Release data: React Native 0.88 was announced on October 19, 2026, and adds iOS SceneDelegate lifecycle support. Decision: You can use it for an iOS project, but building and testing still requires macOS with Xcode. Start a new project from the 0.88 template; before upgrading an older project, compare its native files and check whether your target SDK makes a SceneDelegate change necessary. (React Native 0.88 release notes)

This guide is for you if you are learning React Native and want to run your first project in an iOS simulator.
It also helps if you already have a course project and need to check what changes before trying 0.88.
If you use Windows or a restricted school computer, you can see which steps require a Mac and Xcode.

Last updated October 20, 2026. Version and migration details checked against the React Native release notes, environment setup, upgrade guidance, and Apple’s scene lifecycle documentation linked below.

Choose the right route before changing files

A new project and an older course project do not start from the same place. A new project should use the React Native 0.88 template and its generated iOS files. An existing project should first be compared with the version it is upgrading from. That comparison helps you avoid copying old tutorial instructions into a newer native project.

Think of a React Native app as having two connected parts:

  • JavaScript code contains much of the interface and app behavior you write for your course.
  • The iOS native project contains the files Xcode uses to build and launch that app on an Apple platform.

A project can have working JavaScript and still fail to build for iOS. The iOS side has its own project settings, dependency setup, app lifecycle, and simulator destination. Starting Metro or seeing a page in a web preview does not prove that Xcode has built the iOS app.

Use this route check before you edit anything:

  • If you are creating a fresh project, follow the current React Native setup instructions and select version 0.88 when creating it.
  • If you are upgrading a course project, record its current React Native version and compare the native files before editing them.
  • If your assignment only asks you to learn JavaScript or build an Android app, you may not need an iOS build yet.
  • If your assignment requires an iOS simulator screenshot or iOS-specific behavior, plan access to macOS and Xcode before the deadline.

For a student starting on Windows, a sensible split is to keep editing JavaScript locally if that suits your course, then use a Mac for the iOS build and simulator check. If you want to understand the Mac side before arranging access, MACCOME’s Mac environment overview is one place to review the available approach.

Check your computer and toolchain first

React Native’s official setup guide lists macOS and Xcode for iOS development. A Windows computer cannot run the native iOS build locally. Check the official React Native environment setup before installing tools or copying setup commands.

This is where many beginners lose time. A Windows machine may be perfectly capable of editing JavaScript, installing project dependencies, and starting a development server. It does not provide the macOS build environment required to compile an iOS app with Xcode. Installing an iOS simulator app on Windows does not remove that limitation.

Before moving on, confirm the following:

  • Project version: Read the react-native entry in package.json. Check the lockfile too, so you know which dependency versions the project resolves.
  • Package manager: Follow the package manager already used by the project. Switching package managers during an upgrade can change the lockfile and complicate troubleshooting.
  • Native dependencies: Look for project instructions about CocoaPods or other iOS setup. Do not assume every project has identical native dependencies.
  • Course target: Confirm whether your instructor expects a simulator launch, a screenshot, a specific iOS feature, or only a successful JavaScript run.
  • Available Mac: Check that you can open the project in Xcode on a Mac. If you do not own one, decide whether you can borrow one or use a remote Mac for the iOS portion.

Do not treat “Xcode 27” as a universal requirement just because it appears in a search result or a course note. Check the React Native release notes above and the environment setup guide for the toolchain expected by your project. The 0.88 release notes discuss the iOS 27 SDK and its UIScene requirement; your setup still depends on the SDK and Xcode version you intend to use.

Keep the task boundary clear: Metro serves JavaScript during development. Xcode builds and launches the native iOS app. A running Metro terminal is not evidence that the iOS build succeeded.

Create a new project from the 0.88 template

If your project is new, use the official React Native setup instructions rather than an old video or copied command that may generate a different version. The release notes identify 0.88 as the version announced on October 19, 2026. Check the current official setup instructions when creating the project, since creation commands and CLI guidance can change.

