> **clerk-expo** — chapter 21 of 22 in [clerk/skills](https://skillsdocs.com/clerk/skills). > > Book (all chapters, one file): https://skillsdocs.com/clerk/skills.md > Machine manifest: https://skillsdocs.com/clerk/skills/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json > Install the book: `npx skills add clerk/skills` > Upstream: https://github.com/clerk/skills/blob/main/skills/mobile/clerk-expo/SKILL.md @ `main` > Raw bytes, no header: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/clerk/skills/main/skills/mobile/clerk-expo/SKILL.md > Base for relative paths: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/clerk/skills/main/skills/mobile/clerk-expo/ > Licence: MIT — https://spdx.org/licenses/MIT.html > > Bundled files (7), referenced from this skill's directory: > - `evals/evals.json` — https://raw.githubusercontent.com/clerk/skills/main/skills/mobile/clerk-expo/evals/evals.json > - `references/custom-flows.md` — https://raw.githubusercontent.com/clerk/skills/main/skills/mobile/clerk-expo/references/custom-flows.md > - `references/prebuilt-components.md` — https://raw.githubusercontent.com/clerk/skills/main/skills/mobile/clerk-expo/references/prebuilt-components.md > - `references/protected-routes.md` — https://raw.githubusercontent.com/clerk/skills/main/skills/mobile/clerk-expo/references/protected-routes.md > - `references/recipes.md` — https://raw.githubusercontent.com/clerk/skills/main/skills/mobile/clerk-expo/references/recipes.md > - `references/setup.md` — https://raw.githubusercontent.com/clerk/skills/main/skills/mobile/clerk-expo/references/setup.md > - `references/sso-and-native-auth.md` — https://raw.githubusercontent.com/clerk/skills/main/skills/mobile/clerk-expo/references/sso-and-native-auth.md > > Content © its authors, served unmodified. Takedown: https://github.com/DreambaseAI/skillsdocs/issues/new?labels=takedown&title=Takedown+request --- name: clerk-expo description: Add Clerk authentication to Expo and React Native apps using @clerk/expo. Use for Expo setup, prebuilt native components (AuthView, UserButton), custom sign-in/sign-up flows (email, password, SMS/phone OTP, MFA), OAuth/SSO, native Google/Apple sign-in, Expo Router protected routes, biometrics, and push notifications. Do not use for native Swift/iOS, native Android/Kotlin, or web-only framework projects. license: MIT allowed-tools: WebFetch metadata: author: clerk version: 2.0.0 compatibility: Requires @clerk/expo v3.4+ (written against v3.6.x, July 2026). Expo SDK 53-56, React Native 0.75+. --- # Clerk Expo (React Native) Implement Clerk in Expo / React Native projects. This skill inlines verified patterns for the stable surface (provider, token cache, flows) and requires source inspection of the installed `@clerk/expo` package for anything volatile (component props, hook signatures). ## Activation Rules Activate when either is true: - The user asks for auth in an Expo or React Native app, or mentions `@clerk/expo`, `ClerkProvider`, Expo Router auth, or Clerk hooks in a native app. - The project is Expo/React Native (`app.json` / `app.config.js`, `expo` in `package.json`, `metro.config.js`, `@clerk/expo` dependency). Route away when: - Native iOS/Swift project (`.xcodeproj`, `Package.swift`) → `clerk-swift` - Native Android/Kotlin project (`build.gradle` without React Native) → `clerk-android` - Web-only framework (Next.js, Remix, plain React, etc.) → the matching framework skill ## Intent Map Match what the user asked for, then load the reference(s) listed. Load only what the task needs. | User intent (examples) | Path | Reference | |------------------------|------|-----------| | "Add auth to my app" / "add sign-in with Clerk" | Prebuilt native components (default) | references/setup.md + references/prebuilt-components.md | | "Add auth" but Expo Go / web / custom UI required | Custom flows | references/setup.md + references/custom-flows.md | | "Add phone / SMS auth", "email OTP", "passwordless" | Custom flow, `phoneCode` / `emailCode` | references/custom-flows.md | | "Sign in with Google/Apple/GitHub", "social login", "SSO" | Browser SSO or native buttons | references/sso-and-native-auth.md | | "MFA / 2FA / TOTP", "forgot password", "email link" | Custom flow additions | references/custom-flows.md | | "Protect routes/screens", "redirect if signed out" | Expo Router guards | references/protected-routes.md | | "Show user profile", "org switching", "push notifications", "sign out", "call my backend" | App recipes | references/recipes.md | | "Biometric login", "Face ID", "passkeys" | Device features | references/recipes.md | ## Default Path Decision When the user says "add auth" without specifying UI: 1. **Default to prebuilt native components** (`AuthView` + `UserButton` from `@clerk/expo/native`). Fastest to working auth; UI is maintained by Clerk. Tell the developer they are in beta and require a development build. 