[reactjs] Unable to load script.Make sure you are either running a Metro server or that your bundle 'index.android.bundle' is packaged correctly for release

react-native run-android command terminates by leaving a message in android simulator. The message is as follows:

Unable to load script.Make sure you are either running a Metro server or that your bundle 'index.android.bundle' is packaged correctly for release.

What am I doing wrong?

Hey guys a combination of 2 awnsers solved my problem. It was port related.

adb reverse tcp:8088 tcp:8088
react-native run-android --port=8088

By doing this, the app loaded fine of my phone connected by USB. I think my AV or Vagrant or something elses in my PC was using that port.

You can change 8088 to something else if needed.

Enjoy!

[Quick Answer]

After try to solve this problem in my workspace I found a solution.

This error is because there are a problem with Metro using some combinations of NPM and Node version.

You have 2 alternatives:

• Alternative 1: Try to update or downgrade npm and node version.

• Alternative 2: Go to this file: \node_modules\metro-config\src\defaults\blacklist.js and change this code:

  var sharedBlacklist = [
    /node_modules[/\\]react[/\\]dist[/\\].*/,
    /website\/node_modules\/.*/,
    /heapCapture\/bundle\.js/,
    /.*\/__tests__\/.*/
  ];
  

  and change to this:

  var sharedBlacklist = [
    /node_modules[\/\\]react[\/\\]dist[\/\\].*/,
    /website\/node_modules\/.*/,
    /heapCapture\/bundle\.js/,
    /.*\/__tests__\/.*/
  ];
  

  Please note that if you run an npm install or a yarn install you need to change the code again.

If you are running on Linux OS,there might be case where your npm remote server is not running. Open another terminal (with project directory) and run this command sudo npm start or sudo react-native start before doing sudo react-native run-android

For me this problem started with upgrading react-native. The upgrade was necessary to add 64-bit support.

Before:
-------- 
Environment:
Node: 10.15.0
npm: 6.9.0
Watchman: 4.9.0
Xcode: Not Found
Android Studio: 3.4 AI-183.6156.11.34.5692245

Packages: (wanted => installed)
react: 16.0.0-alpha.12 => 16.0.0-alpha.12
react-native: ~0.55.2 => 0.55.4
react-native-cli: 2.0.1

After:
------
info 
React Native Environment Info:
Binaries:
Node: 10.15.0
npm: 6.9.0
Watchman: 4.9.0
SDKs:
Android SDK:
API Levels: 23, 26, 27, 28
Build Tools: 27.0.3, 28.0.3
System Images: android-28 | Google APIs Intel x86 Atom
IDEs:
Android Studio: 3.4 AI-183.6156.11.34.5692245
Xcode: /undefined - /usr/bin/xcodebuild
npmPackages:
react: ^16.8.6 => 16.9.0 
react-native: 0.59.9 => 0.59.9 
npmGlobalPackages:
create-react-native-app: 2.0.2
react-native-cli: 2.0.1

Also, One important change that I made for the upgrade was in ../android/build/build.gradle

android {
    ...
    defaultConfig {
        ...
        targetSdkVersion 28
        ...
    }
    ...
}

I had to change the targetSdkVersion from 27 to 28 following warning when I tried to upload the build(.apk) to goole play console. Little did i realise that this was the root cause of the above error for me. Immediatly answers by @tom and @tinmarfrutos made absolute sense.

I solved the problem by adding android:usesCleartextTraffic="true" to my android/app/src/debug/AndroidManifest.xml

In Some Cases You Might Want To Close the port Of React-native bundler and Rerun the App With the same process

1.sudo kill -9 $(sudo lsof -t -i:9001)

2.npm start inside the project

3. react-native run-android

By default a tiny JavaScript server called "Metro Server" runs on the port 8081.

You need to make this port available for this Server to start. So,

1. release the port
2. close your virtual device
3. "react-native run-android" again.

