complete beginner-friendly step-by-step guide to installing and running a React Native

Here's a complete beginner-friendly step-by-step guide to installing and running a React Native project in Visual Studio Code on Windows (2025) using the latest version (React Native CLI, not Expo): ✅ Step 1: Install Prerequisites 1. Install Chocolatey (Windows Package Manager) Open PowerShell as Administrator and run: Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force; ` [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor 3072; ` iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1')) Restart your terminal after installation. 2. Install Node.js, Python, JDK & Android Studio Run this in PowerShell as Administrator: choco install -y nodejs-lts python openjdk11 React Native uses Python 3 and JDK 11 internally. ✅ Step 2: Install Android Studio 1. Download from: https://developer.android.com/studio 2. During installation: Check "Android Virtual Device" (AVD). After install, open Android Studio and go to: More Actions → SDK Manager → SDK Tools Check these: Android SDK Build-Tools Android Emulator Android SDK Platform-Tools Intel x86 Emulator Accelerator (HAXM) Make sure the ANDROID_HOME environment variable is set later. ✅ Step 3: Set Environment Variables Press Win + S, search for “Environment Variables”, and open it. Under System Variables, click New: Name: ANDROID_HOME Value: C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk Find and edit the Path variable → Click Edit → Add: %ANDROID_HOME%\platform-tools %ANDROID_HOME%\emulator ✅ Step 4: Install React Native CLI Open Command Prompt or PowerShell: npm install -g react-native-cli Check if installed: react-native --version ✅ Step 5: Create Your First React Native Project npx react-native init MyFirstApp cd MyFirstApp ✅ Step 6: Run Your App 1. Start Android Emulator Open Android Studio → Click Device Manager → Start an emulator. 2. Start Metro Bundler: npx react-native start Open another terminal, and in your project folder, run: npx react-native run-android It may take a few minutes on first run. ✅ Step 7: Open in Visual Studio Code Open VS Code. Click File → Open Folder → Select your React Native project. (Optional) Install extensions: React Native Tools ESLint Prettier ✅ You're Done! You now have a working React Native development setup with Visual Studio Code on Windows.

May 2, 2025 - 06:27

Here's a complete beginner-friendly step-by-step guide to installing and running a React Native project in Visual Studio Code on Windows (2025) using the latest version (React Native CLI, not Expo):

✅ Step 1: Install Prerequisites

1. Install Chocolatey (Windows Package Manager)

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force; `
[System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor 3072; `
iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))

Restart your terminal after installation.

2. Install Node.js, Python, JDK & Android Studio

Run this in PowerShell as Administrator:

choco install -y nodejs-lts python openjdk11

React Native uses Python 3 and JDK 11 internally.

✅ Step 2: Install Android Studio

1. Download from: https://developer.android.com/studio

2. During installation:

Check "Android Virtual Device" (AVD).
After install, open Android Studio and go to:

  More Actions → SDK Manager → SDK Tools

Check these:
- Android SDK Build-Tools
- Android Emulator
- Android SDK Platform-Tools
- Intel x86 Emulator Accelerator (HAXM)

Make sure the ANDROID_HOME environment variable is set later.

✅ Step 3: Set Environment Variables

Press Win + S, search for “Environment Variables”, and open it.
Under System Variables, click New:

Name: ANDROID_HOME
Value: C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk

Find and edit the Path variable → Click Edit → Add:

%ANDROID_HOME%\platform-tools
%ANDROID_HOME%\emulator

✅ Step 4: Install React Native CLI

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell:

npm install -g react-native-cli

Check if installed:

react-native --version

✅ Step 5: Create Your First React Native Project

npx react-native init MyFirstApp
cd MyFirstApp

✅ Step 6: Run Your App

1. Start Android Emulator

Open Android Studio → Click Device Manager → Start an emulator.

2. Start Metro Bundler:

npx react-native start

Open another terminal, and in your project folder, run:

npx react-native run-android

It may take a few minutes on first run.

✅ Step 7: Open in Visual Studio Code

Open VS Code.
Click File → Open Folder → Select your React Native project.
(Optional) Install extensions:

React Native Tools
ESLint
Prettier

✅ You're Done!

You now have a working React Native development setup with Visual Studio Code on Windows.