2. **Fall back to custom flows** when any of these hold — say why when you switch: - The project must run in Expo Go (no dev build). - The app targets web (native components don't render on web). - The developer wants their own UI or a specific brand experience beyond theming. 3. If the developer has an existing auth UI, extend what's there — don't rip out custom flows to insert `AuthView` (or vice versa) without being asked. Do not blend prebuilt components and custom flows for the same auth step (e.g. `AuthView` plus a custom password form). Blending is allowed only when the developer explicitly asks. ## Quick Workflow 1. Confirm project type (Expo/RN) and pick the path per the Intent Map / Default Path rules. 2. Follow references/setup.md: install, env key, provider, token cache, config plugin, build type. 3. Verify dashboard prerequisites (Gate 2 and Gate 3 below). 4. Implement from the selected reference only. 5. Verify by building, not just by writing: - Run the project's typecheck (`npx tsc --noEmit` or equivalent). - Build and launch: `npx expo run:ios` / `run:android` for native features, `npx expo start` for Expo Go flows. If the build fails, fix and rebuild iteratively — build errors against the installed SDK are the ground truth when this skill and the SDK disagree. After ~5 failed fix attempts, stop and ask the developer how to proceed instead of thrashing. - Walk the developer through one real sign-in, then confirm the session survives an app restart (token cache working). ## Execution Gates (Do Not Skip) 1. **Publishable key** — Read from `process.env.EXPO_PUBLIC_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY` (`.env` file). Never `NEXT_PUBLIC_`, never hardcoded. If no key exists, ask the developer for one (or run `npx clerk@latest init --framework expo`, which installs the SDK and writes the env file) and wait before editing files. 2. **Native API dashboard toggle** — Clerk's Native API must be enabled for the instance: Clerk Dashboard → **Native applications** (`https://dashboard.clerk.com/~/native-applications`). Tell the developer to verify this during setup; it is required for any native integration. 3. **Factor availability** — Before implementing a specific strategy (SMS, email code, social provider), confirm it's enabled for the instance. Derive the Frontend API URL from the publishable key (base64-decode the middle segment) and fetch `/v1/environment?_is_native=true`, or ask the developer to check the dashboard (**User & authentication**). SMS in particular is instance-configuration-dependent — code written for a disabled factor fails at runtime, not build time. 4. **Current custom-flows API only** — `useSignIn()` / `useSignUp()` from `@clerk/expo` (v3.4+) return `{ signIn, errors, fetchStatus }` and use method-based flows: `signIn.password()`, `signIn.phoneCode.sendCode()`, `signIn.finalize()`. Never generate the legacy pattern: destructuring `isLoaded`/`setActive` from `useSignIn()`/`useSignUp()` (the current hooks don't return them), or `signIn.create()` chained with `prepareFirstFactor()`/`attemptFirstFactor()` + `setActive({ session })`. That pattern lives at `@clerk/expo/legacy` and is only for maintaining existing legacy code, never for new work. Scope notes: `isLoaded` from `useAuth()`/`useUser()` is current API and required in guards; `signIn.create()` itself still exists for advanced cases — prefer the factor-specific methods. 5. **`useSSO()`, never `useOAuth()`** — `useOAuth` is deprecated. Note the asymmetry: `startSSOFlow()` still returns `{ createdSessionId, setActive }` and requires `setActive({ session: createdSessionId })` — SSO does not use `finalize()`. 6. **Token cache** — `tokenCache` from `@clerk/expo/token-cache` on `ClerkProvider`. Never use `expo-secure-store` directly for session tokens, never AsyncStorage. 