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How to Install React Native on Windows: Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beginners

· 9 min read
Beniamin Marcu
Full Stack Developer
Last updated on July 6, 2025

how to install reactnative on windows

React Native has become one of the most popular frameworks for building cross-platform mobile applications. If you’re a Windows user looking to start your React Native development journey, this comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of the installation process.

Before we begin, make sure you have:

  • A Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer
  • Administrator access to install software
  • At least 16GB of RAM (32GB recommended for optimal performance)
  • At least 30GB of free disk space (Android Studio and SDK require significant space)
  • A stable internet connection for downloading packages

Note: This guide was last updated for 2025 and includes the latest version requirements for React Native development.

Step 1: Install Node.js​

React Native requires Node.js 18.18 or newer. We’ll install the LTS (Long Term Support) version for stability.

Download and Install Node.js​

  1. Visit the official Node.js website: https://nodejs.org/

  2. Download the LTS version (Node.js 22 is the current LTS as of 2025)

  3. Run the installer and follow the installation wizard

  4. Make sure to check “Add to PATH” during installation

Verify Node.js Installation​

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and run:

node –version
npm –version

You should see version numbers for both Node.js and npm.

Step 2: Install Java Development Kit (JDK)​

React Native currently recommends JDK 17 for optimal compatibility and performance.

Download and Install JDK​

  1. Go to Oracle’s JDK download page or use OpenJDK

  2. Download JDK 17 (LTS version) for Windows

  3. Install the JDK following the installation wizard

  4. Note the installation path (usually C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-17.x.x\)

Set JAVA_HOME Environment Variable​

  1. Open “System Properties” (Win + R, type sysdm.cpl)

  2. Click “Environment Variables”

  3. Under “System variables”, click “New”

  4. Variable name: JAVA_HOME

  5. Variable value: Your JDK installation path (e.g., C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-17.0.15)

  6. Click “OK”

Verify JDK Installation​

java -version
javac -version

Step 3: Install Android Studio​

Android Studio is essential for Android development with React Native.

Download and Install Android Studio​

  1. Visit Android Studio download page

  2. Download Android Studio for Windows

  3. Run the installer and follow the setup wizard

  4. Choose “Custom” installation to select components

  5. Make sure to install: Android SDK Android SDK Platform Android Virtual Device

    • Android SDK
    • Android SDK Platform
    • Android Virtual Device

Configure Android SDK​

  1. Open Android Studio

  2. Go to “File” > “Settings” (or “Android Studio” > “Preferences” on Mac)

  3. Navigate to “Appearance & Behavior” > “System Settings” > “Android SDK”

  4. In the “SDK Platforms” tab, install:

    • Android 15 (API level 35) – Latest stable version
    • Android 14 (API level 34) – For broader compatibility
    • Android 13 (API level 33) – For older device support

  5. In the “SDK Tools” tab, install:

    • Android SDK Build-Tools (35.0.0 or newer)
    • Android Emulator
    • Android SDK Platform-Tools
    • Intel x86 Emulator Accelerator (HAXM installer)

Set ANDROID_HOME Environment Variable​

  1. Open “System Properties” (Win + R, type sysdm.cpl)

  2. Click “Environment Variables”

  3. Under “System variables”, click “New”

  4. Variable name: ANDROID_HOME

  5. Variable value: Your Android SDK path (usually C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk)

  6. Click “OK”

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Add Android SDK to PATH​

  1. In the same “Environment Variables” dialog

  2. Find “Path” in “System variables” and click “Edit”

  3. Click “New” and add these paths:

    • %ANDROID_HOME%\platform-tools

    • %ANDROID_HOME%\emulator

    • %ANDROID_HOME%\tools

    • %ANDROID_HOME%\tools\bin

Verify Android SDK Installation​

Open a new Command Prompt and run:

adb version

Step 4: Install React Native CLI​

Now we’ll install the React Native command-line interface.

Expo is now the recommended way to start React Native projects:

npm install -g @expo/cli

Option 2: React Native Community CLI​

For projects that need direct access to native code:

npm install -g @react-native-community/cli

Verify Installation​

For Expo:

npx expo –version

For React Native CLI:

npx react-native –version

Step 5: Create Your First React Native Project​

Let’s create a test project to verify everything works:

npx create-expo-app@latest MyFirstApp
cd MyFirstApp

Using React Native CLI (for native development)​

npx react-native init MyFirstApp
cd MyFirstApp

Note: Expo is recommended for beginners as it provides a smoother development experience with less setup complexity.

