Expo app (SDK 53) loads in Tunnel mode but fails to open on my phone when using the normal connection

Question

I have a freshly initialized Expo SDK 53 and when I run npx expo start --tunnel, the app loads fine in Expo Go on my phone. But if I switch to npx expo start. Once I'm scanning the QR code in Expo Go, always “fails to load” (generic “Something went wrong” screen). I've tried various solutions, including dependency updates package exclusion from validation and network checks but the issue persists. Everything was working fine on SDK 52 (previous Expo) but now there seems to be an issue I am not sure about

I have done the followings: Updated to the latest version of EAS CLI (npm i -g eas-cli) Upgraded all dependencies to match SDK 53 (npx expo install expo@^53.0.0 --fix) I've also checked for possible known issues (npx expo-doctor@latest)

Answer 1

Update: 5/8/2025: https://github.com/expo/expo/pull/36747 - Update your depedencies, lan-network to the lastest version. That may address your issues.

Do you have VirtualBox (edit: or VPN) or alike on your computer? Been having similar issue since Expo 53 update. Here's what seems to be working for now.

Possible Solution

1. Find IPv4 address of local WiFi network.

ipconfig

(or ifconfig on Mac/Linux)

For example let's say it's: 192.168.1.119

2. Start your development server with:

REACT_NATIVE_PACKAGER_HOSTNAME=192.168.1.119 npx expo start 

Command may very in different shells but you want to set the enviorment variable to what you local network is.

3. Now Expo should be displaying that IP address, scanning the QR code should result in your app loading.

Alternate

1. Again find IP address of local network.
2. Manually go to in Safari: exp://192.168.1.119:8081 (replace with your actual address). It should prompt you to open Expo. From what it seems like Expo still properly serves on the Wifi, just shows the wrong IP address.

Explanation

Expo's CLI is dislaying the IPv4 address of Virtual Box: Expo output:

Instead of Wifi:

That said, from experience it's still properly serving on Wifi network. It's just that the CLI is displaying the wrong IP address.

I think this a bug on Expo's end? Left a comment at the GH issue, hopefully they re-open the issue.

Hope this helps!

Edit: VPN issue might be related to: https://github.com/expo/expo/issues/36526 which has an open PR.