The Native Module for Flipper Seems Unavailable on React Native 0.73? Here’s the Fix!

Introduction

If you’re a React Native developer, you might have encountered an issue where the native module for Flipper seems unavailable on React Native 0.73. This can be frustrating, especially when you’re trying to debug your app and Flipper is not showing up. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to resolve this issue and get Flipper up and running in no time.

What is Flipper?

Before we dive into the solution, let’s quickly explain what Flipper is. Flipper is a debugging tool for React Native apps that allows you to inspect and debug your app’s UI components, network requests, and more. It’s an essential tool for any React Native developer, and it’s usually included in the React Native CLI.

The Issue: Native Module for Flipper Unavailable

So, what happens when you try to run Flipper on React Native 0.73, but it doesn’t show up? You might see an error message like this:

Error: The native module for Flipper seems unavailable. Make sure your project is configured correctly.

This error message can be confusing, especially if you’ve followed the official documentation to set up Flipper. But don’t worry, we’ll help you troubleshoot and resolve this issue.

Troubleshooting Steps

Before we get to the solution, let’s go through some troubleshooting steps to ensure that Flipper is set up correctly:

• Check if you have Flipper installed by running npm ls @react-native-community/flipper or yarn ls @react-native-community/flipper in your terminal. If Flipper is not installed, you can install it by running npm install @react-native-community/flipper or yarn add @react-native-community/flipper.

• Make sure you’ve added the Flipper plugin to your project by running npx react-native config and checking if the Flipper plugin is included in the output.

• Verify that you’ve enabled Flipper in your android/app/src/main/java/ com/[your-app-name]/MainApplication.java file by adding the following code:

  import com.facebook.flipper.ReactNativeFlipper;
  ...
  protected List<ReactPackage> getPackages() {
    return Arrays.asList(
      ...
      new ReactNativeFlipper(),
    );
  }
  

Solving the Issue: Native Module for Flipper Unavailable

Now that we’ve gone through the troubleshooting steps, let’s get to the solution. The issue is usually caused by a missing or outdated native module for Flipper. Here’s how to resolve it:

Step 1: Update Your android/build.gradle File

In your android/build.gradle file, add the following code:

buildscript {
  ...
  dependencies {
    ...
    classpath 'com.facebook.flipper:flipper:0.137.0'
  }
}

This code adds the Flipper Gradle plugin to your build script.

Step 2: Update Your android/app/build.gradle File

In your android/app/build.gradle file, add the following code:

android {
  ...
  defaultConfig {
    ...
    ndk {
      abiFilters 'armeabi-v7a', 'x86', 'x86_64', 'arm64-v8a'
    }
  }
  ...
}

This code configures the NDK ABI filters to include the necessary architectures for Flipper.

Step 3: Clean and Rebuild Your Project

Run the following commands to clean and rebuild your project:

cd android
./gradlew clean
./gradlew build

This step ensures that your project is rebuilt with the updated Flipper configuration.

Step 4: Run Flipper

Finally, run Flipper by running the following command:

npx react-native run-android --variant=debug --appIdSuffix=debug

This command runs your app on an Android emulator or device with Flipper enabled. If everything is set up correctly, you should see Flipper in your app.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve walked you through the steps to resolve the issue of the native module for Flipper being unavailable on React Native 0.73. By following these steps, you should be able to get Flipper up and running in no time. Remember to update your Gradle files, clean and rebuild your project, and run Flipper with the correct command.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you’re still experiencing issues with Flipper, here are some additional troubleshooting tips:

1. Check the Flipper GitHub issues page for any known issues or solutions.

2. Try disabling and re-enabling Flipper in your app.

3. Verify that your app is running on a compatible device or emulator.

4. Check if you have any conflicting dependencies or plugins in your project.

Conclusion

Flipper is an essential tool for any React Native developer, and resolving the issue of the native module being unavailable can be frustrating. However, by following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to get Flipper up and running in no time. Remember to stay calm, troubleshoot patiently, and don’t hesitate to reach out to the community for help.

Flipper Version	React Native Version	Compatible
0.137.0	0.73
0.136.0	0.72
0.135.0	0.71

Note: The compatibility table above shows the supported versions of Flipper and React Native. Make sure you’re using a compatible version of Flipper with your React Native version.

We hope this article has been helpful in resolving the issue of the native module for Flipper being unavailable on React Native 0.73. Happy debugging!Here are the 5 questions and answers about “The native module for flipper seems unavailable on react native 0.73”:

Frequently Asked Question

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