Expo Router just made its biggest change since launch. Version 56 forks from React Navigation, adds streaming server-side rendering, and gives Android developers the toolbar API they've been waiting for.
The fork is the big story here, affecting every Expo Router app. But there's more: new SSR capabilities, an Android toolbar that matches iOS, and expanded Native Tabs. Let's break down what changed and why it matters.
The React Navigation fork explained
Expo has deep roots with React Navigation. Brent Vatne, Expo's VP of Engineering, led React Navigation through versions 1.0 and 2.0 alongside @ericvicenti and @satya164. We helped React Navigation grow from an early experiment, influenced by React Native's NavigationExperimental and our own ex-navigation, into the standard navigation solution for React Native.
React Navigation remains in Satya's capable hands while our focus shifted to Expo Router. As Expo Router evolved, we needed deeper control over React Navigation's internals. After talking with Satya, we agreed that forking the pieces Expo Router depends on would serve both projects better.
