---
title: "Expo Integration Guide"
slug: "expo-integration-guide-react-native-intelligence"
description: "Set up the Mapp Intelligence React Native SDK in Expo apps: config plugin, Kotlin version, iOS scene support, prebuild and development builds."
status: "update"
updated: 2026-10-30T15:59:28Z
published: 2026-10-30T15:59:28Z
canonical: "docs.mapp.com/expo-integration-guide-react-native-intelligence"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mapp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Expo Integration Guide

Since version 2.0.0, the Mapp Intelligence React Native SDK supports Expo Prebuild and Continuous Native Generation (CNG) through a config plugin. You add the plugin to your Expo configuration, and Expo applies the required native setup every time it generates the `android` and `ios` folders.

> [!WARNING]
> Warning
> 
> Expo Go is not supported. The SDK contains native Android and iOS code that Expo Go cannot load. Use a development build (`expo-dev-client`) instead.

---

## Requirements

The Expo integration is validated with the following setup:

| Component | Validated version |
| --- | --- |
| Expo SDK | 57.0.30 |
| React Native | 0.86.3 |
| React | 19.2.3 |
| Android toolchain | Kotlin 2.3.20, Gradle 9.3.1, Java 21 |
| Android min / compile / target SDK | 24 / 36 / 36 |
| iOS deployment target | 15.1 (Xcode 16.1 or later) |
| Node.js | 22.13.0 or later |

Other Expo SDK versions have not been validated. Your React Native version must stay within the SDK's supported range `>=0.84.0 <0.87.0`.

---

## Step 1: Install the packages

From your Expo application directory, install the development client and the SDK:

```bash
npx expo install expo-dev-client
npm install mapp-intelligence-reactnative-plugin
```

With Yarn, install the SDK with `yarn add mapp-intelligence-reactnative-plugin`.

---

## Step 2: Register the config plugin

Add `mapp-intelligence-reactnative-plugin` to the `plugins` array in `app.json`:

```json
{
  "expo": {
    "plugins": ["mapp-intelligence-reactnative-plugin"]
  }
}
```

If your app already has plugins, append the package name to the existing array. For `app.config.js` or `app.config.ts`, add the same entry to the returned `expo.plugins` array.

The plugin has no options. It only adjusts the generated Android Kotlin configuration. It makes no changes to Android manifests or to the generated iOS project, and the SDK needs no permissions, `Info.plist` entries, or manual Xcode files.

### Kotlin version

The plugin does not set a Kotlin version itself. If you set one, the plugin applies it to the Gradle build. Otherwise, Expo’s default applies. The Mapp Android SDK requires a Kotlin 2.3 compiler, so set it explicitly if your Expo SDK uses an older default. Use `expo-build-properties`:

```json
{
  "expo": {
    "plugins": [
      [
        "expo-build-properties",
        {
          "android": {
            "kotlinVersion": "2.3.20"
          }
        }
      ],
      "mapp-intelligence-reactnative-plugin"
    ]
  }
}
```

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> The plugin requires a Groovy root `build.gradle`, which is the Expo default. With a Kotlin DSL build script, the prebuild stops with an error. In that case, configure the Kotlin plugin version in the build script yourself.

### iOS scene support for Expo SDK 57

If you build an Expo SDK 57 app with Xcode 27 for iOS 27, enable scene support in `expo-build-properties`. This requires Expo 57.0.23 or later and an up-to-date `expo-build-properties` package:

```json
["expo-build-properties", { "ios": { "enableSceneSupport": true } }]
```

Merge the option into your existing `expo-build-properties` entry. Remove it after upgrading to Expo SDK 58, which enables scenes by default.

---

## Step 3: Generate the native projects

Check that the Expo configuration resolves without errors:

```bash
npx expo config --type public
```

Then run a clean prebuild:

```bash
npx expo prebuild --clean
```

Prebuild applies the config plugin, and React Native autolinking adds the SDK to both native projects. You can repeat clean prebuilds safely. Keep any other native settings in your Expo configuration or in config plugins, because a clean prebuild regenerates the `android` and `ios` folders.

---

## Step 4: Build and run the development app

```bash
npx expo run:android
npx expo run:ios
```

After the development app is installed, start Metro for it:

```bash
npx expo start --dev-client
```

Open the installed development app, not Expo Go.

---

## Step 5: Initialize the SDK

The JavaScript and TypeScript API is identical to a React Native CLI app. Initialize the SDK as described in [Installation & initialization](/docs/en/react-integration-and-configuration), then verify that it works:

```javascript
import { MappIntelligencePlugin } from 'mapp-intelligence-reactnative-plugin';

const initialized = await MappIntelligencePlugin.isInitialized();

if (!initialized) {
  throw new Error('Mapp Intelligence did not initialize');
}

await MappIntelligencePlugin.trackPage('Application started');
```

Test both the Android and the iOS development build.

---

## When to rebuild

Run `npx expo prebuild --clean` again and rebuild the development app after you install or upgrade the SDK, or change native Expo configuration. JavaScript-only changes need only a Metro reload.

---

## Migrating an existing app

If you already use the SDK in a React Native CLI app, or want to convert a CLI app to Expo Prebuild, see [Migrating from 1.1.3 to 2.0.0](/docs/en/migrating-1-1-3-to-2-0-0-react-native-intelligence).