A project creation command can pin the requested React Native version. Confirm the exact command in the official setup guide before running it. After project generation, inspect the files instead of assuming the template matches a tutorial written for an earlier release.

The important point is the generated iOS entry path. React Native 0.88 includes a SceneDelegate path in its template, according to the release notes. Inspect the generated files and follow their structure. Do not paste an older AppDelegate-only setup over the template just because an older guide used it.

For a first run:

  • Create the project using the current official instructions and select React Native 0.88.
  • Install dependencies using the package manager selected for that project.
  • Follow the template’s iOS instructions for native dependencies.
  • Open the generated iOS project in Xcode and check that its files load without project errors.
  • Select an available iOS simulator and build the app using the official simulator workflow.

The React Native iOS simulator guide covers running an app in a simulator. Use it for current commands and interface steps; avoid relying on commands copied from a guide that targets another project version.

If the project opens but the app does not launch, separate the failure into stages. First check whether Xcode completed the native build. Then check whether the simulator launched the app. Only after that should you investigate a blank screen, JavaScript exception, or missing course page. This order keeps a Metro issue from being mistaken for a build issue.

Does a new React Native 0.88 project need SceneDelegate changes?

Usually, do not add changes by hand to a newly generated project just because you saw a SceneDelegate migration guide. The 0.88 template already includes its SceneDelegate path. First build the generated project as it is. Change the lifecycle setup only if the official guidance or your target SDK requires it, or if your own code has replaced the generated entry point.

That distinction matters for beginners: SceneDelegate is not a package you install to make the simulator work. It is part of how the iOS app handles its scene lifecycle. A new template gives you a version-matched starting point; copying older lifecycle code can make the project less consistent, not more compatible.

Upgrade an older project without copying changes blindly

For an existing course project, start with a reversible copy. Save the current working version or create a separate branch before changing dependencies or native files. Then compare your project’s current version with 0.88 using the React Native Upgrade Helper.

Read each change in context. Upgrade Helper shows differences in generated files, but it cannot decide whether a change is safe for your custom code or third-party dependencies. Inspect changes that affect the app entry point, project settings, dependency setup, and URL handling. Keep a note of each edit so you can undo it if the project stops building.

The release notes say React Native 0.88 has no user-facing breaking changes. Treat that statement narrowly. It is not a guarantee that every older native project, custom AppDelegate, or library will work without review. The notes also discuss SceneDelegate support and the iOS 27 SDK’s UIScene requirement.

What should you check about SceneDelegate?

SceneDelegate is part of the app’s scene lifecycle: it helps UIKit manage the app’s window and related interface state. UIScene is the UIKit model behind that lifecycle. You do not need to learn the entire iOS architecture to upgrade, but you do need to identify whether your project uses the older entry path or the newer scene-based path.

Apple explains the transition to the UIKit scene-based lifecycle and how to declare the scenes an app supports. Consult those documents when your migration requires you to understand the app’s scene configuration.

For an upgrade, check these areas against the 0.88 changes:

  • App entry point: Compare AppDelegate and SceneDelegate files. Do not delete one or move initialization code unless the upgrade difference and your project structure call for it.
  • Scene configuration: If you are targeting the iOS 27 SDK, review the UIScene requirement described in the release notes and verify the app’s scene declarations.
  • Info.plist: Check whether the upgrade changes scene-related declarations. Compare your file with the version-specific generated project instead of adding keys from memory.
  • URL callbacks: If your course app uses deep links or callbacks, check whether the callback path needs to be forwarded through the new lifecycle setup.
  • Third-party libraries: Check their compatibility notes and build status separately. “No user-facing breaking changes” does not establish that every library supports your exact project.

Do not migrate SceneDelegate solely because you upgraded the React Native package. First identify your target SDK and compare your native project with the official upgrade guidance. If you are not using the iOS 27 SDK and your current project builds, avoid unrelated lifecycle edits just to make the project look like a new template.

