react-native-rn-in-app-update

A minimal React Native module that displays the native Android in-app update popup using the Play Core library. Supports both immediate and flexible update types.

Installation

Using npm:

npm install react-native-rn-in-app-update

or using yarn:

yarn add react-native-rn-in-app-update

Usage

Import and use the showUpdatePopup function. it supports 2 update type immediate and flexible

import { showUpdatePopup } from 'react-native-rn-in-app-update';

<Button title="Get Update" onPress={() => showUpdatePopup('immediate')} />;

How to Test In-App Updates on Android

To test this package correctly, you must publish your app to the Play Store (even if only in Internal Testing) — the in-app update API only works when your app is installed via Google Play.

Step 1: Upload a lower-version build (v1)

Create a signed APK/AAB with version:

versionCode 100
versionName "1.0.0"

Upload this build to the Play Console → Internal Testing track.

Publish it and wait until it’s available for testers (usually within 15–30 minutes).

Install the app from the Play Store using a tester account.

Step 2: Prepare a higher-version build (v2)

Increment version:

versionCode 101
versionName "1.1.0"

DO NOT UPLOAD IT YET.

This is your update version, which the Play Store will later offer as an available update.

Step 3: Open the app (v1) with your test logic

Ensure your app runs this on launch or on button click:

showUpdatePopup('immediate');

At this point, no popup will appear, because there's no newer version yet.

Step 4: Upload the higher version (v2)

Now upload the v2 build (with versionCode = 101) to Internal Testing.

Publish and wait until it’s live for testers (can take up to 30–60 minutes).

Step 5: Reopen the app

Reopen the installed v1 app on your test device (it’s still running versionCode = 100).

You should now see the in-app update popup, triggered by:

showUpdatePopup('immediate');

Find more details for testing here