Step 6: Set Up Android Emulator​

Create an Android Virtual Device (AVD)​

  1. Open Android Studio

  2. Go to “Tools” > “AVD Manager”

  3. Click “Create Virtual Device”

  4. Choose a device (Pixel 6 or newer is recommended)

  5. Select a system image (API 35 for Android 15 is recommended)

  6. Click “Finish”

Start the Emulator​

  1. In AVD Manager, click the “Play” button next to your virtual device

  2. Wait for the emulator to fully boot up

Step 7: Run Your First React Native App​

With the emulator running, navigate to your project directory and run:

For Expo projects:​

cd MyFirstApp
npx expo start

Then press ‘a’ to run on Android emulator, or scan the QR code with the Expo Go app on your phone.

For React Native CLI projects:​

cd MyFirstApp
npx react-native run-android

If everything is set up correctly, you should see your app running on the Android emulator!

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Common Issues and Solutions​

Issue 1: “adb” is not recognized​

Solution: Make sure you’ve added the Android SDK platform-tools to your PATH environment variable.

Issue 2: Gradle build failed​

Solution:

  1. Make sure JAVA_HOME is correctly set to JDK 17

  2. Try cleaning the project: cd android ./gradlew clean cd ..

cd android
./gradlew clean
cd ..

Issue 3: Metro bundler issues​

Solution:

  1. Clear Metro cache: npx react-native start –reset-cache
npx react-native start –reset-cache

Issue 4: Unable to load script from assets​

Solution:

  1. Make sure Metro bundler is running

  2. Check if the emulator can access localhost

Issue 5: Expo CLI not found​

Solution:

  1. Make sure you installed Expo CLI globally: npm install -g @expo/cli

  2. Restart your terminal after installation

npm install -g @expo/cli

Issue 6: Android emulator performance issues​

Solution:

  1. Enable hardware acceleration (HAXM) in Android Studio

  2. Allocate more RAM to the emulator in AVD settings

  3. Consider using a physical device for better performance

Optional: Install Physical Device Debugging​

To test on a real Android device:

  1. Enable “Developer options” on your Android device

  2. Enable “USB debugging”

  3. Connect your device via USB

  4. Run adb devices to verify connection

  5. For Expo: Use the Expo Go app from Play Store

  6. For React Native CLI: Run npx react-native run-android

Choosing Between Expo and React Native CLI​

Use Expo if:​

  • You’re new to React Native

  • You want faster development and testing

  • You don’t need custom native modules

  • You want to test on real devices quickly

  • You prefer a managed workflow

Use React Native CLI if:​

  • You need custom native modules

  • You want full control over the build process

  • You’re integrating with existing native apps

  • You need advanced native functionality

  • You prefer a bare workflow

Next Steps​

Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed React Native on Windows. Here’s what you can do next:

  1. Learn React Native basics: Start with the official React Native documentation

  2. Set up an IDE: Consider using Visual Studio Code with React Native extensions

  3. Explore Expo: If you chose Expo, explore its ecosystem of tools and services

  4. Explore libraries: Look into popular libraries like React Navigation, React Native Elements, and NativeBase

  5. Build your first app: Try creating a simple todo app or calculator

Development Tools Recommendations​

Code Editor​

  • Visual Studio Code with these extensions: React Native Tools ES7+ React/Redux/React-Native snippets Prettier – Code formatter ESLint

    • React Native Tools

    • ES7+ React/Redux/React-Native snippets

    • Prettier – Code formatter

    • ESLint

Debugging Tools​

  • React Native Debugger: Standalone debugger for React Native

  • Flipper: Extensible mobile app debugger

Performance Tips​

  1. Use React Native’s built-in performance tools

  2. Optimize images and assets

  3. Use FlatList for long lists

  4. Implement proper navigation patterns

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Conclusion​

Setting up React Native on Windows has become more streamlined in 2025, especially with the enhanced Expo ecosystem. By following this step-by-step guide, you should have a fully functional development environment with the latest tools and versions.

Key takeaways:

  • Node.js 18.18+ is required for modern React Native development

  • JDK 17 is the recommended Java version

  • Android 15 (API 35) provides the latest Android features

  • Expo is now the recommended starting point for most developers

  • React Native CLI is still valuable for advanced use cases

Remember that the React Native ecosystem is constantly evolving, so keep your tools updated and refer to the official documentation for the latest information. The development experience has significantly improved, making it easier than ever to build high-quality mobile applications.

The key to success with React Native is practice and staying current with the ecosystem. Start with simple projects and gradually work your way up to more complex applications. Happy coding!

Need help? If you encounter any issues during installation, feel free to check the React Native troubleshooting guide or reach out to the community on Stack Overflow or React Native Discord.

Additional Resources​