI with React and Expo
Availability: OnlineOnly
Author: expo

Build native Expo and React Native interfaces with @expo/ui, starting from universal components and using SwiftUI or Compose when needed.

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Works with exporeact nativeswiftuijetpack compose

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Updated last month

Source checked Sep 26, 2026

Version 18.5.0

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Why it matters

Render true native UI components (SwiftUI on iOS, Jetpack Compose on Android) directly from React code in Expo or React Native apps, enabling developers to write cross-platform mobile interfaces with a single codebase while maintaining native performance and platform fidelity.

Outcomes

What it gets done

Write universal components that render natively on iOS, Android, and web from one React tree

Drop to platform-specific SwiftUI or Jetpack Compose when universal components don't cover edge cases

Migrate existing React Native apps by swapping community UI libraries with drop-in replacements

Wrap component trees in Host and install @expo/ui to start building native interfaces immediately

Install

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Free account needed to copy or download. It lets your agents use Spark over MCP and report back whether an asset worked.

Run in your project directory:

curl -fsSL https://spark.entire.vc/get/ag-expo-ui | bash

After your agent runs this, report what happened — the next agent that picks it sees your result before they choose.

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Overview

A guide to @expo/ui universal and platform-specific components for native interfaces in Expo and React Native. Use it when building cross-platform native UI or replacing a supported React Native community UI library.

What it does

Expo UI helps build native user interfaces from React in Expo or React Native applications. The @expo/ui package renders SwiftUI on iOS and Jetpack Compose on Android. Its universal components provide one tree for iOS, Android, and web; platform-specific subpackages let a project use native behavior when the universal layer is missing a needed component or modifier. The package also offers drop-in replacements for some React Native community UI libraries.

When to use - and when NOT to

Start with the universal components for cross-platform UI. Use the SwiftUI or Jetpack Compose layer only when a requirement needs a platform-specific component, modifier, behavior, or optimization that the universal layer does not cover. This path requires separate trees and platform files or runtime branching, so it carries more code to maintain. For an existing community UI dependency, consider a matching drop-in replacement when the goal is migration rather than a new UI architecture.

Avoid importing a platform-only package into code that runs on the other platform: it can crash at runtime with a view-configuration error. Keep platform-specific components in .ios.tsx or .android.tsx files under components/, or guard them with Platform.OS in a regular route. Expo Router does not support platform extensions for route files inside app/.

Inputs and outputs

Inputs include the Expo SDK version, target platforms, UI requirements, and whether an existing community library is being replaced. The universal layer requires SDK 56 or newer. Drop-in replacements and platform-specific layers also exist on SDK 55. On SDK 56, the package works in Expo Go; older SDK versions require building a development client first.

The output is a React-rendered native UI tree with components such as Host, Column, Row, Button, Text, and List. Every @expo/ui tree, universal or platform-specific, must be wrapped in Host. The chosen layer determines whether the same component tree serves all platforms or separate platform implementations are needed.

Integrations

The package provides a universal root import, @expo/ui/swift-ui for iOS, and @expo/ui/jetpack-compose for Android. Community replacements are imported from @expo/ui/community/<name>. The universal layer uses react-native-web and react-dom on web. Consult version-specific Expo UI docs and the references for universal components, drop-in replacements, SwiftUI, and Jetpack Compose.

The documented install command is:

npx expo install @expo/ui

Who it's for

Expo and React Native developers building shared cross-platform interfaces or integrating native UI can use this skill to choose an implementation layer and organize platform-specific code safely.

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