How to release the port?

http://tenbull.blogspot.com/2019/05/how-to-kill-process-currently-using.html

How to kill the process currently using a port on localhost in windows?

and most importantly, I upgraded my node version from 8.x to 10.x(latest), as suggested by facebook @ https://facebook.github.io/react-native/docs/getting-started

In my case, I've set a proxy in my emulator. It works back to normal after I removing that proxy.

This worked for me after trying several ways.

In the file node_modules\metro-config\src\defaults\blacklist.js

Replace :

var sharedBlacklist = [
  /node_modules[/\\]react[/\\]dist[/\\].*/,
  /website\/node_modules\/.*/,
  /heapCapture\/bundle\.js/,
  /.*\/__tests__\/.*/
];

with :

var sharedBlacklist = [
  /node_modules[\/\\]react[\/\\]dist[\/\\].*/,
  /website\/node_modules\/.*/,
  /heapCapture\/bundle\.js/,
  /.*\/__tests__\/.*/
];

hope this helps.

I've encountered the same issue while following the React Native tutorial (developing on Linux and targeting Android).

This issue helped me resolve the problem in following steps. Run following commands in the below sequence:

1. (in project directory) mkdir android/app/src/main/assets
2. react-native bundle --platform android --dev false --entry-file index.js --bundle-output android/app/src/main/assets/index.android.bundle --assets-dest android/app/src/main/res
3. react-native run-android

You can automate the above steps by placing them in scripts part of package.json like this:

"android-linux": "react-native bundle --platform android --dev false --entry-file index.js --bundle-output android/app/src/main/assets/index.android.bundle --assets-dest android/app/src/main/res && react-native run-android"

Then you can just execute npm run android-linux from your command line every time.

possibility of this error is also the wrong path,check once

 export ANDROID_HOME=/Users/microrentindia/Library/Android/sdk/
 export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/tools:$ANDROID_HOME/platform-tools

I'm sure it some combination of the other things mentioned here like allowing clear text, which I enabled for localhost. But this was the final piece in the puzzle.

project.ext.react = [
    entryFile: "index.js",

    // ADD THESE THREE

    bundleAssetName: "index.android.bundle",
    bundleInDebug: true,
    bundleInRelease: true
]

RN: 0.61.3

The error message on the emulator is kind of misleading. In my case, I used a Macbook. I needed to change the permissions on android/gradlew by running $ chmod 755 ./gradlew, and then the app could be built and deployed to the android emulator.

I have run into similar issue. npx react-native init creates .gitignore file which ignores <project>/android/app/src/debug folder. If you have later cloned this project, this folder would be missing. The solution is simple. In future add this line to the bottom of the .gitignore file.

!android/app/src/debug

For your current project ask the project creator to commit this folder. I have encountered this error with react native version 0.63

Apparently, none of the answers fixed the issue for me. I was able to run the react-native app on emulator but the same code (even when the Server was running), gave me this error when running the app on the device.

I was able to resolve it by executing the following command in the terminal:

adb reverse tcp:8081 tcp:8081

I got the same issue, after following the following steps, it got resolved the issue

1. Clear watchman watches: watchman watch-del-all.
2. Delete the node_modules folder: rm -rf node_modules && npm install.
3. Reset Metro Bundler cache: rm -rf /tmp/metro-bundler-cache-*
4. Remove haste cache: rm -rf /tmp/haste-map-react-native-packager-*

I have also faced this issue. I resolved this following step.

Check android sdk path in Environment Veritable.

Add ANDROID_HOME = C:\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk in System Variable
and C:\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk\platform-tools path in System Variable

replace sharedBlacklist as below code segment,

var sharedBlacklist = [
  /node_modules[\/\\]react[\/\\]dist[\/\\].*/,
  /website\/node_modules\/.*/,
  /heapCapture\/bundle\.js/,
  /.*\/__tests__\/.*/
];

in node_modules/metro-config/src/default/blacklist.js

Then run npx react-native run-android --port 9001

Happy Coding..!