7. **`resourceCache`, never `secureStore`** — if offline resource caching comes up, `@clerk/expo/secure-store` is deprecated; use `resourceCache` from `@clerk/expo/resource-cache`. 8. **Build-type gating** — Native components (`@clerk/expo/native`) and native hooks (`useSignInWithGoogle`, `useSignInWithApple`, `useLocalCredentials`) require a development build (`npx expo run:ios` / `run:android`), not Expo Go, and don't exist on web. For web targets use `@clerk/expo/web` components or custom flows. State the build requirement before implementing a native-only feature. 9. **Combined sign-in-or-up default** — one combined flow unless the developer asks for separate sign-in and sign-up screens. 10. **Bot protection** — custom sign-up screens must render ``; Clerk's bot protection is on by default and needs this mount point. 11. **Source verification for volatile surfaces** — before using native component props or native hook options, confirm against the installed package: `node_modules/@clerk/expo/dist/native/*.d.ts` and `package.json` `exports`. The installed version wins over this skill if they disagree. 12. **Freshness gate** — this skill was verified against `@clerk/expo` 3.6.x. Check the installed version (`node_modules/@clerk/expo/package.json`). If it is a newer minor or major, treat this skill's code snippets as suspect: re-verify against the docs URL cited next to each snippet (every reference section carries one) or the installed `.d.ts` before using them. If it is older than 3.4, the method-based custom-flows API may not exist — offer an upgrade instead of writing legacy code. ## Version Notes (v3.5–v3.6, June 2026) - Minimum React Native raised to **0.75** in v3.5.0 (iOS SDK now links via SPM podspec). Peer range: `expo >=53 <57`. - Native components matured: iOS moved to Expo Modules; native↔JS session sync is automatic and bidirectional — never call `setActive()` after native-component auth. - The config plugin accepts a `theme` JSON file for native component styling (see references/prebuilt-components.md). - Native Google sign-in will move to a separate `@clerk/expo-google-signin` package in the next major (the `@clerk/expo/google` import keeps working in v3; a dev warning announces the migration). Don't preinstall the new package on v3. ## Common Pitfalls | Level | Issue | Prevention | |-------|-------|------------| | CRITICAL | Generating legacy custom-flow code (`signIn.create` + `prepareFirstFactor` + `setActive`) | Use the current method-based API (Gate 4) | | CRITICAL | Using `useOAuth()` | Use `useSSO()` (Gate 5) | | CRITICAL | Implementing SMS/social auth without checking the factor is enabled | Check environment/dashboard first (Gate 3) | | CRITICAL | Native components targeted at Expo Go or web | Require a dev build; offer custom flows otherwise (Gate 8) | | CRITICAL | Sign-up screen missing `` | Always include it (Gate 10) | | HIGH | `NEXT_PUBLIC_` env prefix, or env var read inside `node_modules` | `EXPO_PUBLIC_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY`, passed explicitly to `ClerkProvider` | | HIGH | Session lost on restart | `tokenCache` from `@clerk/expo/token-cache` on the provider | | HIGH | Calling `setActive()` after `AuthView` / `UserButton` auth | Native components sync sessions automatically | | HIGH | Pairing `AuthView` with `useSignInWithGoogle`/`useSignInWithApple` | `AuthView` renders enabled social providers itself | | HIGH | Calling `WebBrowser.maybeCompleteAuthSession()` manually | `ClerkProvider` handles it | | HIGH | Splitting sign-in / sign-up without being asked | Combined flow by default (Gate 9) | | MEDIUM | Missing `isLoaded` check before `isSignedIn` in guards | Always gate on `isLoaded` first | | MEDIUM | Using `yalc`/`pnpm link` for local `@clerk/expo` development | Use Verdaccio or pkg.pr.new | ## See Also - `clerk` — top-level router - `clerk-swift` / `clerk-android` — native mobile SDKs - `clerk-orgs`, `clerk-billing`, `clerk-webhooks` — feature skills (hooks work the same in Expo) - Installed package source: `node_modules/@clerk/expo/` - https://clerk.com/docs/getting-started/quickstart (Expo SDK tab) - https://clerk.com/docs/reference/expo/overview - https://github.com/clerk/clerk-expo-quickstart — three official example apps: JS-only (Expo Go), JS + native sign-in buttons, native components