6 Key Updates in React Native 0.85 You Should Know

React Native 0.85 has landed, and it’s packed with performance boosts, tooling refinements, and necessary breaking changes. From a revamped animation engine to better developer experiences and tighter security, this release sets the stage for smoother app development. Whether you’re a seasoned React Native developer or just getting started, understanding these six key updates will help you upgrade with confidence. Let’s dive in.

1. A New Animation Backend for Smoother Interactions

React Native 0.85 introduces a shared animation backend developed in collaboration with Software Mansion. This internal engine powers both Animated and Reanimated, moving core animation logic into React Native itself. The result? Performance improvements that were previously out of reach, along with better testing and long-term stability. One standout feature: you can now animate layout properties—like Flexbox and position—using the native driver. That means silky smooth transitions for width, height, and margins without dropping frames. To opt in, enable the experimental channel starting from version 0.85.1 (coming soon). This is a major step forward for UI fluidity.

2. Enhanced React Native DevTools

Developer tooling gets a substantial upgrade in 0.85. Multiple simultaneous CDP connections are now supported, allowing tools like React Native DevTools, VS Code, and AI agents to work together without conflicts. This fosters richer, composable workflows. For macOS users, the desktop app compiles for macOS 26 and now supports native tab handling—just go to Window > Merge All Windows to organize multiple DevTools windows. Additionally, request body previews in the Network Panel have been restored on Android after a regression. These improvements make debugging faster and more collaborative.

3. Metro Dev Server Now Supports TLS

Security during development gets a boost with Metro TLS support. The Metro dev server can now accept a TLS configuration object, enabling HTTPS for the development server and WSS (WebSocket Secure) for Fast Refresh. This is especially useful for teams working with secure cookies, service workers, or simply wanting to match production conditions more closely during development. No more self-signed certificate headaches—just configure TLS and your development environment becomes more robust and secure.

4. Jest Preset Moved to Its Own Package

Breaking change alert: the Jest preset that was bundled in React Native has been extracted into a dedicated package. This means you’ll need to install and import the preset from the new package to keep your tests running. While this adds a small step to your upgrade process, it aligns with React Native’s move toward modularization and makes it easier to update Jest configurations independently. Check the migration guide to update your jest.config.js or package.json accordingly. This change, though disruptive, improves long-term maintainability.

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

React Native 0.85 removes support for Node.js versions that have reached their end-of-life (EOL). If you’re still on an older Node release (like 14.x or below), you’ll need to upgrade to a supported LTS version before updating. This is a standard practice that ensures compatibility with modern tooling and security patches. Check your Node version with node -v and plan an upgrade if necessary. It’s a small upfront effort to keep your environment secure and future-proof.

6. Removal of StyleSheet.absoluteFillObject

Another breaking change: StyleSheet.absoluteFillObject has been removed. This was a convenience object used for absolute positioning that filled the parent. Instead, use the standard StyleSheet.absoluteFill property or define your own absolute-fill style. This cleanup reduces redundancy in the API and encourages consistent styling patterns. When upgrading, search your codebase for absoluteFillObject and replace it with absoluteFill or an explicit style object.

Conclusion

React Native 0.85 is a meaningful release that enhances performance, security, and developer experience. The new animation backend unlocks smoother UI transitions, improved DevTools boost debugging efficiency, and Metro TLS makes development more secure. While there are breaking changes like the Jest preset migration and removal of deprecated APIs, the long-term benefits are clear. Plan your upgrade, test your app thoroughly, and enjoy the refinements. For full details, check the official changelog and migration guides.