If you are on linux open the terminal from the App root directory and run

npm start

then open another terminal window and run:

react-native run-android

What worked for me was:

1. close all consoles
2. open a new console
3. $ adb devices
4. make sure you got only one devices connected
5. $ react-native run-android

I experienced this just because my Wifi was mistakenly turned off on my emulator.i turned it back on and it started working fine. Hope it's helpful to someone

You can try the following:

Add this line on your AndroidManifest.xml

<application
[...]
android:usesCleartextTraffic="true"
/>
[...]
</application>

These steps really help me:

Step 1: Create a directory in android/app/src/main/assets

Linux command: mkdir android/app/src/main/assets

Step 2: Rename index.android.js (in root directory) to index.js (Maybe there is an index.js file in which case you do not need to rename it) then run the following command:

react-native bundle --platform android --dev false --entry-file index.js --bundle-output android/app/src/main/assets/index.android.bundle --assets-dest android/app/src/main/res

Step 3: Build your APK: react-native run-android

Please use index.js in latest version.

Enjoy :)

Like most of us I assume you are running on VSCODE. In my case, I ran

npx react-native start

from a seperate terminal

Now run npx react-native run-android from your terminal in VSCODE

I did: react-native start and npx react-native run-android.

However, for Min19, (Ubuntu based) I was having the same problem until I run:

echo fs.inotify.max_user_watches=582222 | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf && sudo sysctl -p

From: https://reactnative.dev/docs/troubleshooting#content

At least I got the app running in my cell phone.

Try These steps if you have tried everything mentioned in above solutions:

1. Create File in android/app/src/main/assets
2. Run the following command :

react-native bundle --platform android --dev false --entry-file index.js --bundle-output android/app/src/main/assets/index.android.bundle --assets-dest android/app/src/main/res

3. Now run your command to build for e.g. react-native run-android

Here how I solved this issue without touching the build:

1- Closed the Virtual Device

2- Tested on Physical Device --(it works)

3- Created new Virtual Device with API 30 Android 10+

4- Try again on newly created Virtual Device, and all work like a charm.

A similar issue happened with me.
Apparently Mcafee blocks 8081 port. Took me hours to figure this out.

Try running:

react-native run-android --port=1234

When app shows up with an error on emulator, get into dev settings (Ctrl+M).

Change the "Debug server host and port for device" to "localhost:1234".

Close the app and start it from the app drawer.

IMPORTANT - You might have many Virtual devices in your environment. Ensure if you are changing AVD you repeat the setting again.

DEBUG INFORMATION-

Incase you are experiencing above error you have to 1st verify what is running on port 8081

Quickest way to find that is using the following command in terminal

netstat -aon | findstr 8081

if that shows you something it means the port is blocked. if possible get that port unblocked.

Otherwise, you would need to change the port. The process to do that has already been mentioned in the comment above by Naveen Kumar

react-native run-android --port=9001

Ensure 9001 is not used either :)

I just want to add a non-obvious possibility not covered here. I am using @react-native-community/netinfo for detecting network changes, primarily network state. To test network-off state, the WIFI switch (on the emulator) needs to be switched off. This also effectively cuts off the bridge between the emulator and the debug environment. I had not re-enabled WIFI after my tests since i was away from the computer and promptly forgot about it when i got back.

There is a possibility that this could be the case for somebody else as well and worth checking before taking any other drastic steps.

I had the same issue. But this method solved it. Go to the android folder using cd android then gradlew clean or ./gradlew clean whichever works for your os.

update this part in metro blacklist

var sharedBlacklist = [
  /node_modules[\/\\]react[\/\\]dist[\/\\].*/,
  /website\/node_modules\/.*/,
  /heapCapture\/bundle\.js/,
  /.*\/__tests__\/.*/
];

My solution to this is as below:

Start Metro server

$ react-native start

Start Android

$ react-native run-android

If see errors saying "port 8081 already in use", then you can kill that process and rerun

$ react-native start

See React Native Troubleshooting Page .

Starting with Android 9.0 (API level 28), cleartext support is disabled by default.

