How can I clean (reset cache) of React Native using Expo. Not sure if it is cache issue

Question

I am building a simple React Native app with create-react-native-app using only react-navigation and base-64(base 64 encode/decode) as dependencies. Over time starting the app became slower and now sometimes it is getting stuck(waiting for about 30min) on "Starting packager..." after running NPM start.

I've tried starting it with "npm start -- --reset-cache" but nothing changed

Once it is up and running I don't get any error or warning in DevTools or terminal. Also there are no issues with the performance of the app

What can I do to make NPM start smooth and quickly as before? Are there any general steps I can take to troubleshoot this issue?

Here is my package.json

{
  "name": "test",
  "version": "0.1.0",
  "private": true,
  "devDependencies": {
    "jest-expo": "~27.0.0",
    "react-devtools": "^3.2.3",
    "react-native-scripts": "1.14.0",
    "react-test-renderer": "16.3.1"
  },
  "main": "./node_modules/react-native-scripts/build/bin/crna-entry.js",
  "scripts": {
    "start": "react-native-scripts start",
    "eject": "react-native-scripts eject",
    "android": "react-native-scripts android",
    "ios": "react-native-scripts ios",
    "test": "jest"
  },
  "jest": {
    "preset": "jest-expo"
  },
  "dependencies": {
    "base-64": "^0.1.0",
    "expo": "^27.0.1",
    "react": "16.3.1",
    "react-native": "~0.55.2",
    "react-navigation": "^2.11.2"
  }
}

Official Documentation [clearing bundler caches](https://docs.expo.dev/troubleshooting/clear-cache-windows/) — Zahir Masoodi, Mar 01 '23 at 08:16

score 268 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 01 '22 at 17:34

268

expo r -c

According to this forum post from an Expo dev, that's the command to start it cache clean

EDIT: They have changed it from exp r -c to expo start -c

edited Jun 01 '22 at 17:34

Seth Lutske

9,154
5
29
78

answered Aug 24 '18 at 06:31

Sebastian Berglönn

3,920
2
17
33

57

`exp` is now `expo`, `r` is short for `start`, and `-c` is short for `--clear` – tar May 17 '19 at 21:57
17

what if I don't want to start expo and just clean the cache? – xeruf Aug 21 '19 at 16:19
3

@kwoxer none of the above will remove actual React Native cache – d4rky Sep 25 '20 at 12:16
2

based on the new npx method, it is now ``npx expo start -c`` – Anthony phillips Mar 26 '23 at 06:31

score 49 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 04 '19 at 10:31

49

The command to run is:

expo r -c

answered Jan 04 '19 at 10:31

Mitchell Fry

605
5
4

Rahul Dasgupta · Answer 3 · 2023-02-12T20:13:01.503

7

For Expo 45 and below

expo r -c

For Expo 46 and above

npx expo start --clear

edited Feb 12 '23 at 20:13

answered Jan 25 '23 at 11:02

Rahul Dasgupta

463
8
14

npm start --reset-cache just gave me the error: There was a problem loading the project. This development build encountered the following error. Value of type java.lang.String cannot be converted to JSONObject. – Fernando Rodrigues Coelho Feb 03 '23 at 17:30

score 6 · Answer 4 · edited Aug 15 '21 at 10:28

6

In you console run:

expo start

After the QR code is shown, press SHIFT + R keys.

edited Aug 15 '21 at 10:28

Brian Tompsett - 汤莱恩

5,753
72
57
129

answered Feb 28 '21 at 19:52

alejandro pereira ALEW140

306
3
9

score 4 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 01 '20 at 16:17

4

I was running expo build:ios and needed to clear the cached provisioning profile. I did so with:

expo build:ios --clear-provisioning-profile

To see the full list of commands that clear specific elements from the cache, run expo build:ios --help

answered Mar 01 '20 at 16:17

duhaime

25,611
17
169
224

1

Is expo build:ios --clear-provisioning-profile the same as expo start --clean? – Mario Murrent Oct 11 '21 at 06:54

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Aug 05 '23 at 20:54

0

2023 update

npx eas build -p ios --clear-cache

or

npx eas build -p android --clear-cache

answered Aug 05 '23 at 20:54

Hugobop

125
10

How can I clean (reset cache) of React Native using Expo. Not sure if it is cache issue

6 Answers6

2023 update

Linked