Run the iOS simulator and locate the failure

Once the project and toolchain are ready, follow this sequence. Use the current React Native simulator guide linked above for exact commands, because scripts and CLI behavior can vary by project setup.

  • Prepare dependencies. Run the dependency installation documented for the project. If it has iOS-specific dependency instructions, complete them on the Mac.
  • Open the iOS project. Use the generated iOS workspace or project file as directed by the setup instructions. If a workspace is generated for native dependencies, use that workspace.
  • Choose a simulator. In Xcode, select an installed iOS simulator compatible with the project’s build settings. If none is available, check Xcode components and the project’s deployment settings before changing code.
  • Build and launch. Use the official simulator workflow to compile and run the app. Watch the build output for the first error rather than scrolling straight to the last line.
  • Verify the app screen. Confirm that the app opens in the simulator and reaches the course screen you are meant to test. Check the Metro terminal separately if the app reports a JavaScript error.

Use the first visible failure to choose a troubleshooting path:

  • The project does not build: Check Xcode’s build output, native dependencies, project version, and any SceneDelegate or Info.plist differences. Do not start by rewriting working JavaScript.
  • The build completes but the app does not open: Check the selected simulator, launch logs, and the app’s native startup path.
  • The app opens but the page is blank or wrong: Check the JavaScript console, Metro connection, and app entry component. A successful native build does not prove that the intended screen rendered.
  • Metro runs but there is no simulator app: Return to the native build step. Metro is a development server, not the iOS compiler.

A common student case is a React Native course project that works on a Windows laptop in a JavaScript-focused lesson, then reaches an iOS-only assignment. The project files may be fine; the missing piece is a Mac with Xcode. Recognizing that difference saves you from reinstalling JavaScript packages when the actual blocker is the unavailable native toolchain.

Finish with a course-ready verification

Use your own course project for the final check. A blank template proves only that the basic environment can launch a new app. It does not prove that your assignment’s dependencies, navigation, native modules, or custom startup code work.

Keep a short record you can share with an instructor or use when asking for help:

  • React Native version and package manager used by the project.
  • The macOS and Xcode versions shown by the Mac you used.
  • Whether you created a new template or upgraded an existing project.
  • Whether the native build completed, the simulator launched, and the course screen appeared.
  • Any remaining limitation, such as a library that fails to build or a feature that needs a physical device.

Then compare your options:

  • Use a Mac you own if you expect to build and test iOS projects regularly, need direct access to hardware, or want a stable personal development setup. The upfront purchase and ongoing ownership are harder to justify if you only need occasional course verification.
  • Borrow a Mac if you can coordinate access and have enough time to install or check the project’s dependencies. Availability and account permissions may be outside your control.
  • Use a remote Mac if you need a temporary macOS and Xcode environment for a specific build or simulator check and do not have a suitable Mac nearby. Check the toolchain, project permissions, and connection method before relying on it.
  • Stay on Windows for now if your current coursework does not require an iOS build. You can continue learning JavaScript and React Native concepts, but you cannot complete the native iOS simulator build on Windows alone.

If your course requires an iOS simulator but you do not have a Mac, review the environment requirements first, then decide whether a remote Mac fits the assignment. MACCOME provides remote access to a Mac; you can review its Mac mini rental options and check whether the available setup matches your project before committing. A remote session can suit temporary verification. It is not a substitute for owning a Mac if you need continuous heavy use or direct physical-device connections.

Before you finish, use this checklist:

  • [ ] I confirmed whether this is a new project or an upgrade.
  • [ ] I recorded the React Native version and checked the project’s dependency setup.
  • [ ] I confirmed that I have macOS and Xcode available for the iOS build.
  • [ ] For an upgrade, I compared the native files and reviewed SceneDelegate changes against my target SDK.
  • [ ] I built and launched the app in a simulator, then checked the actual course screen.
  • [ ] I recorded any remaining issue separately from Metro and native build status.