This is what you need to do to get rid of this problem if you do normal run commands properly

1. npm install
2. react-native start
3. react-native run-android

And modify your android manifest file like this.

<application
    android:name=".MainApplication"
    android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
    android:usesCleartextTraffic="true" // add this line with TRUE Value.
android:theme="@style/AppTheme">

I was having the same trouble, the problem for me was that adb was not in the right environment path, the error is telling you metro port, while you're in the adb, ports are killed and restarted.

Add Enviroment Variable (ADB)

1. Open environment variables
2. Select from the second frame PATH variable and click edit option below
3. Click on add option
4. Submit the sdk platform tools path C:\Users\ My User \AppData\Local\Android\Sdk\platform-tools

Note: Or depending where is located adb.exe in your machine

5. Save changes

Run android build again

$ react-native run-android

Or

$ react-native start

$ react-native run-android

This is caused whenever the android device cannot reach the metro server. If the above doesn't work, check to see that your android device doesn't have a proxy configured. (Settings > Proxy > No Proxy).

Try the following.

1. Remove Android and IOS folders
2. run react-native eject
3. run react-native run-android

Maybe after the previous steps you have executions npm start - --reset-cache

I work, I hope it helps you.

After hours searching for a answer. The solution was to make a downgrade node to version 12.4.

In my case I realize that the error just occurs in version react native 0.60 with node version 12.6.

just add three splash in : node_modules\metro-config\src\defaults\blacklist.js

replace this part:

var sharedBlacklist = [
  /node_modules[\/\\]react[\/\\]dist[\/\\].*/,
  /website\/node_modules\/.*/,
  /heapCapture\/bundle\.js/,
  /.*\/__tests__\/.*/
];

The solution that worked for me is the following:

var sharedBlacklist = [
  /node_modules[\/\\]react[\/\\]dist[\/\\].*/,
  /website\/node_modules\/.*/,
  /heapCapture\/bundle\.js/,
  /.*\/__tests__\/.*/
]; 

First do steps 4 and 5 then you can run your project. If you do not get the result (with steps 4 and 5) do the following steps

1- Try to downgrade your Node version (current version is 12.13.1)

  choco uninstall nodejs
  choco install nodejs --version 12.8

2- Add the path of npm module (C:\Users\your user name\AppData\Roaming\npm) to system variables instead of user variables

3- Install react native globally by using command

  npm install -g react-native-cli

4- Go to the root of your project directory and run the following command :

  react-native start

5- Open another terminal in the root of your project and run the following command :

   react-native run-android 

EDIT :

You are using Genymotion ? If yes, do the following step :

After above step if you get the following error ?

error Failed to launch emulator. Reason: No emulators found as an output of `emulator -list-avds`.

Open your genymotion and go to :

genymotion menu -> Settings -> ADB -> Then select use custom android sdk tools (click on browse to find sdk location)

Finally , run you project again ..

you can also downgrade node js to version less than 12 and remove nodemodule then run npm install again

You haven't started the bundler yet. Run npm start or react-native start in the root directory of your project before react-native run-android.

1. In my case I just close the app form emulator

2. Then run this again

react-native run-android

For me this error was caused by an upgrade of react-native

Starting with Android 9.0 (API level 28), cleartext support is disabled by default.

If you check out the upgrade diff you need to create a debug manifest android/app/src/debug/AndroidManifest.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools">
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW"/>
    <application android:usesCleartextTraffic="true" tools:targetApi="28" tools:ignore="GoogleAppIndexingWarning" />
</manifest>

See for more info: https://stackoverflow.com/a/50834600/1713216

https://react-native-community.github.io/upgrade-helper/

if you have everything correctly configured then try this:

adb reverse tcp:8081 tcp:8081

Why? "When the RN packager is running, there is an active web server accessible in your browser at 127.0.0.1:8081. It's from this server that the JS bundle for your application is served and refreshed as you make changes. Without the reverse proxy, your phone wouldn't be able to connect to that address."

all credits to Swingline0