React Native 0.85: 10 Key Updates and Improvements You Should Know

Introduction

React Native 0.85 has officially rolled out, bringing a host of exciting changes that enhance performance, developer experience, and compatibility. From a groundbreaking animation engine to refined debugging tools and important breaking changes, this release sets the stage for more efficient mobile development. In this article, we’ll walk you through the ten most critical updates—covering highlights, practical implications, and migration steps—so you can quickly adapt your projects and leverage the new capabilities. Whether you’re a seasoned React Native developer or just getting started, these insights will help you navigate the 0.85 upgrade with confidence.

1. New Animation Backend (Shared with Reanimated)

The headline feature of React Native 0.85 is the new Shared Animation Backend, co-developed with Software Mansion. This internal engine powers both the Animated library and Reanimated, moving core animation update logic into React Native core. The result? Significant performance improvements—especially for Reanimated—that were previously unattainable. Additionally, the updated reconciliation process is now thoroughly tested and remains stable across future RN versions. For the first time, you can animate layout properties like width, height, and flex using the native driver within Animated, eliminating previous limitations. This change unlocks smoother, more fluid UI transitions without sacrificing performance.

2. How to Enable and Use the New Animation Backend

To start leveraging the new animation backend, you need to opt into the experimental channel of React Native, which becomes available starting from version 0.85.1 (to be released soon). Once enabled, simple code changes let you animate layout props natively. For example, the following snippet shows how to animate a view’s width:

import { Animated, Button, View, useAnimatedValue } from 'react-native';
const width = useAnimatedValue(100);
Animated.timing(width, { toValue: 300, duration: 500, useNativeDriver: true }).start();

This approach dramatically reduces JavaScript thread load, making animations buttery smooth. For more examples, check the react-native/packages/rn-tester/js/examples/AnimationBackend/ directory. Upgrading to 0.85.1 and enabling the experimental flag is all it takes.

3. React Native DevTools: Multiple CDP Connections

Developer tooling gets a major upgrade with support for multiple simultaneous Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP) connections. Now you can connect React Native DevTools, VS Code, and even AI agents to the same app instance without conflicts. No more unexpected session endings when switching tools. This unlocks richer, composable debugging workflows—for example, using React DevTools to inspect components while an AI agent logs network traffic. The improvement is especially valuable for teams that rely on multiple debugging interfaces during development, boosting productivity and reducing friction.

4. Enhanced DevTools: Native Tabs and Network Fixes

Two additional DevTools improvements deserve attention. First, the macOS desktop app has been recompiled for macOS 26 and now supports system-level tab handling. By navigating to Window > Merge All Windows, you can consolidate multiple DevTools windows into one interface—ideal for power users managing several inspector panels. Second, request body previews in the Network Panel have been restored on Android after being disabled by a regression. This fix gives you back the ability to inspect payloads sent by your app, streamlining API debugging and saving hours of manual logging.

5. Metro Dev Server HTTPS (TLS) Support

The Metro bundler now accepts a TLS configuration object, enabling HTTPS for the development server. This means you can run npx react-native start with a secure connection, which also upgrades WebSocket (WSS) for Fast Refresh. While this might not affect local development on simulators, it’s a crucial feature for testing on physical devices over a network or when your corporate policy mandates encrypted traffic. Simply pass your certificate and key details to the Metro config, and your dev server becomes TLS-enabled without extra proxy setup.

6. Breaking Change: Jest Preset Moved to New Package

Starting with 0.85, the Jest preset that was previously included in the react-native package has been moved to its own dedicated package: @react-native/jest-preset. If you use Jest for testing, you must update your configuration. Install the new package and adjust your setup to reference @react-native/jest-preset instead of react-native/jest-preset. This change simplifies dependency management and reduces the bundle size for projects that don’t require testing. Don’t forget to check your CI/CD pipelines—they may need updating too.

7. Dropped Support for End-of-Life Node.js Versions

React Native 0.85 ends support for Node.js versions that have reached their end of life. Specifically, versions earlier than 18 are no longer guaranteed to work. If your development environment still runs Node 16 or below, upgrade to Node 18 LTS (or later) before updating to 0.85. This move aligns React Native with the broader Node ecosystem, ensuring better security, performance, and compatibility with modern JavaScript features. Check your .nvmrc or Docker image to avoid unexpected build failures.

8. Removal of StyleSheet.absoluteFillObject

The deprecated StyleSheet.absoluteFillObject has been removed in this release. This utility method provided a shorthand for absolute positioning with fill behavior, but it has been replaced by more explicit styling approaches. If your codebase uses absoluteFillObject, you must replace it with a style object that sets position: 'absolute', left: 0, right: 0, top: 0, bottom: 0 (or use StyleSheet.absoluteFill if you keep the reference but update the import). Migrating now will prevent runtime errors and keep your codebase future-proof.

9. Other Breaking Changes to Be Aware Of

Beyond the major deprecations, React Native 0.85 includes several additional breaking adjustments. These include changes to the Dimensions API handling, removal of certain deprecated event emitter methods, and stricter prop-type validations. While each might be minor individually, they can accumulate into migration headaches. We recommend reviewing the official upgrade guide carefully. Common fixes involve updating third-party library versions, removing refs to removed APIs, and adjusting any custom native module code that relied on internal implementation details.

10. Future Outlook: What’s Next for React Native

The 0.85 release sets the stage for a more performant and developer-friendly React Native. With the experimental animation backend expected to become stable in upcoming patches, and with continued investment in DevTools and Metro, the framework is moving toward parity with native development experiences. Keep an eye on the 0.85.1 release for the official launch of the new animation system. As always, test your apps thoroughly after upgrading—especially if you rely on Reanimated or custom animations. The React Native team is actively listening to feedback, so don’t hesitate to report issues on GitHub.

Conclusion

React Native 0.85 is more than a routine update—it’s a leap forward in animation performance, debugging convenience, and modern infrastructure. By adopting the new animation backend, embracing improved DevTools, and carefully migrating away from deprecated features, you can build richer, faster mobile experiences. While breaking changes require attention, the long-term benefits of a leaner, more secure, and more capable framework are well worth the effort. Upgrade today and unlock the full potential of React Native 0.85.