Unlike the web, React Native is not backwards compatible. This means that npm packages often need to be the exact right version for the currently installed copy of react-native in your project. Expo CLI provides a best-effort tool for doing this using a list of popular packages and the known working version combinations. Simply use the install command as a drop-in replacement for npm install:

npx expo install expo-camera Visit here to see more: https://docs.expo.dev/more/expo-cli/

Answer from Simranjeet on Stack Overflow
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npm
npmjs.com › package › expo
expo - npm
provides @expo/cli, a small CLI that provides a clean interface around both bundlers (such as Metro and Webpack) and native build tools (Xcode, Simulator.app, Android Studio, ADB, etc.), can generate native projects with npx expo prebuild, and aligns compatible package versions with npx expo install. exposes a JavaScript module that configures an app at runtime as needed to use expo-font and to function in Expo Go (optional, only if applicable). See CONTRIBUTING for instructions on working on this package. expo · npm i expo ·
      » npm install expo
    
Published   Dec 18, 2025
Version   54.0.30
Author   Expo
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Medium
medium.com › @huzaifaqureshi037 › exwhy-you-should-use-npx-expo-install-instead-of-npm-install-in-expo-react-native-app-07d6156f064a
Why You Should Use “npx expo install” instead of “npm install” in Expo React Native App. | by Huzaifa Qureshi | Medium
October 23, 2024 - Version Conflicts : If you encounter version conflicts, try npx expo install first. It often resolves compatibility issues automatically · Development Dependencies : Use npm install --save-dev for development tools, These don’t need Expo’s version resolution
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Stack Overflow
stackoverflow.com › questions › 69487725 › expo-install-vs-npm-install
react native - expo install vs npm install - Stack Overflow
Why are we using npm install for ... From expo docs: The expo install command will pick a version that is compatible with your project and then use your JavaScript package manager (such as npm) to install it....
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Java-samples
java-samples.com › showtutorial.php
npm install vs npx expo install
In summary, npm install is a more general-purpose package manager that can be used with any Node.js project, while npx expo install is specific to Expo projects and is optimized for installing packages from the Expo SDK.
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Expo Documentation
docs.expo.dev › workflow › using-libraries
Using Expo SDK, React Native, and third-party libraries - Expo Documentation
We recommend always using npx expo install instead of npm install or yarn add directly because it allows Expo CLI to pick a compatible version of a library when possible and also warn you about known incompatibilities.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/reactnative › how important it is to always use "expo install x" as opposed to "npm install x"?
r/reactnative on Reddit: How important it is to always use "expo install x" as opposed to "npm install x"?
February 19, 2022 -

I'm building my app using Expo and whenever I can, I use "expo install some-package". It seems to work most of the time, but something it doesn't and my only option seems to be to fall back to using npm install.

I realize that expo install is safer because it "knows" compatibility, but so far I've had to use npm because of failures with expo install (often peer dependency version conflicts). For 2-3 packages I've done this with, they all worked fine.

Is there any major risk I'm running by not using expo install for a couple packages? I'm I setting myself up for pain?

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MyCleverAI
mycleverai.com › it-questions › what-is-the-difference-between-using-npx-expo-and-npm-install
What is the difference between using "npx expo" and "npm install"?
npx expo executes commands provided by the Expo CLI. - Functionality: npm install changes the project structure by modifying dependencies in node_modules, npx expo doesn't directly install anything but runs commands specific to the Expo ecosystem.
Find elsewhere
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Expo
forums.expo.dev › (deprecated) help: expokit
https://forums.expo.dev/t/difference-expo-install-...
Expo brings together the best of the web and mobile for making apps that run on Android, iOS, and web. | 66664 members
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Expo Documentation
docs.expo.dev › bare › installing-expo-modules
Install Expo modules in an existing React Native project - Expo Documentation
Once the expo package is installed and configured in your project, you can use npx expo install to add any other Expo module from the SDK. See Using Libraries for more information. The following Expo modules are brought in as dependencies of the expo package: expo-asset - A JavaScript-only package that builds around expo-file-system and provides a common foundation for assets across all Expo modules.
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DhiWise
dhiwise.com › post › easy-steps-to-install-expo-cli-npm-for-your-development
How to Install Expo CLI NPM for Your Development Environment
November 14, 2024 - The Expo package plays a pivotal role in your React Native project, handling everything from the project's configuration to its dependencies. Managing these dependencies is seamless with npx expo install, ensuring compatibility and easing the ...
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npm
npmjs.com › package › install-expo-modules
install-expo-modules - npm
Latest version: 0.13.14, last published: 14 days ago. Start using install-expo-modules in your project by running `npm i install-expo-modules`. There are no other projects in the npm registry using install-expo-modules.
      » npm install install-expo-modules
    
Published   Dec 08, 2025
Version   0.13.14
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/reactnative › if i'm using expo, should every dependency be added via expo or npm?
r/reactnative on Reddit: If i'm using expo, should every dependency be added via expo or npm?
December 18, 2022 - Nuxt is a JavaScript framework for creating Universal Vue.js Applications. ... Vue.js is a library for building interactive web interfaces. It provides data-reactive components with a simple and flexible API. ... Can't install any modules with composer but updating Core works.
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Medium
deksmond.medium.com › how-to-install-nodejs-npm-yarn-expo-and-build-you-react-native-application-c5a70bfa133b
How to install Node.js + Npm/Yarn + Expo and build you react native application on Windows, macOS or Linux/Ubuntu | by Des | Medium
February 19, 2019 - Installation of the Expo Command Line (CLI) utility ... The last command using npm or yarn will run a development server on your terminal and open the Expo client on your browser to track your development. Now head to the Android/Apple play/App store and download Expo, set it up, scan the QR code with your camera on your terminal and the JavaScript bundle would load until 100% and you’ll see the functioning interface of your app (this is for people not using an emulator, if you are using an emulator follow the instructions when the metro bundler loads on your terminal), after that install/open your favorite code editor or IDE (I’ll recommend VSCode) and open App.js to start building your dream.
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Boostrand
boostrand.com › install rnwp template › react native › how to setup your expo environment
How to Setup your Expo Environment - Boostrand
After installing NodeJs, we will need to install yarn as a package manager that will take care of all packages we need. You may be using npm as the package manager, but the RNWP template is using yarn, so it would be needed to use yarn to install our Expo project afterward.
Published   February 24, 2022
Views   0