[0.85.3] React Native DevTools not working

[rnkdsh]

Description

React Native DevTools is not working after updating the react-native version to 0.85.3

Steps to reproduce

1. Install the application with npm run android
2. Press j to open the debugger
3. The debugger shows empty screen

Example: https://github.com/rnkdsh/react-navigation-example

React Native Version

0.85.3

Output of npx @react-native-community/cli info

System:
  OS: Windows 11 10.0.26200
  CPU: (28) x64 Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-14700K
  Memory: 3.67 GB / 31.69 GB
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 26.0.0
    path: C:\Users\ronak\AppData\Local\fnm_multishells\32268_1778138217881\node.EXE
  Yarn: Not Found
  npm:
    version: 11.12.1
    path: C:\Users\ronak\AppData\Local\fnm_multishells\32268_1778138217881\npm.CMD
  Watchman: Not Found
SDKs:
  Android SDK:
    API Levels:
      - "25"
      - "34"
      - "35"
      - "36"
      - "36"
      - "37"
    Build Tools:
      - 34.0.0
      - 35.0.0
      - 36.0.0
      - 36.1.0
      - 37.0.0
    System Images:
      - android-25 | Google Play Intel x86 Atom
      - android-28 | Google Play Intel x86 Atom
      - android-33 | Google Play Intel x86_64 Atom
      - android-34 | Google APIs Intel x86_64 Atom
      - android-35 | Google Play Intel x86_64 Atom
      - android-36.1 | Google Play Intel x86_64 Atom
      - android-36 | Google Play Intel x86_64 Atom
      - android-37.0 | Pre-Release 16 KB Page Size Google Play Intel x86_64 Atom
    Android NDK: Not Found
  Windows SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: AI-253.32098.37.2534.15336583
  Visual Studio: Not Found
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 17.0.11
    path: C:\Program Files\Microsoft\jdk-17.0.11.9-hotspot\bin\javac.EXE
  Ruby: Not Found
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 20.1.3
    wanted: 20.1.3
  react:
    installed: 19.2.3
    wanted: 19.2.3
  react-native:
    installed: 0.85.3
    wanted: 0.85.3
  react-native-windows: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: Not found
  newArchEnabled: Not found

Screenshots and Videos

[react-native-bot]

Warning

Missing reproducer: We could not detect a reproducible example in your issue report. Reproducers are mandatory and we can accept only one of those as a valid reproducer:

• For majority of bugs: send us a Pull Request with the RNTesterPlayground.js edited to reproduce your bug.
• If your bug is UI related: a Snack
• If your bug is build/upgrade related: a project using our Reproducer Template

You can read more about about it on our website: How to report a bug.

[tastydev]

Did you try focusing the devtools window and using cmd + r (reload shortcut for macos, on windows use the correct reload shortcut)? Does it then load correctly for you?

I experience that for my apps when i am logging extensively on startup in RN 0.83, aswell. cmd + r resolves it.

[rnkdsh]

Did you try focusing the devtools window and using cmd + r (reload shortcut for macos, on windows use the correct reload shortcut)? Does it then load correctly for you?

I experience that for my apps when i am logging extensively on startup in RN 0.83, aswell. cmd + r resolves it.

Yes, I tried it, but it didn't work. However, it is working fine if I run react-native start --reset-cache.
It doesn't work when I run the react-native run-android command, and the metro server starts automatically in a new terminal. In that terminal, it's not working, so I have to close that terminal and run react-native start --reset-cache to make it work.

[shivrajbande]

Dose it happening from recent upgrade to new Architecture?

[AndreAparecidoDaSilva]

I’m experiencing the same issue on Windows after upgrading React Native.

Environment:

• Windows 11
• Hermes enabled
• React Native 0.85.1 and 0.85.3

Behavior:

• Pressing j opens the React Native DevTools window
• The window stays completely white/blank
• Metro continues running normally
• App itself runs fine

Important detail:

• The problem does NOT happen on React Native 0.84.1 in the exact same environment
• I reproduced this in multiple projects after upgrading to 0.85.x

This strongly suggests a regression in the new DevTools/debugger shell introduced in 0.85.x on Windows.

I also noticed Metro logs:

[debugger-shell stdout]

right before the blank window appears.

I tested:

• --reset-cache
• clean installs
• deleting node_modules
• different projects
• different emulators

No change.

[talhaazhar]

experiencing the same issue. Here is a workaround in the meantime that is working for me:

#54889 (comment)

TLDR:

• edit the @node_modules/@react-native/dev-middleware/dist/createDevMiddleware.js file:

    if (
      req.method === "POST" ||
-      (experiments.enableOpenDebuggerRedirect && req.method === "GET")
+.     req.method === "GET"
    ) {

• Start Metro normally (npm run bundler).
• With the app connected, do not press j — that still launches the Electron shell.
• Instead, open a Chromium-based browser (Chrome / Edge / Arc / Brave) and go to:

http://localhost:8081/open-debugger

This will let you use the browser-based DevTools

[rashid44]

I also faced the same problem and got the solution after installing watchman.

winget install Facebook.Watchman

Clear out node_modules and locks
rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json yarn.lock

Hard purge cached Android native trees
rm -rf android/.gradle android/app/build android/build

Re-install dependencies
npm install or yarn install

Restart Metro with a clean cache
npx react-native start --reset-cache or yarn start --reset-cache

In another terminal run
npx react-native run-android or yarn android

Now after completing the build process press j in the first terminal to open devtools.

[rnkdsh]

I also faced the same problem and got the solution after installing watchman.

winget install Facebook.Watchman

Clear out node_modules and locks
rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json yarn.lock

Hard purge cached Android native trees
rm -rf android/.gradle android/app/build android/build

Re-install dependencies
npm install or yarn install

Restart Metro with a clean cache
npx react-native start --reset-cache or yarn start --reset-cache

In another terminal run
npx react-native run-android or yarn android

Now after completing the build process press j in the first terminal to open devtools.

Yes that works. But it doesn't work on the terminal which automatically opens when we run npx react-native run-android.