React Native 0.85: 10 Key Updates You Can't Miss

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React Native 0.85 has arrived, and it's packed with performance boosts, developer conveniences, and essential breaking changes. From a brand-new animation engine to improved debugging tools and security upgrades, this release sets the stage for faster, smoother mobile apps. Whether you're building with Animated or Reanimated, connecting multiple dev tools, or securing your dev server, these ten updates will transform your workflow. Let's dive into what's new—and what you need to change.

1. New Shared Animation Backend

React Native 0.85 introduces the Shared Animation Backend, built in collaboration with Software Mansion. This internal engine now powers Animated and Reanimated animations under the hood. By centralizing the update logic in React Native core, Reanimated can achieve performance gains that were previously impossible. The new backend also ensures that update reconciliation is thoroughly tested and remains stable across future React Native versions. For developers, this means smoother animations and better consistency—especially when using native drivers with layout properties like Flexbox and positioning.

To try it out, enable the experimental channel starting from React Native 0.85.1 (coming soon). Check out examples in react-native/packages/rn-tester/js/examples/AnimationBackend/ for hands-on demos.

2. Animate Layout Props with Native Driver

With the new animation backend, you can now animate Flexbox and position props using the native driver in Animated. Previously, layout properties required the JavaScript driver, which could cause jank. Now, code like this runs natively:

import { Animated, Button, View, useAnimatedValue } from 'react-native';

function MyComponent() {
  const width = useAnimatedValue(100);
  const toggle = () => {
    Animated.timing(width, {
      toValue: 300,
      duration: 500,
      useNativeDriver: true,
    }).start();
  };

  return (
    <View style={{flex:1}}>
      <Animated.View style={{width, height:100, backgroundColor:'blue'}} />
      <Button title="Expand" onPress={toggle} />
    </View>
  );
}

This opens up silky-smooth width, height, margin, and padding animations without crossing the bridge. It's a game-changer for UI transitions and micro-interactions.

3. Multiple CDP Connections in DevTools

React Native DevTools now supports multiple simultaneous Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP) connections. This means you can run React Native DevTools, VS Code, and even AI-powered tools at the same time without one interrupting another. For teams using custom debugging setups, this unlocks richer workflows—like inspecting state in one window while profiling performance in another. No more accidentally ending sessions when you open a second debugger. It's a small change with a big impact on developer productivity.

4. Native Tabs on macOS

For macOS power users, the DevTools desktop app now compiles for macOS 26 and enables native system-level tab handling. You can merge multiple DevTools windows into a single tabbed interface via Window > Merge All Windows. This makes it easier to organize debugging panels—keep network tab, console, and elements in one window while monitoring multiple devices. It's a quality-of-life improvement that feels right at home for seasoned developers.

5. Request Payload Previews Restored on Android

After a regression, the Network Panel in DevTools now properly shows request body previews on Android again. This is critical for debugging API calls, form submissions, and GraphQL mutations. Previously, the preview pane was blank, forcing developers to guess payloads or use additional tools. With this fix, you can inspect JSON, form data, and even binary payloads directly in the DevTools interface—saving time and frustration during development.

6. Metro TLS Support for HTTPS Development

The Metro dev server can now accept a TLS configuration object, enabling HTTPS (and secure WebSocket connections for Fast Refresh) during local development. This is essential for testing features like service workers, geolocation, or camera permissions that require secure contexts. By passing a TLS config to Metro, you get a real HTTPS environment without needing a proxy. It also simulates production more accurately, reducing surprises when deploying. Security-conscious teams can now enforce HTTPS from day one.

7. Jest Preset Moved to Dedicated Package (Breaking Change)

The Jest preset has been extracted from the core react-native package into a standalone @react-native/jest-preset package. This is a breaking change—your existing Jest configuration will need updating. If you rely on the built-in preset, you must now install the new package and adjust your jest.config.js to point to the new module. The move reduces bloat in the main library and allows for faster, independent updates to testing utilities. Check the migration guide for exact steps.

8. Dropped Support for EOL Node.js Versions

React Native 0.85 officially drops support for end-of-life Node.js versions (e.g., Node 14 and earlier). This aligns with the Node.js release schedule, ensuring the framework uses modern JavaScript features and security patches. If you're still on an older Node version, upgrade to Node 18 or 20 before installing this release. This change affects both development tooling and CI pipelines. It's a good opportunity to audit your environment and adopt current LTS releases.

9. StyleSheet.absoluteFillObject Removed

The utility StyleSheet.absoluteFillObject has been removed. This shorthand helper was used to create an absolutely positioned view that fills its parent. With its removal, you must now write StyleSheet.absoluteFill (which returns a style object) or define the styles manually (e.g., { position: 'absolute', top: 0, left: 0, right: 0, bottom: 0 }). While a minor change, it could break existing codebases. Search for any occurrences and update accordingly. The team considered it redundant and removed it to simplify the API surface.

10. Other Breaking Changes to Watch For

Beyond the major changes, React Native 0.85 includes several other breaking updates. For example, some deprecated APIs have been removed, and internal module paths have shifted. Always review the full changelog before upgrading. Pay special attention to custom native modules, third-party libraries, and any code that uses private React Native internals. It's also wise to run your test suite and end-to-end tests after the update. The community migration guide can help smooth the transition.

Conclusion

React Native 0.85 delivers meaningful improvements for both app performance and developer experience. The new animation backend unlocks native-quality transitions for layout props, DevTools gains multi-client support and macOS tabs, and Metro now serves over HTTPS. While breaking changes like the Jest preset move and API removals require some attention, the long-term benefits—stability, security, and speed—are well worth the effort. Upgrade today and start building smoother, smarter apps.