How do I set up react-native-permissions with Expo?

Use the plugin configuration in your app.config.js or app.json file. Specify iosPermissions and android permissions arrays, and the library handles native setup automatically. Ensure you're on a compatible Expo version for seamless integration.

react-native-permissions vs expo-permissions: which should I use?

react-native-permissions is more comprehensive and actively maintained for cross-platform support, while expo-permissions is deprecated in favor of Expo's permissions API. If using Expo, evaluate their built-in modules, but react-native-permissions offers broader permission coverage and advanced features.

How to handle location accuracy on iOS with this library?

After granting location permission, use the requestLocationAccuracy method with a purposeKey in options. This prompts the user for precise location access and returns 'full' or 'reduced' accuracy status, as detailed in the iOS-specific section.

Why does the check function not return blocked status on Android?

Due to Android platform limitations, the check function never returns 'blocked' status. You must call request to determine if a permission is permanently denied, as noted in the API documentation under the check method.

Can I use react-native-permissions for React Native web apps?

No, react-native-permissions only supports iOS, Android, and Windows. For web permissions, you'll need a different solution, as browser APIs are not covered by this library.

How to test permissions with Jest in my React Native app?

Add a Jest setup file and mock the library using require('react-native-permissions/mock'). This mocks the NativeModule.RNPermissions for reliable unit testing, as described in the testing section of the README.

Open-Awesome

react-native-permissions

MITObjective-C++5.6.1

A unified permissions API for React Native apps on iOS, Android, and Windows.

GitHub

4.4k stars846 forks0 contributors

What is react-native-permissions?

react-native-permissions is a library that provides a unified API for managing device permissions in React Native applications across iOS, Android, and Windows. It solves the problem of handling platform-specific permission flows by offering a consistent interface to check, request, and monitor permissions like camera, location, contacts, and notifications. The library abstracts the differences between operating systems while maintaining proper user privacy patterns.

Target Audience

React Native developers building cross-platform mobile applications that require access to device features like camera, location, or contacts. It's particularly valuable for teams supporting multiple platforms who want to maintain consistent permission logic.

Value Proposition

Developers choose react-native-permissions because it provides a battle-tested, comprehensive solution that handles the intricacies of each platform's permission system. Its active maintenance following React Native's release cycle, extensive documentation, and Expo integration make it the go-to choice over building custom permission handling.

Overview

An unified permissions API for React Native on iOS, Android and Windows.

Use Cases

Best For

Adding camera or microphone access to a React Native app
Requesting location permissions with accuracy controls on iOS
Managing notification permissions across iOS and Android
Handling contact access in cross-platform applications
Implementing Bluetooth functionality in React Native apps
Building apps that require multiple permission types with consistent UX

Not Ideal For

React Native projects targeting web or macOS, as support is limited to iOS, Android, and Windows
Expo managed workflow apps that haven't ejected, due to required native configuration changes
Applications with only one or two simple permissions where the library overhead outweighs benefits
Teams on very old React Native versions outside the supported range (latest and two previous minors)

Pros & Cons

Pros

Unified Cross-Platform API

Provides a single, consistent interface for checking and requesting permissions across iOS, Android, and Windows, abstracting platform-specific complexities as shown in the detailed permission flow chart.

Comprehensive Permission Coverage

Supports a wide array of permissions including camera, location, contacts, Bluetooth, and notifications, with exhaustive lists for each platform documented in the README.

Seamless Expo Integration

Offers plugin-based configuration for Expo projects, allowing setup via app.config.js or app.json without manual native edits in many cases, as demonstrated in the Expo section.

Advanced Platform Helpers

Includes platform-specific methods like openPhotoPicker for iOS and canScheduleExactAlarms for Android, handling edge cases such as limited photo access or exact alarm scheduling.

Cons

Cumbersome iOS Setup

Requires modifying the Podfile with a custom setup script and re-running pod install for each permission change, which is error-prone and adds maintenance overhead.

Manual Android Configuration

Developers must manually add every required permission to AndroidManifest.xml, leading to potential bloat and omissions if not carefully managed.

Platform Limitations

Only supports iOS, Android, and Windows, excluding other React Native targets like web and macOS, which restricts its use in broader cross-platform applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

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