New React Native project with old version of react native

Question

I am trying to create a new react native project which should utilize an older version of react-native.

The result I would like would be to do something like: react-native init MyProject but have the version of react-native it uses be 0.13.2.

However, there doesn't seem to be any options with react-native-cli for initializing with old versions of react-native.

Performing react-native init MyProject and then dowgrading react-native in package.json also does not work because the init command installs a bunch of xcode templates which are used to build the app and there is no dowgrade command which will dowgrade these templates. (There is an upgrade command.)

I tried downgrading my version of react-native-cli to 0.1.4 which was current when react-native 0.13 was current, but this did not work. From looking at the cli source, it seems it always initializes with just the newest version of react-native.

I realize this is pretty weird to want to start a new project at an old version, but I have a weird set of requirements that are forcing this.

AFAIK, I couldn't find some kind of 'downgrade of react-native'. But when you init a project, `$ react-native init ProjectName --version 0.39.0` ref: https://github.com/facebook/react-native/blob/master/react-native-cli/index.js#L51 — roy, Jan 05 '17 at 08:12

score 68 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 15 '18 at 16:33

68

There is a new parameter in react-native init that allows just this. Try:

react-native init --version="react-native@0.36.0" MyNewApp

Here my source. I have successfully tested it with react-native-cli 2.0.1.

edited Jul 15 '18 at 16:33

Tom Aranda

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answered Jan 07 '17 at 20:56

martinarroyo

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nice answer.it helped. – Biplov Kumar Oct 10 '20 at 19:04
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this did not help me. instead react-native init newproject --version X.XX.X worked for me – Shamendra Mar 24 '21 at 08:00

score 38 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 03 '16 at 21:15

38

rninit is a replacement for react-native init that allows you to specify a particular version of react-native to use.

Install rninit globally:

npm install -g rninit

Specify which version of react-native to use:

rninit init [Project Name] --source react-native@0.14.2

Thanks to @vanson-wing-leung for pointing me to rninit

answered Jun 03 '16 at 21:15

emmby

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Or just `react-native init blank --version react-native@0.14.2`. – daserge Nov 02 '16 at 11:14
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@daserge this should be the accepted answer. I've just tried it with init blank --version react-native@0.24.0 and it worked as expected. Maybe move it outside the comments so OP can accept it? – Dagobert Renouf Nov 24 '16 at 12:27
Indeed, react-native seems to be able to handle this on it's own. – Tom Jan 11 '17 at 12:32
Is it the method to create a new project or redefining the version for the existing project ? – DEEPAN KUMAR Apr 10 '18 at 02:56
Didn't worked with latest react native cli – Sumanta Jun 14 '21 at 12:57

score 27 · Answer 3 · edited Jul 15 '18 at 16:29

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Use the --version flag.

react-native init blank --version react-native@0.14.2

edited Jul 15 '18 at 16:29

Tom Aranda

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answered Jan 16 '17 at 12:07

Benjamin J. Benoudis

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use this instead react-native init newproject --version X.XX.X – Shamendra Mar 24 '21 at 08:00

score 6 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 22 '22 at 03:26

6

Here's the command as of April 2022.

npx react-native init newproject --version="0.66.4"

answered Apr 22 '22 at 03:26

codejays

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score 2 · Answer 5 · answered Dec 10 '15 at 23:15

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Try this:

If you install the version of react-native that you want in your project, you can then navigate to (project)/node_modules/react-native/local-cli. Here you will see three generator folders which enclose the exact files RN would have used to initiate a project.

It's a bit manual, but at least you'll have access to the original files.

answered Dec 10 '15 at 23:15

John Shammas

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This is a good start, thanks! I have formally submitted an issue to react native asking for native support of this feature. https://github.com/facebook/react-native/issues/4723 – Jordan Ell Dec 10 '15 at 23:46

score 2 · Answer 6 · answered Sep 22 '18 at 07:32

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specify react-native version at the time of installing

something like this

react-native init --version="react-native@0.52.0" ExampleApp

answered Sep 22 '18 at 07:32

omkar yadav

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score 1 · Answer 7 · answered Jun 14 '21 at 13:03

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The only solution that works with react native latest cli is

react-native init NewProject --version X.XX.X

e.g

react-native init NewProject --version 0.61.5

Thanks @Shamendra

answered Jun 14 '21 at 13:03

Sumanta

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score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Apr 03 '19 at 05:07

0

react-native init MyApp --version react-native@0.58.6

answered Apr 03 '19 at 05:07

Ashutosh Dash

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score 0 · Answer 9 · answered May 12 '23 at 14:04

To use the same version of CLI to install React Native, you can use:

npx react-native@0.60.0 init rn60 --version="0.60.0"

output:

Need to install the following packages:
  react-native@0.60.0
Ok to proceed? (y)


               ######                ######
             ###     ####        ####     ###
            ##          ###    ###          ##
            ##             ####             ##
            ##             ####             ##
            ##           ##    ##           ##
            ##         ###      ###         ##
             ##  ########################  ##
          ######    ###            ###    ######
      ###     ##    ##              ##    ##     ###
   ###         ## ###      ####      ### ##         ###
  ##           ####      ########      ####           ##
 ##             ###     ##########     ###             ##
  ##           ####      ########      ####           ##
   ###         ## ###      ####      ### ##         ###
      ###     ##    ##              ##    ##     ###
          ######    ###            ###    ######
             ##  ########################  ##
            ##         ###      ###         ##
            ##           ##    ##           ##
            ##             ####             ##
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            ##          ###    ###          ##
             ###     ####        ####     ###
               ######                ######


                  Welcome to React Native!
                 Learn once, write anywhere.

✔ Downloading template
✔ Copying template
✔ Processing template
✔ Installing dependencies
✔ Installing CocoaPods dependencies (this may take a few minutes)

  Run instructions for iOS:
    • cd rn60 && react-native run-ios
    - or -
    • Open rn60/ios/rn60.xcworkspace in Xcode or run "xed -b ios"
    • Hit the Run button

  Run instructions for Android:
    • Have an Android emulator running (quickest way to get started), or a device connected.
    • cd rn60 && react-native run-android

test

$ cd rn60
$ cat package.json
{
  "name": "rn60",
  "version": "0.0.1",
  "private": true,
  "scripts": {
    "start": "react-native start",
    "test": "jest"
  },
  "dependencies": {
    "react": "16.8.6",
    "react-native": "0.60.0" <----
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "@babel/core": "^7.3.3",
    "@babel/runtime": "^7.3.1",
    "@react-native-community/eslint-config": "^0.0.3",
    "babel-jest": "^24.1.0",
    "jest": "^24.1.0",
    "metro-react-native-babel-preset": "^0.54.1",
    "react-test-renderer": "16.8.6"
  },
  "jest": {
    "preset": "react-native"
  }
}

score -1 · Answer 10 · answered Mar 25 '19 at 18:03

-1

For existing react native project to downgrade run

npm install react-native@0.13.2

Then verify the version by running

react-native -version

answered Mar 25 '19 at 18:03

hzak

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New React Native project with old version of react native

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