Blank space upon closing the keyboard on few android versions

[vineelk8]

Describe the bug
I have upgraded my project to support Android 15 SDK. After the upgrade, we are facing multiple issues with the keyboard opening and closing. Below are the details for the issue

Code snippet
Here is the complete code to reproduce it

import React from 'react';
import { StyleSheet, Text, TextInput, View } from 'react-native';
import {
  KeyboardAwareScrollView,
  KeyboardStickyView,
} from 'react-native-keyboard-controller';

const SmapleScreen = () => {
  return (
    <View style={styles.container}>
      <View style={styles.header}>
        <Text style={styles.headerText}>Comments List</Text>
      </View>
      <KeyboardAwareScrollView contentContainerStyle={{ paddingBottom: 100 }}>
        {Array.from({ length: 20 }).map((_, i) => {
          return (
            <View key={String(i)} style={styles.commentBox}>
              <Text style={{ color: 'black' }}>{`Comment ${i}`}</Text>
            </View>
          );
        })}
      </KeyboardAwareScrollView>
      <KeyboardStickyView offset={200} style={styles.inputWrapper}>
        <TextInput
          placeholder="Write a reply..."
          style={styles.input}
          multiline
        />
      </KeyboardStickyView>
    </View>
  );
};

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  container: {
    flex: 1,
    backgroundColor: '#fafafa',
  },
  header: {
    padding: 16,
    backgroundColor: '#fff',
    borderBottomWidth: 1,
    borderBottomColor: '#ddd',
  },
  headerText: {
    fontSize: 16,
    fontWeight: '600',
  },
  commentBox: {
    padding: 16,
    borderBottomWidth: 1,
    borderBottomColor: '#eee',
    backgroundColor: '#fff',
  },
  inputWrapper: {
    bottom: 45,
    backgroundColor: '#fff',
    padding: 10,
    borderTopWidth: 1,
    borderColor: '#ddd',
  },
  input: {
    height: 45,
    borderWidth: 1,
    borderRadius: 8,
    borderColor: '#ccc',
    paddingHorizontal: 10,
    backgroundColor: '#fff',
  },
});

export default SmapleScreen;

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

• Project should support Android 15 (35)
• Use the library versions as mentioned below in the project
• Wrap the navigation in App.js as below

import React from 'react';
import { KeyboardProvider } from 'react-native-keyboard-controller';
import { NotifierWrapper } from 'react-native-notifier';

import AppNavigator from './src/navigation/AppNavigator';

const App = () => {
  return (
    <NotifierWrapper>
      <KeyboardProvider>
        <SafeAreaProvider initialMetrics={initialWindowMetrics}>
          <AppNavigator />
        </SafeAreaProvider>
      </KeyboardProvider>
    </NotifierWrapper>
  );
};

export default App;

• Create a screen with the above shared code
• Click inside the text input, the keyboard opens, then close it manually upon touching anywhere on the screen. Now the blank space is visible as shown in the recording. The blank space will be visible till the app is reopened

Expected behavior
On the keyboard, opening and closing the screen should adjust back to the normal position without any blank space

Screenshots
Here is the recording for the issue

Record_2025-08-20-12-56-16.mp4

Smartphone (please complete the following information):

• Device: OnePlus Nord2 5G
• OS: Android 13 (OxygenOS)
• RN version: 0.74.6
• Library versions:
  "react": "18.2.0",
  "react-native": "0.74.6",
  "react-native-edge-to-edge": "^1.6.2",
  "react-native-safe-area-context": "^5.5.2",
  "react-native-keyboard-controller": "^1.18.5",
  "react-native-notifier": "^2.0.0"

[Ejdamm]

I'm facing the same symptoms but with different conditions. I will open a new issue if it turns out to be another root cause.

Android sdk version: 32 and lower (doesn't matter if I build with targetSdkVersion 34 or 35)

I can reproduce with example app with some code changes shown below.

git diff in example app

diff --git a/example/android/app/src/main/res/values/styles.xml b/example/android/app/src/main/res/values/styles.xml
index d653a97ac..3c1e5c55f 100644
--- a/example/android/app/src/main/res/values/styles.xml
+++ b/example/android/app/src/main/res/values/styles.xml
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
     <!-- Base application theme. -->
     <style name="AppTheme" parent="Theme.AppCompat.DayNight.NoActionBar">
+        <item name="android:windowFullscreen">true</item>
         <!-- Customize your theme here. -->
         <item name="android:editTextBackground">@drawable/rn_edit_text_material</item>
 
diff --git a/example/src/App.tsx b/example/src/App.tsx
index 55eea052c..ebcafbef6 100644
--- a/example/src/App.tsx
+++ b/example/src/App.tsx
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ const linking = {
 const spinner = <ActivityIndicator color="blue" size="large" />;
 
 export default function App() {
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    StatusBar.setHidden(false);
+  }, []);
+
   return (
     <SafeAreaProvider initialMetrics={initialWindowMetrics}>
       <GestureHandlerRootView style={styles.root}>

The bug shows only when both android:windowFullscreen and StatusBar.SetHidden(false) are used together. I honestly don't know if we need android:windowFullscreen anymore. I think we added it to hide statusbar when splash screen shows but the splash screen isn't working at the moment anyway. I also tried to replace StatusBar static API with the component but stumbled upon another bug which I will open another issue for if I manage to reproduce it in the example app.

Reproducable example
From example 6. Aware scroll view sticky footer:

1. Scroll down to text input # 9 and press. Gap appear
2. Press on close keyboard. Gap disappear
3. Press input # 9 again. Gap appear
4. Press area between input # 8 and input # 9. Gap stays and changes color
5. Press input # 9 again. Gap appear
6. Press input # 8. Gap disappear

Screen record on Pixel_6_Pro_API_32:

foo.mp4

[tj-mc]

Also experiencing this when upgrading to Expo 53

[tj-mc]

@Ejdamm thank you for your tip on StatusBar.

I experienced the bug, identical to how @vineelk8 recorded. When I removed manual status bar hide/show in my app, it was resolved.

[kirillzyusko]

Thanks @Ejdamm for describing the problem and providing a reproducible example!

I think @vineelk8 and you indeed have the same symptoms. For me it looks like Android tries to avoid keyboard itself + keyboard-controller also handles that - and because of that you get double avoiding (you can also see how your header moves up when keyboard gets shown).

Similar behavior can be reproducible if you set adjustPan (and don't switch it to adjustResize, though lib does it automatically so most likely it's not the case).

I'll try to look into the problem, why it happens exactly!

[kirillzyusko]

Okay, the problem happens because of a race condition. I mount edge-to-edge view later, but receive call to setHidden earlier 🤔

I attempted to fix it in #993 (comment)

But it looks like we need more reliable solution 👀

[kirillzyusko]

@Ejdamm @tj-mc @vineelk8 can you check if it fixes the problem?

#1098

[Ejdamm]

@Ejdamm @tj-mc @vineelk8 can you check if it fixes the problem?

#1098

Works like a charm

package.json

"react-native-keyboard-controller": "https://github.com/kirillzyusko/react-native-keyboard-controller.git#fix\/clear-legacy-full-screen-flag",

[kirillzyusko]

Amazing! I merged PR and will publish a new version with fix in first days of September!

Let me know if you encounter any issues with the new version. And if so then feel free to open a new issue with reproduction.

Sorry for ghosting this issue a little bit - I was on a vacation (and still kind of on a vacation), but will return to work soon and will give a better support for this package!

[kirillzyusko]

Fix published in 1.18.6 🙌

Let me know if you keep encounter any issues!