NitroFetch client not available on Expo

[tryon-dev]

Before submitting a new issue

• I tested using the latest version of the library, as the bug might be already fixed.
• I tested using a supported version of react native.
• I checked for possible duplicate issues, with possible answers.

Bug summary

Using react-native-nitro-fetch in an Expo-managed project appears not to work. The client reports “NitroFetch Client not available”, even after following installation steps. Standard fetch works, but nitro-fetch does not initialize on Expo.

Library version

0.1.3

Environment info

System:
  OS: macOS 26.1
  CPU: (8) arm64 Apple M3
  Memory: 139.36 MB / 16.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 24.6.0
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/node
  Yarn: Not Found
  npm:
    version: 11.5.1
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/npm
  Watchman: Not Found
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.2
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 25.0
      - iOS 26.0
      - macOS 26.0
      - tvOS 26.0
      - visionOS 26.0
      - watchOS 26.0
  Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: Not Found
  Xcode:
    version: 26.0/17A321
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java: Not Found
  Ruby:
    version: 2.6.10
    path: /usr/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 20.0.2
    wanted: latest
  react:
    installed: 19.1.0
    wanted: 19.1.0
  react-native:
    installed: 0.81.4
    wanted: 0.81.4
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true

Steps to reproduce

1. Create a new Expo project (managed workflow):
   ▫ npx create-expo-app
   ▫ expo install react-native-nitro-fetch
2. Follow installation docs (linking/build steps if any).
3. Import and use NitroFetch:
   ▫ import { fetch } from ‘react-native-nitro-fetch’;
   ▫ fetch(‘https://example.com’);
4. Run the app via expo run:ios or expo run:android / expo start.
5. Observe runtime warnings/errors.

Reproducible example repository

https://github.com/tryon-dev/expo-fetch-issue

[Rohithegade02]

facing the issue
Error: NitroFetch client not available

[rasult22]

Are you using it with Expo Go or separetly?

[Amurmurmur]

same issue

[Error: Uncaught (in promise, id: 2) Error: NitroFetch client not available] 

[Rohithegade02]

Are you using it with Expo Go or separetly?

Using the expo prebuild

[kculmback-eig]

We ran into this issue after updating to Expo SDK 54. We did not have this problem with SDK 53

[enqqi]

I created an expo-dev-client and also have this problem... an important thing to note is when you run expo-doctor it seems that its not compatible with new arch?

✖ Validate packages against React Native Directory package metadata
The following issues were found when validating your dependencies against React Native Directory:
  Untested on New Architecture: react-native-nitro-fetch
Advice:
Use libraries that are actively maintained and support the New Architecture. Find alternative libraries with https://reactnative.directory.
Add packages to expo.doctor.reactNativeDirectoryCheck.exclude in package.json to selectively skip validations, if the warning is not relevant.

[delyethan]

facing the same issue
But I fixed it by reassign client
hope it can help

diff --git a/node_modules/react-native-nitro-fetch/lib/module/fetch.js b/node_modules/react-native-nitro-fetch/lib/module/fetch.js
index 8f57d2a..d6e4ab9 100644
--- a/node_modules/react-native-nitro-fetch/lib/module/fetch.js
+++ b/node_modules/react-native-nitro-fetch/lib/module/fetch.js
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ async function nitroFetchRaw(input, init) {
     }; // bleee
   }
   const req = buildNitroRequest(input, init);
-  ensureClient();
+  client = ensureClient();
   if (!client || typeof client.request !== 'function') throw new Error('NitroFetch client not available');
   const res = await client.request(req);
   return res;
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ export async function prefetch(input, init) {
   }
 
   // Ensure client and call native prefetch
-  ensureClient();
+  client = ensureClient();
   if (!client || typeof client.prefetch !== 'function') return;
   await client.prefetch(req);
 }

[dugoutlive]

Does this work with expo prebuilt with iOS ?

I get Header Errors

[smallzZz8]

Getting the same issue. Expo 54, RN 0.81

[riteshshukla04]

Hey , Is this still an issue on version 0.2.0 ?

[johannbuscail]

@tryon-dev any updates ?

[CavalcanteLeo]

any news?

[riteshshukla04]

Is this issue still happening . Can you please create a repro so that we can debug and fix